Tetramorium rekhefe, Bolton, B., 1979

Bolton, B., 1979, The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Malagasy region and in the New World., Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 38, pp. 129-181 : 175-176

Tetramorium rekhefe sp. n.

(Fig. 58)

Holotype worker. TL 3.6, HL 0.86, HW 0.80, CI 93, SL 0.70, SI 87, PW 0.60, AL 0.96.

Antennae with 12 segments. Mandibles coarsely longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin entire, the median portion flat to very slightly concave. Frontal carinae more strongly developed than rugose sculpture of head, approaching occipital margin. Sides of head behind eye in full-face view shallowly but evenly convex. Eyes moderate, maximum diameter 0.18, about 0.22 x HW. Alitrunk in profile short and deep, the metanotal groove impressed. Propodeal spines long and strong, fully three times longer than the upcurved triangular metapleural lobes. Peduncle of petiole long and downcurved along its length. Petiole node in profile relatively high and narrow, the tergal portion higher than the dorsum is long, the dorsal surface shallowly convex and both antero- and posterodorsal angles rounded. In dorsal view the petiole node considerably broader than long. Clypeus with three longitudinal carinae. Dorsum of head with seven irregular but widely spaced longitudinal rugae between frontal carinae at level of eyes, these anastomosing and forming a weak occipital reticulum. Spaces between the rugae smooth, with only the most superficial traces of ground-sculpture. Dorsal alitrunk with a loose, wide-meshed open rugoreticulum, the interspaces shining. Petiole and postpetiole everywhere with a feeble superficial punctulation, the former also with faint rugular traces laterally. First gastral tergite with feeble traces of a superficial reticulum which is not raised but rather forms a faint surface pattern. All dorsal surfaces of head and alitrunk with numerous line hairs but the dorsal (outer) surfaces of the hind tibiae only with short pubescence which is decumbent or strongly curved. Colour dark reddish brown, the gaster and pedicel blackish brown.

Paratype workers. As holotype but with 7 - 8 cephalic rugae and measuring HL 0.88 - 0.90, HW 0.82 - 0.83, CI 92 - 93, SL 0.70 - 0.72, SI 84 - 87, PW 0.60 - 0.63, AL 0.98 - 1.04 (2 measured).

Holotype worker, Portuguese Timor: Baucau, 29 - 31. vii. 1972 (W. L. Brown) (MCZ, Cambridge). Paratypes. Two workers with same data as holotype (MCZ, Cambridge; BMNH).

This species is a member of the ornatum-group and is closely related to navum Bolton, to which point it runs in the key. The two are separated by the following.

navum

Median portion of clypeus with 5 carinae.

Cephalic sculpture of very strong carinae.

Petiole node in dorsal view longer than broad.

Tergum of petiole node longer than high.

Petiole dorsum rugulose, postpetiole dorsum unsculptured.

Scapes relatively and absolutely shorter, SL 0.56 - 0.64, SI 76 - 81.

rekhefe

Median portion of clypeus with 3 carinae.

Cephalic sculpture of feebler rugae.

Petiole node in dorsal view much broader than long.

Tergum of petiole node higher than long.

Dorsum of both petiole and postpetiole weakly superficially punctulate.

Scapes relatively and absolutely longer, SL 0.70 - 0.72, SI 84.87.