Mostafa R. Sharaf

• Professor (Full) Ph.D., FRES.
• Professor (Full) at King Saud University

Species delimitation offered by DNA-based approaches can provide important insights into the natural history and diversity of species, but the cogency of such processes is limited without multigene phylogenies. Recent attempts to barcode various Solenopsidini ant taxa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), including the thief ant Solenopsis saudien...

We present a revised and updated synoptic list of 44 Arabian Monomorium species, including two new species of the M. salomonis species-group: M. heggyi sp. n. , and M. khalidi sp. n. We propose the following new synonyms: M. abeillei André (= M. wahibiense Collingwood & Agosti syn. n.) ; M. areniphilum Santschi (= M. fezzanense Collingwood & Agosti...

Ants of the genus Crematogaster Lund, 1831 are ecologically important and are distributed in a wide range of tropical and subtropical regions. Crematogaster dhofarensis Sharaf sp. n., a new species from Oman's Dhofar Governorate, is described based on morphological character-isation, including detailed measurements via established indices and imagi...

A new species of the genus Crematogaster Lund, 1831, C. abouzeidi sp. nov. is described from Yemen based on the worker caste. The new species resembles the Afrotropical C. flaviventris Santschi, 1910, thus previous records of C. flaviventris from Yemen may be mis-identified and need to be re-examined. Crematogaster ghoneimi Sharaf & Aldawood, 2022,...

We present the first faunal analysis of the ants (Formicidae) of the Kingdom of Bahrain (Bahrain), an island nation in the Arabian Gulf. We document a total of 35 ant species based on published, unpublished and new specimen records, including 26 presumed native species and nine non-native tramp species. The native fauna was predominantly of Palaear...

A new species, Cardiocondyla hashemi sp. n. is described and illustrated using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) based on the worker caste. Cardiocondyla hash-emi is a member of the C. batesii species-group with a resemblance to C. tenuifrons Seifert, 2003 from Jordan. Cardiocondyla hashemi can be readily distinguished by the uniform yellow body...

The current study was carried out in the seaward coastal beach environment of Al-Jubail City, Saudi Arabia, to analyze the rabbit carcass decomposition process, the succession pattern of associated ants, and their potential utility in forensic investigation. Experiments were conducted over a 4-season course (from autumn 2018 to summer 2019). A tota...

The ant fauna of the Riyadh Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was studied and reviewed based on literature and newly collected material. In total, 93 species were collected from Riyadh Province belonging to the genera Aenictus Shuckard, 1840; Brachymyrmex Mayr, 1868; Brachyponera Emery, 1900; Camponotus Mayr, 1861; Cardiocondyla Emery, 1869;...

Objective: Termites are well known for being the most destructive pests of household commodities as well as agricultural crops around the globe. The termite fauna (Isoptera) has about 2650 described species worldwide. Several species are the pests of crops and cause damage to wood structures. Methods: In the present study, 29 specimens of termites...

Urbanization affects all elements of the pre-urban environment, including soils, hydrology, vegetation, and microclimate. Recently, Saudi Arabia has experienced rapid urbanization and growth. Thus, the country’s biodiversity has been threatened. In the Riyadh region, beetle assemblages were assessed along a rural-suburban-urban gradient. A total of...

Urbanization affects all elements of the pre-urban environment, including soils, hydrology, vegetation, and microclimate. Recently, Saudi Arabia has experienced rapid urbanization and growth. Thus, the country's biodiversity has been threatened. In Riyadh, beetle assemblages were assessed along a rural-suburban-urban gradient. A total of 2,791 indi...

Crematogaster ghoneimi, sp. nov. is described from the southwestern mountains of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) based on the worker caste. The new species is most similar to C. chiarinii Emery, 1881, type locality Ethiopia, and can be readily distinguished from all other regional congeners by the long, thin, and acute propodeal spines, presence...

The Sultanate of Oman is a country on the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, near the intersection of the Afrotropical, Palaearctic, and Indomalayan biogeographic realms. We surveyed ants at 18 sites between 16 and 22 November 2017 using beating sheets, hand picking, Malaise traps, sifting trays, sweeping net, and light traps on the coas...

Two new pseudoscorpion species, Neobisium (Ommatoblothrus) wettereri Nassirkhani sp. nov. and Neobisium (Ommatoblothrus) karmanae Nassirkhani sp. nov., are described from Socotra (Yemen). The family Neobisiidae is reported for the first time from Socotra. Ecological notes on these two new species and a distribution map of all known Neobisium (Ommat...

We describe a new species, Tapinoma yacoubi sp. n., from the Al Sarawat Mountains in southwestern Saudi Arabia based on the worker caste. Tapinoma yacoubi looks similar to T. luridum Emery, 1908 from the Democratic Republic of Congo, but can be easily distinguished by its lack of setae on the frontal carinae, the convex posterior margin of the clyp...

The dramatic increased rates of uncontrolled urbanisation in various parts of the World have resulted in loss of native species and overall threats to biodiversity. Over the last few decades Saudi Arabia has witnessed a remarkably rapid population growth and unparalleled levels of urbanisation, leading to threats to biodiversity. In this study we f...

The present study shows an updated synoptic list of the 30 known Isoptera of the Arabian Peninsula which are classified under four families and nine genera. Twenty-seven species are hitherto known from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The present inventory of the termites of Riyadh Province (KSA) indicated three species, Anacanthotermes ochraceou...

Syllophopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is a taxonomically difficult and possibly polyphyletic genus of tiny, inconspicuous ants. Syllophopsis subcoeca (Emery) was described in 1894 from St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. This remained the sole published record of S. subcoeca for more than 100 years. Here, we present new descriptions of the worker and qu...

Tetramorium sericeiventre Emery, 1877 is a widespread ant of Africa, Arabia, and neighbouring areas. Across its broad range, T. sericeiventre shows much variation and many different forms have been described. In the present study, we report additional site records of T. sericeiventre on the Arabian Peninsula, and provide information on species vari...

Tapinoma Foerster belongs to the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae and the vast majority of its species are arboreal or generalised foragers. The genus is composed of 70 described species, 22 known subspecies and six valid fossil species worldwide, while from the Arabian Peninsula, three species have been recorded so far. Ants of the genus Tapinoma of t...

The dramatic increased rates of uncontrolled urbanization in various parts of the World have resulted in loss of native species and overall threats to biodiversity. Over the last few decades Saudi Arabia has witnessed a remarkably rapid population growth and unparalleled levels of urbanization, leading to threats to biodiversity. Ants were pitfall-...

We describe the queen caste of the Arabian endemic species Tapinoma wilsoni Sharaf & Aldawood, 2012 from the type locality (Dhi Ayn Archaeological Village) located in the southwestern mountains of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We present the first illustrated key to the Arabian TapinomaFoerster, 1850 based on the queen castes. Three species are reco...

Tapinoma Foerster belongs to the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae and the vast majority of its species are arboreal or generalized foragers. The genus is composed of 71 described species and 24 known subspecies worldwide, while from Arabian Peninsula, three species have been recorded so far. Ants of the genus Tapinoma of the Arabian Peninsula are revie...

The ant fauna of the State of Qatar is reviewed based on collected material and literature. In total, 23 species, belonging to 12 genera and four subfamilies, were reported from the country. Given that Messor arenarius diabolus Santschi, 1938 is endemic in Egypt, and it was recorded by mistake in Qatar, we excluded it from the country faunal list....

This study updates and summarizes information on the taxonomy and status of the Arabian Lepisiota fauna. We describe and illustrate the new species Lepisiota elbazisp. nov. from the Dhofar Governorate, Oman based on the worker caste. The new species is closest to the Arabian species, L. arabica Collingwood, 1985 from the southwestern mountains of t...

A new species of the myrmicine ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910, N. micheleae Sharaf sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Oman based on the worker caste. The new species is a member of the N. angulatus species group and can be diagnosed by the golden yellow gaster that contrasts with the dark brown body; the irregular longitudinal rugulose...

The genus Crematogaster is one of the most species-rich and widespread groups of ants. Despite their often-high local abundance and important ecological interactions, the taxonomy of the genus is fragmentary and in great need of modern revisionary studies. As a first step towards a revision for the Arabian fauna of Crematogaster, a review of all kn...

We describe the new species Temnothorax almeqeri sp. nov. from the Asir Mountains, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based on the worker caste and present a revised key to the Arabian Temnothorax species. The new species is illustrated using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Temnothorax almeqeri sp. nov. closely resembles the African species, T. cinatus Bo...

Temnothorax elmenshawyi sp. n., a new ant species from the Asir Mountains of the southwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is described based on the worker caste. The new species is a member of the T. exilis species group and is distinguished from the other species included in this group by the impressed metanotal groove, the short, acute...

Temnothorax elmenshawyi sp. n., a new ant species from the Asir Mountains of the southwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is described based on the worker caste. the new species is a member of the T. exilis species group and is distinguished from the other species included in this group by the impressed metanotal groove, the short, acute...

The Hajar Mountain Range of Northern Oman is an important centre of species endemism, and of biogeographical interest as a crossroads between the Afrotropical and Palaearctic regions. Despite this, the invertebrate fauna of the region is largely unknown, with very little dedicated research or surveys having been undertaken until now. Here we presen...

The species of Meranoplus Smith, 1853 of the Arabian Peninsula are reviewed based on the worker caste. Two species are recognized, keyed, and illustrated by Scanning Electron Microscope images (SEM), Meranoplus mosalahi and M. pulcher , Sharaf, 2014. Meranoplus mosalahisp. n. is described from the Dhofar Governorate, Oman based on the worker caste....

This study reports the ant species that were attracted to rabbit carcasses in three different habitats (agricultural, desert, urban) in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May to July 2014. Rabbit carcasses were used as a model for decomposition. Carcasses were categorized as exposed, clothed, shaded and burnt. A total of 726 ants belonging to th...

The taxonomy of the dolichoderine ants of the genus Technomyrmex Mayr, 1872 is revised for the Arabian Peninsula. Six species are treated, T.albipes (F. Smith, 1861), T.difficilis Forel, 1892, T.briani Sharaf, 2009, T.vexatus (Santschi, 1919), T.montaseri Sharaf, Collingwood & Aldawood, 2011, and T.setosus Collingwood, 1985. The successful tramp sp...

There are no well defined Leptogenys species groups based on the worker morphology from the Oriental region Arimoto (2017). Leptogenyschinensis forms a complex species group with closely related species having little morphological changes Wilson (1958), Sarnat and Economo (2012). From the Oriental region, there are currently 9 species belonging to...

The Arabian species of the rare ant genus Parasyscia Emery, 1882 are reviewed. Two species are treated, P. rifati sp. n. and P. wittmeri (Collingwood, 1985). Parasyscia rifati sp. n. is described from the Asir Mountains, Saudi Arabia based on the worker and ergatoid gyne castes. A key to both species is presented. New locality records with a distri...

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 specie...

We revise the taxonomy of the myrmicine ants of the Monomorium monomorium species-group for the Arabian Peninsula. Six species are recognized: Monomorium aeyade Collingwood & Agosti, 1996, M. clavicorne André, 1881, M. exiguum Forel, 1894, M. holothir Bolton, 1987, M. mohammedi sp. n., and M. sarawatense Sharaf & Aldawood, 2013. On the basis of the...

From 2013-2015, mutualistic ants of areal and root aphids were studied in dry low lands of Khuzestan, southwest Iran.Altogether 17 species from 11 genera and 3 subfamilies, namelyFormicinae (9), Myrmicinae (7) and Dolichoderinae (1) were collected and identified as follow: 1)Formicinae: Camponotus oasium Forel ; Camponotus vogti Forel; Cataglyphis...

The queen caste of the Arabian species Meranoplus pulcher Sharaf, 2014 is described and illustrated for the first time. The queen caste of the species is apparently rare with only a single specimen collected over a two-year period of intensive field work in southwestern Asir Mountains of Saudi Arabia. A distribution map of the species is presented.

In this study, we review the Arabian species of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler. We provide species reviews for the two previously known species, N. angulatus (Mayr, 1862) and N. humerosus (Emery, 1896) and describe a new species N. zaheri sp. n. from Yemen based on the worker caste. An illustrated key to the Arabian species of the genus and monta...

Syllophopsis sechellensis (Emery) (formerly Monomorium sechellense) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is a small, inconspicuous ant species, native to the Old World tropics, but has spread by human commerce to other parts of the world. The extent of its original native range is unclear. Here, we examined the worldwide distribution of S. sechellensis, parti...

The Arabian Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 fauna is revised for the first time. Three species are recognized from the region: Temnothorax arabicus Sharaf & Akbar sp. nov., T. liviae (Agosti & Collingwood, 2011) comb. nov. and T. megalops (Hamann & Klemm, 1967). Leptothorax saudiae Collingwood & Agosti, 1996 was placed in Temnothorax by Bolton (2003), but a...

Leptogenys polaszeki sp. n. is described from the Asir Mountains, Saudi Arabia, based on the worker caste. The new species is a member of the L. sulcinoda-group and appears closest to L. bellii Emery, 1901, originally described from Ethiopia. The likely male caste of L. polaszeki sp. n. is described based on a single specimen collected by a pitfall...

The animal fauna of the Socotra Archipelago is influenced by three biogeographical regions, the Afrotropical, the Oriental and the Palaearctic. Consequently, the Archipelago shares faunal elements of these three regions in addition to unique endemic taxa. The ant fauna of Socotra Island was studied and is reviewed based on literature and newly coll...

Anochetus Mayr, 1861 is revised for the Arabian Peninsula based on the worker caste. Three species are recognized, Anochetus annetteae n. sp., A. sedilloti Emery, 1884, and A. traegaordhi Mayr, 1904. Anochetus annetteae n. sp. is described from Hibra Village, the Nakhl Region, Sultanate of Oman, based on the worker caste. An illustrated key to the...

The ant genus Trichomyrmex Mayr, 1865 is revised for the Arabian Peninsula based on the worker caste. Nine species are recognized and descriptions of two new species, T. almosayari sp. nov. and T. shakeri sp. nov. from Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia, are given. For nomenclatural stability, lectotypes for T. abyssinicus (Forel, 1894a), T. lameerei (F...

A study carried out from February 2013 to May 2015 investigated the mutualistic associations between aphids, parasitoids and attendant ants on different host plants in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran. A total of 15 ant species belonging to 11 genera and three subfamilies was collected from 28 host plant species in 18 families. 23 species of aphi...

The formicine ant genus Brachymyrmex Mayr, 1868 is recorded for the first time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and from the Arabian Peninsula by the species B. cordemoyi Forel, 1895. A brief description and automontage images of the species are presented with ecological and biological notes.

Lepisiota omanensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on the worker caste collected in Jebel Qahwan Oman, and Ain Al Waal, United Arab Emirates. The new species belongs to the L. gracilicornis group and is separated easily from all Arabian Lepisiota species, and other species in the gracilicornis group, by the exceptionally long, acute an...

In a recent issue of Systematic Entomology, Ward et al. (2015) presented a new variant of the phylogeny of the huge and extremely diverse ant clade Myrmicinae. Their paper is a valuable contribution to understand the formation of major phylogenetic clades against a credibly evaluated time scale. The intention of our opinion paper is not to criticiz...

In the first study of its kind, ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were sampled near a unique natural environment, a large saline lake, Chott El Hodna, a Ramsar Conservation Wetland in eastern Algeria. The species of ant were determined at two sites, Medbah and Birkraa in spring (March–April), 2011 using a pitfall trapping and hand collecting. We provi...

In the first study of its kind, ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were sampled near a unique natural environment, a large saline lake, Chott El Hodna, a Ramsar Conservation Wetland in eastern Algeria. The species of ants were determined at two sites, Medbah and Birkraa in spring (March–April) 2011 using pitfall trapping and hand collecting. We provide...

In the first study of its kind, ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were sampled near a unique natural environment, a large saline lake, Chott El Hodna, a Ramsar Conservation Wetland in eastern Algeria. The species of ants were determined at two sites, Medbah and Birkraa in spring (March–April) 2011 using pitfall trapping and hand collecting. We provide...

In the first study of its kind, ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were sampled near a unique natural environment, a large saline lake, Chott El Hodna, a Ramsar Conservation Wetland in eastern Algeria. The species of ants were determined at two sites, Medbah and Birkraa in spring (March–April) 2011 using pitfall trapping and hand collecting. We provide...

Das faunistische Verzeichnis mehrerer Regionen in Ost-Iran nennt 30 Ameisenarten, die zu 17 Gattungen gehören: Aphaenogaster Mayr 1853, Camponotus Mayr 1861, Cataglyphis Foerster 1850, Crematogaster Lund 1831, Dolichoderus Lund 1831, Formica Linnaeus 1758, Lasius Fabricius 1804, Lepisiota Santschi 1926, Linepithema Mayr 1866, Messor Forel 1890, Mon...

Cataglyphis fisheri sp. n. is described and illustrated from the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based on the worker caste. It belongs to the C. pallida-group which is recorded for the first time from the Arabian Peninsula. Cataglyphis fisheri sp. n. is similar to C. pallida Mayr, 1877 from Kazakhstan. Differential diagnosis...

The first list of insects (Arthropoda: Hexapoda) of Al-Baha Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was published in 2013 and contained a total of 582 species. In the present study, 142 species belonging to 51 families and representing seven orders are added to the fauna of Al-Baha Province, bringing the total number of species now recorded from th...

The Socotra Archipelago lying among three biogeographic regions, the Afrotropical, the Oriental and the Palearctic regions, consequently shares faunal elements from the three regions in addition to unique endemic taxa. The ant fauna of Socotra Island was studied and listed and information on zoogeography of the island is reviewed based on literatur...

The dacetine ant genus Strumigenys Smith, 1860 is recorded for the first time from Qatar by the invasive species S. membranifera Emery, 1869. This is the second known record for the genus and for this species from the Arabian Peninsula. The distribution of the known species of the genus Strumigenys recorded from the Arabian Peninsula is also provid...

Synonymy of two Arabian Monomorium Mayr, 1855 species is proposed: Monomorium exiguum Forel, 1894 = Monomorium desertorum Collingwood & Agosti, 1996, syn. n.; Monomorium subopacum Smith, 1858 = Monomorium mintiribe Collingwood & Agosti, 1996, syn. n. A lectotype for Monomorium venustum Smith, 1858 is designated. Information on nesting habits of Mon...

The Arabian species of the Tetramorium squaminode-group are treated. Tetramorium squaminode Santschi, 1911 is recorded for the first time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. Keys to the two Arabian species of the T. squaminode-group, T. latinode Collingwood & Agosti, 1996 and T. squaminode, based on worker and queen castes,...

The queen of the ant Solenopsis saudiensis Sharaf & Aldawood, 20117. Sharaf, M. R., & Aldawood, A. S. (2011): First occurrence of Solenopsis Westwood 1840 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species S. saudiensis n. sp. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 47, 474–479. doi: 10.1080/00379271...

The ant genus Meranoplus is reported for the first time from the Arabian Peninsula (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) by the new species M. pulcher sp. n., based on the worker caste. Specimens were collected from Al Sarawat and Asir Mountains of southwestern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using pitfall traps. Meranoplus pulcher sp. n. is included in the Afrotropic...

The ant genus Strumigenys in the Arabian Peninsula is treated. Three species are recognized, S. arnoldi Forel, S. emmae (Emery) and S. membranifera Emery. The invasive species S. membranifera and the Afrotropical species S. arnoldi are recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. A key to the Arabian species based on the...

Five species of pseudoscorpions are recorded from the southwestern mountains of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Pseudochthonius arabicus Mahnert n. sp. is described as new to science; this genus was previously known only from sub- Saharan Africa and tropical South America and represents the first record of the family Chthoniidae from the Arabian Penin...

The ant genus Carebara of the Arabian Peninsula is revised. Carebara abuhurayri Sharaf & Aldawood, 2011 is synonymized under Carebara arabica Collingwood & van Harten, 2001. Carebara arabica is redescribed and a Neotype is fixed based on a specimen collected from southwestern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A new species, C. fayrouzae sp. n. is described...