Tetramorium simillimum

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 : 155

The simillimum -group

For definition of the group see page 169.

Madagascar has five representatives of this successful group of small species, two of which are restricted to the region ( anodontion and scytalum ) although closely related to the African parentstock of the group. The other three species are shared with the Ethiopian region, one of them being very widespread in eastern and southern Africa ( delagoense ), whilst the final two, simillimum and caldarium , are both accomplished tramp species with a very wide distribution outside Africa, their place of origin. These two tramp species are discussed under the section dealing with the New World fauna.