Tetramorium glabratum Stitz, 1923

Mbanyana, Nokuthula, Garcia, Francisco Hita, Robertson, Hamish Gibson & Roux, Johannes Jacobus Le, 2018, A taxonomic revision of seed harvester ants of the Tetramorium solidum group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Africa, European Journal of Taxonomy 454, pp. 1-59 : 23-26

Tetramorium glabratum Stitz, 1923

Figs 2G , 3F, H, L, O , 4B , 12 , 24

Tetramorium solidum st. glabratum Stitz, 1923: 162 (included in Bolton 1980: 246).

Tetramorium solidum race glabratum var. aciculatum Stitz, 1923: 162 .

Tetramorium rutilum Prins, 1973: 14 (included in Bolton 1980: 246).

Diagnosis

Tetramorium glabratum is similar to T. 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) (3H), which are long and narrow in T. rufescens (PSLI 16–23) ( Fig. 3I ).

Unexamined type material

NAMIBIA: holotype of Tetramorium solidum st. glabratum Stitz, 1923 , worker: Karibib , 23–26 Apr. 1911, W. Michaelsen leg. ( ZMHB: FOCOL 2085 ); 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).

Material examined

Type material

SOUTH AFRICA: 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).

Other material

SOUTH AFRICA (24 pinned specimens): Western Cape: Klawer, 19 Apr. 1963, A.J. Prins leg. ( SAM- HYM-C019335); Bitterfontein , 9 Oct. 1959, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019341); Kleinsee , 29° S, 17° E, 12 Jul. 1995, M. Jones leg. (SAM-HYM-C024395); BPB Gypsum , 31°33.6′ S, 18°45.2′ E, 8 Nov. 2000, pitfall traps, A. Schmidt leg. (SAM-HYM-C023291). – Northern Cape: Okiep , 21 Apr. 1963, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019337); Garies , 6 Oct. 1959, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019338); Port Nolloth , 7 Oct. 1959, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019339); Springfontein , 8 Oct. 1969, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019340); Port Nolloth, 7 Oct. 1959, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019174, SAM- HYM-C019175); Port Nolloth , May 1986, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019193).

NAMIBIA (5 pinned specimens): Diamond area, 28.3833° S, 16.31667° E, 29 Sep. 1994, E. Marais leg.; Oranjemund , Diamond area, 28.55° S, 16.45° E, 18 Sep. 1994, E. Marais leg.; Keetmanshoop District , Khabus 146, 26°18′ S, 18°13′ E, on sandy plain next riverbed, 14 Apr.–30 Jun. 1988, N. and G. Olivier leg.

Measurements (worker 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).

Distribution

This species is known from South Africa and Namibia. It has been collected from the Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo and Namib Desert.

Remarks

A detailed description of this species is given in Bolton 1980.

Figures

Fig. 2. Body in profile showing pilosity and pubescence. A. T. dichroum Santschi, 1932 (CASENT0746320). B. T. peringueyi Arnold, 1926 (CASENT0250873). C. T. rothschildi (Forel, 1907) (CASENT0764434). D. T. clunum Forel, 1913 (CASENT0764600). E. T. galoanasum Santschi, 1910 (CASENT0915015 – Antweb, William Ericson). F. T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 (MCZ_ENT00512567). G. T. glabratum Stitz, 1923 (SAM-HYM-C024395). H. T. rufescens Stitz, 1923 (CASENT0250852). I. T. solidum Emery, 1886 (CASENT0250960).

Fig. 3. A–B. Waist segments and gaster oblique lateral view. A. T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 (MCZ_ ENT00512567). B. T. clunum Forel, 1913 (CASENT0764600). C–F. Waist segments in dorsal view. C. T. grandinode Santschi, 1913 (CASENT0764655). D. T. lerouxi Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (SAM-HYM-C023329). E. T. signatum Emery, 1895 (SAM-HYM-C020573). F. T. glabratum Stitz, 1923 (SAM-HYM-C024395). G–I. Mesosoma in profile. G. T. jordani Santschi, 1937 (CASENT0248475). H. T. glabratum (SAM-HYM-C024395). I. T. rufescens Stitz, 1923 (CASENT0250852). J–M. Head in full-face view. J. T. barbigerum Bolton, 1980 (CASENT0901181). K. T. pogonion Bolton, 1980 (CASTYPE13390 – Antweb, photographer unknown). L. T. glabratum (SAM-HYM-C024395). M. T. rufescens (CASENT0250852). N–P. Waist segments in profile. N. T. duncani Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (SAM-HYM-C027003). O. T. glabratum (SAM-HYM-C024395). P. T. rufescens (CASENT0250852).

Fig. 4. A–B. Mesosoma in dorsal view. A. T. signatum Emery, 1895 (SAM-HYM-C020573). B. T. glabratum Stitz, 1923 (SAM-HYM-C024395). C–D. Antennal scape in frontal view. C. T. aisha Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (CASENT0250969). D. T. peringueyi Arnold, 1926 (SAM-HYM-C026796). E–F. Mesosoma in dorsal view. E. T. peringueyi (CASENT0250873). F. T. margueriteae Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (SAM-NC07-012). G–H. Body in profile. G. T. peringueyi (CASENT0250873). H. T. margueriteae sp. nov. (SAM-HYM-C019839). I–L. Mesosoma in profile. I. T. dichroum Santschi, 1932 (CASENT0746320). J. T. brigitteae Mbanyana, Robertson&HitaGarciasp.nov.(SAM-HYM-C027040).K.T.solidumEmery, 1886(CASENT0250960). L. T. aisha sp. nov. (CASENT0250969).

Fig. 12. Tetramorium glabratum Stitz, 1923 (SAM-HYM-C024395). A. Body in profile. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in full-face view.

Fig. 24. Map showing the distribution of species in the Tetramorium solidum group.