First occurrence of solenopsis westwood 1840 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the kingdom of saudi arabia, with description of a new species S. saudiensis n. sp.

Abstract

The ant genus Solenopsis Westwood 1840, is recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia. The worker caste of S. saudiensisn. sp., collected in Riyadh is described and illustrated. This resembles S. cooperi Donisthorpe 1947, and S. kochi Finzi 1936. A revised key to the Arabian species is given together with ecological and biological notes. S. saudiensisn. sp. is identified by the following characters: Anterior clypeal margin with a central pair of stout projecting teeth and a lateral pair of short, broad basal blunt teeth; eyes with two minute facets; funicular segments 2–7 about twice as wide as long; propodeum short and low with the basal face making a continuous arc with the declivity; and petiole as long as broad in dorsal view. © 2011 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.