Tetramorium sabatinellii

The nest of this species was found in the semi-desert area with sparse vegetation in soil under stone at an altitude 686 m a. s. l. (Radchenko and Scupola 2015)

Identification
Radchenko and Scupola (2015) - Workers and queens of T. sabatinellii well differ from those of Tetramorium kabulistanicum and Tetramorium pisarskii by the completely longitudinally striato-punctated first gastral tergite, while such sculpture is present only on the basal half of tergite in two latter species. T. sabatinellii differs from  Tetramorium striativentre by the distinctly curved frontal carinae and extended frontal lobes (mean FLI 1.12 in workers T. sabatinellii vs. 1.01 in T. striativentre), by the coarser rugosity on the head dorsum (in workers number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes < 15, mean 13 vs. > 15, mean 18, respectively), and by the another sculpture on the waist dorsum (see Key below). It differs from Tetramorium schneideri by the transversal petiolar node, which is subcircle in the latter species (seen from above), and by the coarser rugosity on the head dorsum. Among all know species of this group, workers of T. sabatinellii the most resemble T. saudicum, diff ering from the latter mostly morphometrically: they have longer scape, wider petiolar node and postpetiole, longer genae, etc.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Jordan.

Nomenclature

 *  sabatinellii. Tetramorium sabatinellii Radchenko & Scupola, 2015: 221, figs. 1-4 (w.q.m.) JORDAN.

Worker
(n = 20), ordered as: holotype (min–max) [mean +/- SD]: HL 0.85 (0.76–0.89) [0.83 +/- 0.033], HW 0.81 (0.74–0.86) [0.80 +/- 0.032], FW 0.33 (0.31–0.37) [0.34 +/- 0.016], FLW 0.37 (0.35–0.41) [0.38 +/- 0.016], OL 0.21 (0.18–0.23) [0.20 +/- 0.014], GnL 0.19 (0.17–0.22) [0.18 + 0.013], SL 0.67 (0.62–0.73) [0.67 +/- 0.025], ML 1.09 (1.03–1.17) [1.10 +/- 0.031], PNW 0.53 (0.50–0.58) [0.54 +/- 0.021], PL 0.36 (0.32–0.39 [0.36 +/- 0.015], PW 0.26 (0.25–0.29) [0.27 +/- 0.016], PH 0.29 (0.27–0.31 [0.29 +/- 0.012], PndL 0.20 (0.18–0.22) [0.20 +/- 0.012], PPL 0.20 (0.20–0.24) [0.22 +/- 0.013], PPW 0.30 (0.29–0.34) [0.32 +/- 0.014], PPH 0.30 (0.27–0.33) [0.32 +/- 0.014], ESL 0.14 (0.12–0.17 [0.14 +/- 0.013], ESD 0.22 (0.20–0.25) [0.23 +/- 0.015], HTL 0.61 (0.54–0.66) [0.60 +/- 0.027], rug-frons 12 (11–14) [13 +/- 0.970].

Indices: CI 1.04 (1.01–1.08) [1.04 +/- 0.016], SI1 0.79 (0.77–0.83) [0.80 +/- 0.015], SI2 0.82 (0.80–0.85) [0.84 +/- 0.015], FI 0.41(0.41–0.45) [0.43 +/- 0.010], FLI 1.13 (1.08–1.15) [1.12 +/- 0.023], OI1 0.26 (0.23–0.27) [0.25 +/- 0.010], OI2 1.12 (1.05–1.13) [1.10 +/- 0.029], PI1 1.25 (1.19–1.28) [1.25 +/- 0.025], PI2 0.32(0.33–0.36) [0.34 +/- 0.012], PndI 1.33 (1.26–1.44) [1.35 +/- 0.055], PPI1 0.67 (0.67–0.71) [0.70 +/- 0.013], PPI2 0.36 (0.36–0.41) [0.39 +/- 0.016], ESLI 0.18(0.16–0.19) [0.17 +/- 0.011].

Head somewhat longer than wide, with subparallel, almost straight sides, widely rounded occipital corners and very feebly concave occipital margin. Eyes situated about midlength of sides of head, gena distinctly longer than maximal diameter of eye. Scape quite strongly curved at base, without any additional structures on bent, not reaching occipital margin. Frontal carinae distinctly curved and frontal lobes extended. Frons with quite coarse longitudinal rugosity, number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes < 15. Mandibles with 5 teeth, coarsely longitudinally rugose. Surface of head between rugae densely punctated, mandibles smooth and shiny. Occipital margin with a few quite long suberect hairs, temples and genae without hairs.

Mesosoma with shallow metanotal groove, propodeum with relatively long teeth widened at base, but not with thin spines. Whole mesosoma with quite coarse longitudinal, somewhat sinuous rugae. Petiole longer than high, its node transversal; postpetiole distinctly higher and wider than length. Petiolar node with sinuous longitudinal rugae, postpetiolar dorsum with almost straight longitudinal rugae. Mesosomal dorsum and waist with not abundant, quite long erect hairs. Whole first gastral tergite densely longitudinally striato-punctated.

Head, mesosoma and waist reddish-brown, gaster blackish-brown.

Queen
HL 0.95, HW 0.92, FW 0.41, FLW 0.45, OL 0.25, GnL 0.20, SL 0.69, PL 0.47, PW 0.31, PH 0.40, PndL 0.17, PPL 0.23, PPW 0.39, PPH 0.41, ESL 0.15, ESD 0.32, HTL 0.65, ML 1.54, MH 0.77, SCL 1.10, SCW 0.83, rug-frons 13.

Indices: CI 1.02, SI1 0.73, SI2 0.75, FI 0.44, FLI 1.09, OI1 0.27, OI2 1.27, PI1 1.19, PI2 0.33, PndI 1.87, PPI1 0.60, PPI2 0.42, ESLI 0.17, MI 2.00, SCI 1.33.

Shape, sculpture and pilosity of head as in workers, except for presence of ocelli and relatively shorter scape.

Mesosoma long and low, scutum and scutellum flattened, do not raised on pronotal level, scutum somewhat narrowed anteriorly, so that anterio-lateral angles of pronotum visible from above. Scutum and scutellum with quite coarse longitudinal rugae, sides of mesosoma (except for that of propodeum) with finer rugulae. Shape of propodeal spines as in workers. Shape of waist similar to that of workers, but petiolar node relatively much shorter than in workers, so that it seems more transversal (seen from above). Sculpture of gaster and pilosity of body as in workers. Colour generally darker than in workers, head and gaster blackish-brown, mesosoma and waist somewhat lighter, legs brownish-red.

Male
(in mm): HL 0.64, HW 0.66, OL 0.29, GnL 0.04, SL 0.37, PL 0.46, PW 0.28, PH 0.28, PPL 0.24, PPW 0.40, PPH 0.42, HTL 0.85, ML 1.73, MH 1.07, SCL 1.31, SCW 0.92.

Indices: CI 0.97, SI1 0.53, SI2 0.52, OI1 0.43, OI2 6.50, PI1 1.68, PI2 0.43, PPI1 0.61, PPI2 0.60, MI 1.62, SCI 1.42.

Head somewhat wider than length, broadly rounded above eyes, occipital margin convex. Anterior clypeal margin slightly prominent medially. Eyes big, situated distinctly below midlength of sides of head, so that genae very short. Scape length about half of head width. Mandibles with five sharp teeth. Sculpture of head dorsum quite coarse: frons and clypeus with longitudinal and longitudinally-concentric rugosity, surface between and behind lateral ocelli with transversal rugae, remaining part of head dorsum coarsely and densely punctated. Occipital margin and temples with not abundant long erect hairs.

Mesosoma long and low, scutum and scutellum very feebly convex, notauli well developed only on anterior part of scutum. Petiole long and low, with almost straight anterior face and widely rounded node dorsum. Petiole not widened, its node subcircle (seen from above), postpetiole > 1.4 times wider than petiole. Central part of scutum and scutellum with not coarse, but dense longitudinal rugulosity, surface between rugulae densely punctated. Pronotum and mesopleura, as well as whole propodeum, mostly densely punctated. Petiolar node and postpetiole densely and coarsely punctated, dorsum of petiolar node also with longitudinally-concentric rugae, dorsum of postpetiole also with longitudinal rugae.

Stipites of genitalia strongly curved inward apically (seen dorsally or ventrally), their apices strongly excavated (seen from behind).

Mesosoma and waist with not abundant long erect hairs. Surface of gastral tergites completely smooth and shiny. Body colour black, mandibles and appendages brownish.

Type Material
Holotype, worker, Jordan, 31°34ʹ N, 36°01ʹ E, road number 15 Amman-Aqaba, 50 km to the south of Amman, 3.6 km to the north of Al Zumayla, in the semi-deserts ground 800 m west of the road 15 on a little hill at 686 m a. s. l., 29.04.2009, leg. Guido Sabatinelli, Mauro Daccordi and Marco Uliana. Paratypes, 44 workers, 1 queen and 1 male from the nest of holotype (MSNG,, , , ASPC).

Etymology
The species is dedicated to our colleague, Guido Sabatinelli, who worked in Jordan and collected this species.