Messor ebeninus Santschi 1927

Messor ebeninus Santschi, 1927 (Figures 23 and 24) Messor semirufus var. ebeninus Santschi, 1927, p. 229 (w.) Syria. Palaearctic. Diagnosis Worker. Colour slightly variable, ranging from uniform dark brown to black, some specimens have head, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole brown contrasting with brown or black gaster; underside of head with long J-shaped setae forming a distinct psammophore; propodeum angled, without spines or teeth of any description; posterior margin of head with 3–5 setae at each side of the midline; mesosoma with several pairs of setae, two or three on promesonotum, one or two pairs on mesonotum, a single pair on propodeum; petiole and postpetiole each with one pair of long setae; first gastral tergite bare except for few pairs of seta on posterior margin; mesosoma partially or completely rugulose; head smooth and shining, in some individuals vertex with faint longitudinal striations. Material examined Two sites: 3; 8. Geographic range. This species is widespread in the Middle East, with a broad range of distribution in the Arabian Peninsula (Collingwood 1985; Collingwood and Agosti 1996; Collingwood et al. 2011; Sharaf et al. 2018). Ecology and biology. This species, like the majority of species of the genus Messor, is a seed harvester. It nests directly in the ground under stones.