Tetraponera grandidieri (Forel, 1891)

Ward, Philip S., 2022, The ant genus Tetraponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Afrotropical region: taxonomic review and key to species, Zootaxa 5102 (1), pp. 1-70 : 44

Tetraponera grandidieri -group

Worker diagnosis (modified from Ward 2009). Medium to large species (HW 0.95–1.59, HL 1.05–2.01, LHT 1.05–1.83); masticatory margin of with four teeth; basal margin with 0–1 teeth and subequal in length to masticatory margin; labrum with a pair of tubercles closely flanking the midline near the proximal margin but lacking a median tubercle; palp formula 6,4; anteromedial margin of clypeus crenulate or emarginate; distance between frontal carinae exceeding basal scape width (FCI 0.11–0.18), scape length three-quarters or more of head width (SI 0.72–0.90); eye length about one-third of head length (REL 0.28–0.36); head capsule with three distinct ocelli; pronotum laterally marginate, but not strongly so; mesopropodeal impression well developed; petiole relatively long (PLI 0.38–0.59, PWI 0.37–0.65); posteroventral margin of petiole lying adjacent to helcium venter; metabasitarsal sulcus present; legs long and slender (FI 0.27–0.36, LHT/HL 0.85–1.12); appressed pubescence sparse on abdominal tergite 4; standing pilosity uncommon (CSC 2–3, MSC 1–6), absent from mesonotum, propodeum, and extensor surfaces of the tibiae. Orange to reddish-brown, head concolorous or darker; gaster and portions of femora may also be infuscated.

Comments. This group, which is endemic to the island of Madagascar, was previously revised ( Ward 2009) and seven species were recognized. Recent collections by Brian Fisher and colleagues have turned up one additional species.