Additions to the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Oman: an updated list, new records and a description of two new species

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2018
Authors:Sharaf, M. R., Fisher, B. L., Dhafer, H. M. Al, Polaszek, A., Aldawood, A. S.
Journal:Asian Myrmecology
Volume:10
Pagination:1-38
Date Published:16/02/2018
Keywords:Aphaenogaster, Arabian Peninsula, Asir Province, Erromyrma, invasive species, key, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Palearctic region
Abstract:

An updated list of ant species (Formicidae) known from Oman is provided, including both published records and recently collected material, and bringing the total number to 123 species belonging to 24 genera and four subfamilies. In the present study thirty-four ant species were collected from Oman during expeditions in 2016 and 2017. Ten ant species are recorded for the  rst time in Oman : Cardiocondyla breviscapa Seifert, 2003, C. mauritanica Forel, 1890, C. yemeni Collingwood & Agosti, 1996, Erromyrma latinodis (Mayr, 1872), Hypoponera abeillei (André, 1881), Lepisiota opaciventris (Finzi, 1936), Monomorium dichroum Forel, 1902, Pheidole parva Mayr, 1865, Plagiolepis boltoni Sharaf, Aldawood & Taylor, 2011, and Tetramorium lanuginosum Mayr, 1870. The genus Aphaenogaster is recorded for the  rst time from Oman, and two new species of Aphaenogaster are described based on the worker caste: A. sarae sp. n. and A. asmaae sp. n. The  rst key to the Arabian Aphaenogaster is presented. The genus Erromyrma Bolton & Fisher, 2016 is recorded for the  rst time from Oman and the Arabian Peninsula by the sole species E. latinodis (Mayr, 1872). The queen caste of Pl. boltoni Sharaf, Aldawood & Taylor, 2011 is also described for the  rst time from Masfat Al- Ebreien, Oman. New distributional records are given with biological notes for species when available.

URL:http://www.asian-myrmecology.org/publications/am10/sharaf-et-al-2018-am010004.pdf
DOI:10.20362/am.010004
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