Tetramorium mpala, Hita Garcia & Fischer, 2014

Garcia, Francisco Hita & Fischer, Georg, 2014, Additions to the taxonomy of the Afrotropical Tetramorium weitzeckeri species complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae), with the description of a new species from Kenya, European Journal of Taxonomy 90, pp. 1-16 : 11-13

Tetramorium mpala sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:97CF15C9-2859-4075-9A6A-F0A82023BA3A

Figs 3C , 6A, D , 11 , 12

Type material

Holotype

KENYA: Pinned worker, Rift Valley Province, Laikipia District, Mpala Research Centre , 0.29° S, 36.9° E, 1650 m, Acacia woodland, foraging on ground, collection code RRS01-188, 2 Apr. 2001, R. R. Snelling, unique specimen identifier CASENT0247445 ( LACM).

Diagnosis

The character combination of very large eyes (OI 31) and first gastral tergite with long, fine decumbent to subdecumbent (rarely appressed) pilosity distinguishes T. mpala from the remainder of the T. weitzeckeri species complex.

Description (worker, N=1)

Measurements: HL 0.79; HW 0.74; SL 0.60; EL 0.23; PH 0.44; PW 0.59; WL 1.04; PSL 0.28; PTL 0.12; PTH 0.36; PTW 0.35; PPL 0.26; PPH 0.38; PPW 0.42; CI 94; SI 71; OI 31; DMI 57; LMI 42; PSLI 35; PeNI 59; LPeI 33; DPeI 292; PpNI 71; LPpI 68; DPpI 162; PPI 120.

Head longer than wide (CI 94); posterior head margin in full-face view flat to weakly concave; anterior clypeal margin with distinct median impression; frontal carinae strongly developed, distinctly raised, and very long, approaching or ending at posterior head margin; antennal scrobes present, but shallow and without clearly defined posterior and ventral margins. Antennal scapes of moderate length, not reaching posterior head margin (SI 81). Eyes very large (OI 31).

Mesosomal outline in profile weakly to moderately convex, moderately marginate from lateral to dorsal mesosoma, comparatively high and stout (LMI 42); promesonotal suture present, weak but clearly visible; metanotal groove well developed and in profile moderately deep. Propodeal spines long, spinose and acute (PSLI 35); propodeal lobes short, triangular and blunt. Petiolar node squamiform to thinly high cuneiform and slightly triangular, in profile three times higher than long (LPeI 33), anterodorsal and posterodorsal margins relatively rounded and posterodorsal margin less well developed than anterodorsal, petiolar dorsum tapering backwards; node in dorsal view of strongly transverse elliptical shape, around 2.9 times as wide as long (DPeI 292). Postpetiole in profile subglobular to weakly anteroposteriorly compressed, approximately 1.5 times as high as long (LPpI 68); in dorsal view around 1.6 times as wide as long (DPpI 162). Postpetiole in profile appearing higher and more voluminous than petiolar node, in dorsal view 1.2 times as wide as petiolar node (PPI 120).

Mandibles striate; clypeus longitudinally rugulose with six more or less irregular rugulae, median rugula not well developed; cephalic dorsum between frontal carinae irregularly longitudinally rugose with around eight rugae, rugae running from posterior clypeal margin to posterior head margin, but some broken, meandering or with cross-meshes; scrobal area partly unsculptured, but mostly merging with surrounding reticulate-rugose to longitudinally rugose sculpture present on lateral and ventral. Mesosoma laterally and dorsally longitudinally rugose, laterally slightly more irregularly so. Forecoxae unsculptured, smooth and shining. Both waist segments and gaster completely unsculptured, smooth and shining. Ground sculpture generally faint to absent everywhere on body. Head with moderately abundant standing pilosity; mesosoma with six pairs of long, fine, standing hairs; petiole with three pairs of long, fine, standing hairs and postpetiole with four pairs of subdecumbent to decumbent, long, fine hairs; first gastral tergite with fairly long, fine and subdecumbent to decumbent pilosity. Anterior edges of antennal scapes and metatibiae with appressed hairs. Body colouration chestnut brown to dark brown, appendages lighter in colour and gaster much darker than remainder of body.

Etymology

The name of the new species is inspired by the type locality, the Mpala Research Centre, which is an important research facility in Kenya. The species epithet is a nominative noun in apposition and thus invariant.

Distribution and ecology

Tetramorium mpala sp. nov. is currently only known from the type locality ( Fig. 12 ) where it was collected in acacia woodland savannah at an elevation of 1650 m. The holotype was sampled on the ground, but until more material becomes available it remains unclear whether that is the primary stratum of T. mpala .

Figures

Fig. 3. Gaster in lateral view. A. Tetramorium humbloti Forel (CASENT0059691, AntWeb, April Nobile 2006). B. T. renae Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters (CASENT0095412). C. T. mpala sp. nov. (CASENT0247445, AntWeb, M. Esposito 2013).

Fig. 6. Half of head in frontal view and gaster in lateral view. A, D. Tetramorium mpala sp. nov. (CASENT0247445, AntWeb, M. Esposito 2013). B, E. T. snellingi Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters (ZFMK-HYM20093102). C, F. T. renae Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters (CASENT0095412).

Fig. 11. Tetramorium mpala sp. nov. (CASENT0316967). A. Body in lateral view. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in frontal view.

Fig. 12. Map of sub-Saharan Africa showing the type locality of Tetramorium mpala sp. nov.