Lepisiota pubescens (Forel) new status

Type location Tunisia (Acantholepis Frauenfeldi Mayr. var. pubescens n. var., Forel, 1892a: 41, in key, worker) collected at Gabès; worker only described .

Forel's (1892a) description is on . Santschi's (1917d: 46) illustrated note in a key is on .

Assuming my diagnosis is correct, I have separated this from Lepisiota frauenfeldi which looks quite different, being black brown, brilliant, almost glabrous, covered with superficial and very fine striations ("rides"); mandibles, antennae except the apex of the scape, alitrunk, articulations of the femora and tarsi reddish yellow; often the alitrunk has several brown patches.

Not reported from Egypt but quite likely to be found there.

The photomontage of the holotype is collated fromhttp://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0913619.