Tetramorium tricarinatum

Tetramorium tricarinatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Tetramorium
Species:	T. tricarinatum
Binomial name
	Tetramorium tricarinatum; Viehmeyer, 1914 Specimen labels
Synonyms
	Xiphomyrmex tricolor Donisthorpe, 1949;

Nothing is known about the biology of Tetramorium tricarinatum.

Identification

Bolton (1977) - Closely related to Tetramorium pacificum, tricarinatum is easily separated from that species by its distinct colour and reduced sculpture. It is one of three bicoloured black and yellow species of Tetramorium found on New Guinea. One of these, Tetramorium diligens, belongs to the carinatum-group and has 11 antennal segments and a spatulate sting appendage, the other, Tetramorium bicolor, is very closely related but much less strongly sculptured.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -1.966167° to -6.536246°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

tricarinatum. Tetramorium bicolor subsp. tricarinatum Viehmeyer, 1914c: 529, fig. 4 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Raised to species and senior synonym of tricolor: Bolton, 1977: 103.
tricolor. Xiphomyrmex tricolor Donisthorpe, 1949c: 753 (w.) NEW GUINEA. [Unresolved junior secondary homonym of Triglyphothrix tricolor Donisthorpe, above.] Junior synonym of tricarinatum: Bolton, 1977: 103.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Bolton (1977) - TL 3.4-4.4, HL 0.86-1.06, HW 0.74-0.92, CI 84-89, SL 0.60-0.78, SI 81-89, PW 0.54-0.64, AL 1.00-1.20 (15 measured).

Mandibles smooth, unsculptured except for scattered pits. Clypeus with a median notch or impression. Median portion of clypeus with three strong longitudinal carinae. Frontal carinae extending back almost to the occiput. Maximum diameter of eye e. 0.17-0.20, about 0.22-0.24 x HW. Propodeal spines in profile long, narrow and acute; metapleural lobes broadly triangular, acute and somewhat upcurved. Petiole node in profile with the anterior face distinctly shorter than the posterior so that the convex dorsal surface slopes upwards posteriorly and the posterodorsal angle is on a higher level than the rounded anterodorsal angle. Sculpture of dorsum of head between frontal carinae consisting of three longitudinal carinae which in most specimens run uninterruptedly from clypeus almost to occiput. In some the lateral pair of carinae are interrupted or broken and in most specimens other short carinae or rugulae are present upon the dorsum. Some anastomosis of the rugulae or carinae may occur occipitally, but reticulate sculpture is absent. Ground sculpture between the carinae or rugae is very faint and the surfaces are mostly shiny. Dorsal alitrunk rugose, predominantly longitudinally in some, but with pronotal or other reticulation in others. Petiole and postpetiole rugose, usually longitudinal on dorsum but reticulate on the sides, less commonly reticulate everywhere. Gaster unsculptured. Long, erect or suberect hairs present on all dorsal surfaces of head and body. Colour conspicuous, head and gaster blackish brown to black, alitrunk and all appendages yellow or very light yellow-brown. Some of the larger workers also show patches of yellowish colour around the occipital margins of the head.

Type Material

Bolton (1977) - Syntype workers, New Guinea: Papua, Rawlinsongebirge (Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität) [examined].

References

Bolton, B. 1977. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions, and in Australia. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology. 36:67-151. (page 103, Raised to species, and senior synonym of tricolor)
Viehmeyer, H. 1914c. Papuanische Ameisen. Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 1914: 515-535 (page 529, fig. 4 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton B. 1977. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions, and in Australia. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 36:67-151.
Bolton, B. "The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicinae. The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions and in Australia." Bulletin of the British Museum (National History): Entomology series 36, no. 2 (1977): 68-151.
Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
Snelling R. R. 2000. Ants of the Wapoga river area, Irian Jaya, Indonesia. In Mack, Andrew L. and Leeanne E. Alonso (eds.). 2000. A Biological Assessment of the Wapoga River Area of Northwestern Irian Jaya, Indonesia. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 14, Conservation International, Washington, DC.
Viehmeyer H. 1914. Papuanische Ameisen. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1914: 515-535.