Subject: Re: Re Carebara paper
Date: Monday, 13 December 2010 09:37
From: Mostafa Sharaf <antsharaf@gmail.com>
To: Brian Taylor <dr.brian.taylor@ntlworld.com>
Conversation: Re Carebara paper

Hello Dr Brian,
Ê
You sent me this e-mail while I was enjoying my time in reading your comprehensive MS of the North AfricanÊPheidole. Most of my home time at night spent in reading this enjoyable work.
Ê
Actually, your e-mail take me back in time five years ago because I have a story with this Lepisiota sp. I have collected it from Farasan Islands in the Red Sea (Saudi Arabia, near Jizan city). The ant fauna there is more or less poor due to the poor flora. That time I was not able to identify the specimensÊand suggested as undescribed species, therefore, I sent the specimens to Christiana in Karlsruhe (when I have cooperation with here!) and she sent me the automontage photos (here attached). Andreas Schulz see another specimens there collected from a locality (I do not remember exactly) alsoÊin Socotra Islands. He suggested to publish together, but I feel I need to be more sure of the species status, therefore, I reexamined the specimens and realized it is Lepisiota gracillicornis. So, I think you are quite correct inÊyour identification. May you can send these photos to Peter, they can be useful!
Ê
Last night I have a dream that I am in UK againÊduring a winter season and I lost all my luggages in the airport and Cedric take me to his home and give me his cloths and said to me that I will buy new cloths for you. Lovely person even in dreams!
Ê
Love to All
Ê
Mostafa

On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 7:56 PM, Dr Brian Taylor <dr.brian.taylor@ntlworld.com> wrote:
Hello Mostafa,

Just a little something for your interest. ÊI today examined two samples of ants sent to me by Peter Hlavac, whose interest is commensals with ants.

These were from Yemen and my reply to Peter was :

The ants from Jabal Haraz Mts are Pheidole jordanica Saulcy, 1874: 17, and match some others I have from Saudi Arabia, collected by Mostaf Sharaf.

The ants from Socotra are Lepisiota spinisquama Kuznetsov, 1929: 480. ÊCollingwood & Agosti, 1996: 369, have a brief note which includes - Òis apparently common on the island of SocotraÓ.

I attach a photomontage of the second. ÊThe specimens are a better match for the drawing by Kuznetsov than the notes and petiole drawing by Cedric, and Cedric & Donat. ÊThe propodeum spines are quite long but not as long as they suggest. ÊIt is quite similar to Lepisiota gracilicornis but the appendages are shorter and the prodeum spines more pronounce

Regards,

Brian 





On 07/12/2010 10:16, "Mostafa Sharaf" <antsharaf@gmail.com <http://antsharaf@gmail.com> > wrote:

Hello again Dr Brian,
Ê
WOW!Ê What aÊfantastic weather! I like to live in winter in UK. May IÊtry to visit UK durying December or January one a year. 
Ê
One a day moorningÊin 2004, Cedric asked me to go outdoor for aÊpicnic, I asked him why today? he repliedÊ"the weather is nice today, temperature is 6! We travelled by his car for more than 100 miles where we were in an elevated and very coldÊarea! with some pools and the surface water is in anÊice phase!" ThereforeÊ-12 in NottinghamÊis really unbelievable!
Ê
Best wishes.
Ê
MostafaÊ
Ê
PS I phoned Cedric few days ago and he go quite happy and very ok.Ê