Tetramorium glabratum

Tetramorium glabratum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Tetramorium
Species group:	solidum
Species:	T. glabratum
Binomial name
Tetramorium glabratum Stitz, 1923
Synonyms
Tetramorium rutilum Prins, 1973

Nothing is known about the biology of Tetramorium glabratum.

Identification

Mbanyana et al. (2018) - A member of the T. solidum species group. Tetramorium glabratum is similar to Tetramorium rufescens. They both lack pilosity on the dorsum of the mesosoma and on the first gastral tergite and are both reddish coloured. Tetramorium glabratum can be distinguished from the latter by the short and broad propodeal spines (PSLI 4–8), which are long and narrow in T. rufescens (PSLI 16–23).

Keys including this Species

• Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium solidum species group
• Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium solidum species group (Outdated)

Distribution

This species occurs in South Africa (Northern Cape and Western Cape) and Namibia.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -26.62638° to -31.78333°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Namibia (type locality), South Africa.

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.

Habitat

Known from Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo and the Namib Desert.

Nomenclature

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

• glabratum. Tetramorium solidum st. glabratum Stitz, 1923: 162 (w.) NAMIBIA. Raised to species, senior synonym of rutilum and material of the unavailable name aciculatum referred here: Bolton, 1980: 246.
• rutilum. Tetramorium rutilum Prins, 1973: 14, figs. 14-18, 30 (w.q.) SOUTH AFRICA. Junior synonym of glabratum: Bolton, 1980: 246.

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

Description

Worker

Bolton (1980) - TL 5.0—5.7, HL 1.26-1.40, HW 1.18—1.32, CI 93-95, SL 0.86-0.98, SI 73-75, PW 0.78-0.87, AL 1.38-1.45 (3 measured).

Mandibles longitudinally rugulose, anterior clypeal margin with a shallow median impression. Frontal carinae very short, ending before the level of the midlength of the eyes. Maximum diameter of eye c. 0.36, about 0.27 x HW. Occipital corners broadly rounded, the occipital margin broadly but shallowly concave. Sides of head behind eyes weakly convex but in front of eyes more or less straight. Propodeum in profile shaped as in Fig. 29, the propodeal spines short, broad across the base and acute apically. Sides of pronotum with a vertical ridge or carina anteriorly which separates the pronotum proper from the cervical portion of the sclerite, this ridge petering out on the dorsum. Petiole and postpetiole in profile as in Fig. 29, in dorsal view the petiole broader than long, with a strongly arched anterior face and a more or less straight posterior face. Head finely longitudinally rugulose dorsally, the rugulae strongest on the clypeus and side in front of the eyes but rapidly fading out posteriorly so that at the level of the posterior margins of the eye they are very weak indeed. On the occiput the rugulae are so weak as to be absent or virtually absent and a very fine reticulate-punctulation becomes apparent, especially on the occipital corners. Dorsal alitrunk usually with some weak longitudinal rugulae, the spaces with fine dense reticulate-punctulation. Pedicel dorsally similarly sculptured but the rugulae weaker still, virtually or completely effaced. First gastral tergite basally with very faint, very fine, inconspicuous surface reticulation only. Dorsal surfaces of alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole and first gastral tergite without hairs, the head with 4—S pairs dorsally. Dorsal surfaces of hind tibiae with short, appressed pilosity. Colour dull red, glossy.

Mbanyana et al (2018) - (N = 7) HL 1.042–1.141 (1.065); HW 1.031–1.092 (1.065) SL 0.757–0.836 (0.800); EL 0.295–0.315 (0.304); PH 0.462–0.531 (0.504); PW 0.667–0.738 (0.705); WL 1.033–1.239 (1.105); PSL 0.049–0.489 (0.060); PTH 0.344–0.374 (0.357); PTL 0.266–0.305 (0.290); PTW 0.315–0.384 (0.359); PPH 0.384–0.433 (0.410); PPL 0.246–0.275 (0.259); PPW 0.423–0.482 (0.452); OI 28–29 (29); CI 95–100 (97); SI 73–78 (75); DMI 57–71 (64); LMI 40–50 (46); PSLI 4–8 (5); PeNI 44–55 (51); LPeI 73–89 (81) DPeI 108–131 (124); PpNI 58–69 (64); LPpI 59–68 (63); DPpI 165–186 (174); PPI 120–141 (126).

Type Material

Mbanyana et al (2018):

Holotype of Tetramorium solidum st. glabratum Stitz, 1923, worker: Karibib, 23–26 Apr. 1911, W. Michaelsen leg. (Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität: FOCOL2085).

Holotype of Tetramorium solidum race glabratum var. aciculatum Stitz, 1923: worker, Lüderitzbucht, 5–13 Jul. 1911, W. Michaelsen leg. (types not in ZMHB, presumably lost).

Syntypes of Tetramorium rutilum Prins, 1973: 8 pinned workers, 1 pinned ♀, Western Cape, Van Rhynsdorp, 19 Apr. 1963, J.J. Cillie leg. (SAM-ENT-0011750).

References

• Bolton, B. 1980. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 40(3):193-384.
• Mbanyana, N., Hita Garcia, F., Robertson, H.G., Le Roux, J.J. 2018. A taxonomic revision of seed harvester ants of the Tetramorium solidum group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Africa. European Journal of Taxonomy 454: 1–59 (DOI 10.5852/ejt.2018.454).
• Stitz, H. 1923. Hymenoptera, VII. Formicidae. Beitr. Kennt. Land- Süsswasserfauna Dtsch.-Südwestafr. 2: 143-167 (page 162, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
• Koch F., and K. Vohland. 2004. Ants along a southern African transect - a basis for biodiversity change monitoring (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zoosystematics and Evolution 80(2): 261-273.
• Mbanyana N. 2013. Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of seed-harvesting ants in the Tetramorium solidum-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Masters of Science in the Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University 115 pages.
• Mbanyana N., F. Hita Garcia, H. G. Robertson, and J. J. Le Roux. 2018. A taxonomic revision of seed harvester ants of the Tetramorium solidum group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Africa. European Journal of Taxonomy 454: 1-59.
• Prins A. J. 1973. African Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in the South African Museum. Description of four new species and notes on Tetramorium Mayr. Annals of the South African Museum 62: 1-40.
• Stitz H. 1923. Hymenoptera, VII. Formicidae. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Land- und Süsswasserfauna Deutsch-Südwestafrikas 2: 143-167.