Technomyrmex briani

Collected from Wadi Abha nesting under a stone. The author made several field trips to this wadi in 2007 and 2008 to search for additional specimens, but none were found. It seems that it was greatly affected by human impact through developmental projects mainly the construction of a new road in Wadi Abha. Competition with the closely related and abundant Technomyrmex setosus might also have had an effect. (Sharaf 2009)

Identification
Sharaf (2009) - Characterized by the combination of the following characters: eye position index (EPI) relatively large 73-117, eyes located relatively posteriorly; metanotal groove deep; pronotum with one or two pairs of hairs; propodeal dorsum and first gastral tergite bare; the second to fourth gastral tergites with greatly reduced number of setae.

This new species belongs to the Technomyrmex albipes-group and the Technomyrmex pallipes complex as defined by Bolton (2007). Technomyrmex briani appears to be closest to Technomyrmex setosus, from Saudi Arabia. The two species are similar in size and colour, with head and gaster brown to dark brown, mesosoma yellowish brown, antennae and legs yellow. Moreover both species have a very similar complement and arrangement of setae. Comparing Technomyrmex briani with T. setosus, the eye position index (EPI) in T. briani is larger, EPI 73-117, versus EPI 75-78; this means that the eyes are located relatively posteriorly in T. briani, whereas they are located in front of the midlength in T. setosus. The metanotal groove in T. briani is deep whereas in T. setosus it is shallow, as mentioned in Collingwood (1985). Moreover, T. briani can be separated by the few pairs of setae on the second to the fourth gastral tergites. The first gastral tergite is always bare; second and third gastral tergites mostly bare, sometimes with a single seta; the third rarely with three pairs of setae; the fourth gastral tergite always with several pairs of setae. In T. setosus the gastral tergites 1 to 4 have several pairs of setae, the longest on the first tergite about equal to the maximum diameter of the eye or fractionally shorter. Furthermore, T. briani has the posterior margin of the head with a single pair of setae in most specimens, in some specimens two or completely bare; T. setosus has two pairs of setae present on the posterior margin of the head.

Distribution
Technomyrmex briani is known only from the KSA and is considered endemic to the southwestern mountains of the Arabian Peninsula (Sharaf et al., 2018).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia.

Biology
Sharaf et al. (2018): Technomyrmex briani nests under rocks often next to Acacia and Juniper trees in southwestern mountains of the KSA. Workers were descending small shrubs and other native plants.

Nomenclature

 *  briani. Technomyrmex briani Sharaf, 2009: 213, figs. 1-3 (w.) SAUDI ARABIA.

Worker
Holotype: TL: 2.62; HL: 0.65; HW: 0.65; SL: 0.60; PW: 0.45; WL: 0.90; EL: 0.175 Indices: CI: 100; SI: 92; OI: 27; EPI: 117; DTI: 122.

Paratypes: Tl: 2.62-3.0; HL 0.62-0.72; HW: 0.60-0.67; SL: .062-0.72; PW: 0.42-0.47; WL: 0.80-0.92; EL: 0.15-0.17 (9 measured). Indices: CI: 89-100; SI 100-112; OI 22-29.1; EPI: 73-114; DTI: 106-128.

In profile head with a single pair of very long setae at level of anterior eye margin, posterior to this one pair of relatively short setae at level of posterior eye margin; sometimes one pair between latter and posterior margin of head; one or two pairs at occipital margin, which is sometimes bare; dorsum of head in few individuals completely bare and without any setal pits, which indicates that setae have never been present; anterior clypeal margin transverse; in full-face view posterior margin of head appears transverse or even very slightly convex, but when head tilted slightly forward from full-face, margin appearing very shallowly evenly concave across its entire width; outer eye margins just fail to break outlines of sides in full-face view.

Mesosoma frequently bare, but in some individuals some setal pairs are distributed as follows: pronotum one or two, mesonotum bare rarely with two, propodeal dorsum bare, lateral margin of propodeal declivity one; mesonotum in profile evenly rounded, without a differentiated declivitous lighter yellowish brown and distinctly contrasting; antennae and legs yellow, clearly lighter than mesosoma.

Queen
TL: 3.67; HL: 0.80; HW: 0.75; SL: 0.75; PW: 0.62; WL: 1.12; Indices: CI: 94; SI: 100; OI: 29; EPI: 78; DTI: 121. (n = 1).

Head. In full-face view with feebly convex sides and nearly straight posterior margin; anterior clypeal margin weak but distinct medially concave; eyes of medium size, with approximately 12 ommatidia in longest row (OI: 29), located on midlength of head, with outer margin of eye touching head sides; scapes when laid back from their insertions surpass the posterior margin of head approximately by the length of first funicular segment. Mesosoma. In profile propodeal dorsum and declivity forming a continuous curve; propodeal spiracle located at midlength of declivity. Pilosity. Anterior clypeal margin with a single pair of setae; frontal carina with two pairs of black based setae: in profile the first above torulus, the second at about level of anterior margin of eyes, another three setal pairs, behind posterior margin of eyes, in front of small ocelli and on the posterior margin of head. Number of setal pairs on mesosoma: promesonotum and metanotum each with one pair; lateral margins of propodeal declivity with three pairs; first and second gastral tergites each with three pairs on sides, third and fourth tergites each with three pairs scattered on sides. Sculpture. Head and mesosoma finely and densely punctate, general appearance dull except gaster feebly shining. Colour. Head brown, gaster bark brown, mesosoma yellow-brown, lighter than head, legs and antennae yellow.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, Saudi Arabia, Wadi Abha, 18°12’59”N 42°30’19”E, 2261 m a.s.l., 18 Mar 2004, Mostafa R> Sharaf, EESC.—Paratypes: 9 workers, same data as holotype, MAC, (deposited by B. Bolton),  (deposited by B. Taylor). SMNH, Mostafa Sharaf collection.

Etymology
A patronymic name (T. briani) has been selected in honor of Dr. Brian Taylor, Nottingham, UK.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * El-Hawagry M. S., M. W. Khalil, M. R. Sharaf, H. H. Fadl, and A. S. Aldawood. 2013. A preliminary study on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, Saudi Arabia, with descriptions of two new species. ZooKeys 274: 188. doi:10.3897/zookeys.274.4532
 * Sharaf M. R., H. M. Al Dhafer, and S. A. Aldawood. 2018. Review of the ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr, 1872 in the Arabian Peninsula (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 780: 35-59.