Tapinoma insularis, Seifert & Kaufmann & Fraysse, 2024

Seifert, Bernhard, Kaufmann, Bernard & Fraysse, Lorenzo, 2024, A taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic species of the ant genus Tapinoma Mayr 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 5435 (1), pp. 1-74 : 54

Tapinoma insularis n. sp.

Etymology: belonging to islands, because the species is, compared to its sister species T. simrothi , more frequently found on islands of the Mediterranean Sea.

Type material: Holotype plus three paratype worker on the same pin from Sicily, labelled “ITA: 36.68176°N, 15.13684°E, Portopalo- 1 km E, 46 m, D’Eustacchio 20130404-TSi25”; the sample also contained a male and a gyne; depository SMN Görlitz. If run as wild-card in a LDA considering all NUMOBAT characters, the sample is allocated with p = 0.9992 to its name bearing cluster (see above).

Material examined. Numeric phenotypical data were taken in 26 nest samples with 84 workers. They originated from Iran (2 samples), Italy (21), Malta (1), Morocco (1) and Tunisia (1). For details see supplementary information SI1, SI2 .

Geographic range. The species is mainly distributed, with 90% of all findings, over the islands of the Central Mediterranean Sea between 9°E and 15.5°E: Sardinia, Sicily and Isole Egadi, Lampedusa, Kerkennah, and Malta. Two geographic outliers from Abadan (30.347°N, 48.295°E) and Busher (29.839°N, 50.255°E) refer to harbor areas at the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf and may be interpreted as anthropogenous introductions—if not representing an unrecognized cryptic species. The altitudinal distribution of 25 samples is characterized by 27 ± 31 [1, 106] m .

Diagnosis:—Worker ( Tab. 5, Figs. 38–40 ): All shape ratios given below are, in contrast to those in Tab. 5, primary ratios without RAV and all data are given as arithmetic mean ± standard deviation. Slightly smaller than T. simrothi, CS 824 ± 78 µm. Head slightly more elongated than in T. simrothi, CL /CW 1.120 ± 0.046. Postocular distance rather large, PoOc/CL 0.401 ± 0.009; excavation of hind margin of vertex smaller than in T. simrothi, ExOcc 1.10 ± 0.51%. Anteromedian clypeal excision deep and narrow, ExCly/CS 11.21 ± 0.84%, ExClyW 5.44 ± 0.72%. The edge of clypeal excision curves slightly down below the level of adjacent clypeal surface, thus appearing rather blunt. Sum of pubescence hairs and smaller setae protruding across the margin of clypeal excision including its dorsal edge slightly larger than in T. simrothi , nExCly 8.8 ± 3.7. Scape slightly shorter than in T. simrothi, SL /CS 0.954 ± 0.029. Minimum distance of the inner margins of antennal socket rings rather small, dAN/CS 0.293 ± 0.006. Eye moderately large, EL/CS 0.257 ± 0.010. Metanotal groove moderately deep, MGr/CS 3.24 ± 0.71%. Mesosoma longer than in T. simrothi and moderately wide, ML/CS 1.302 ± 0.032, MW/CS 0.640 ± 0.019. Second funiculus segment rather short, Fu2L/CS 13.42 ± 0.44%, IFu2 1.622 ± 0.106. Pubescence, seta and pigmentation characters as in T. simrothi .

Taxonomic comments. The clear separation from other species of the Tapinoma simrothi group by NUMOBAT and nuDNA data was shown above.

Biology. Little information is available. Reported habitats are grassland, coastal sand dunes, house gardens, roadsides, sealed urban areas with little greenery. Alates were observed on 2 April.

Figures

FIGURE 38. Tapinoma insularis n. sp., holotype, head in full face view, Portopalo / Italy, 2013.04.02.

FIGURE 39. Tapinoma insularis n. sp., holotype, lateral view, Portopalo / Italy, 2013.04.02.

FIGURE 40. Tapinoma insularis n. sp., holotype, anterior head in dorsofronal view, Portopalo / Italy, 2013.04.02.