Tetraponera merita, Ward, P. S., 2009

Ward, P. S., 2009, The ant genus Tetraponera in the Afrotropical region: the T. grandidieri group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Journal of Hymenoptera Research 18, pp. 285-304 : 299-300

Tetraponera merita sp. n.

(Figs 1, 17-18, 26)

Sima Grandidieri var. Hildebrandti; Forel 1892: 260 (in part) (misidentification)

Tetraponera psw92; Fisher 1996:100; Fisher 1998: 49; Fisher 1999: 134; Fisher 2002: 318. Cited in faunal inventories.

Holotype worker. MADAGASCAR Toamasina : 1 km SSW Andasibe (= Perinet ), 920 m, 18°56'S 48°25'E, 16.xi.1990, ex rotting tree stump, rainforest, P. S. Ward #10943 ( CASENT0012863 ) ( CASC) .

Paratypes. Séries of workers and queens, same locality as holotype, 16.xi.1990 and 12.xii.1990 (P. S. Ward #10939, 19043, 10944-3, 11144) ( BMNH, CASC, MCZC, PSWC, SAMC, UCDC) .

Material Examined.-( BMNH, CASC, MCZC, MHNG, MNHN, NHMV, PSWC, SAMC, UCDC) MADAGASCAR Antsiranana: Ampasindava, Ambilanivy, 3.9 km 181° S Ambaliha, 600 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al.); Ampasindava, Ambilanivy, 3.9 km 181° S Ambaliha, 600 m (Rafanomezantsoa, J. J.); Forêt Antsahabe, 11.4 km 275° W Dairana, 550 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al.); Forêt Binara, 9.1 km 233° SW Dairana, 650-800 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al); P.N. Marojejy, 27.6 km 35° NE Andapa, 775 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al); R.S. Manongarivo, 10.8 km 229° SW Antanambao, 400 m (Fisher, B. L.); R.S. Manongarivo, 12.8 km 228° SW Antanambao, 780 m (Fisher, B. L.); Fianarantsoa: 43 km S Ambalavao, Res. Andringitra, 800 m (Fisher, B. L.); 43 km S Ambalavao, Res. Andringitra, 825 m (Fisher, B. L.); 45 km S Ambalavao, 785 m (Fisher, B. L.); Ambodiamontana[as "Ambodiamatana"], Ranomafana Nati Pk, 800 m (Rajeriarison, E.); Miaranony, Ranomafana Nati Pk, 1050 m (Rajeriarison, E.); Miaranony, Ranomafana Nati Pk, 700 m (Rajeriarison, E.); Nat. Park Ranomafana, Miaranony, 1050 m (Rajeriarison, E.); P.N. Ranomafana, 1130 m (Harin'Hala, R.); P.N. Ranomafana, Vatoharanana, 4.1 km 231° SW Ranomafana, 1100 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al.); PN Befotaka-Midongy, 940 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al); R.S. Ivohibe, 8.0 km E Ivohibe, 1200 m (Fisher, B. L.); R.S. Ivohibe, 9.0 km NE Ivohibe, 900 m (Fisher, B. L.); Ranomafana Nati Pk. (Rajeriarison, E.); Ranomafana, Miaranony Village (Kingman, A.); Valoloaka Forest, Ranomafana Nati Pk, 1150 m (Rajeriarison, E.); Vevembe, 600 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al.); Toamasina: 17 km W Andapa, Res. d'Anjanaharibe-Sud, 875 m (Alpert, G. D.); 1 km SSW Andasibe (=Permet), 920 m (Ward, P. S.); 6.5 km SSW Befingotra, Res. Anjanaharibe-Sud, 875 m (Fisher, В. L.); 9.2 km WSW Befingotra, Res. Anjanaharibe-Sud, 1280 m (Fisher, В. L.); Andasibe ( Périnet) (Brooks, R. W.); Betampona, 390 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); Betampona, 520 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); F.C. Andriantantely, 530 m (Ratsirarson, H. J.); F.C. Sandranantitra, 450 m (Ratsirarson, H. J.); Forêt Ambatovy, 14.3 km 57° [NE] Moramanga, 1075 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); Forêt Analamay, 19.1 km 51° NE Moramanga, 1068 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al.); Forêt Torotorofotsy, 14.9 km 71° ENE Moramanga, 1070 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); Manakambahiny(Pauly, A.); Mont. Anjanaharibe, 18.0 km 21° NNE Ambinanitelo, 470 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al); Mont. Anjanaharibe, 19.5 km 27° NNE Ambinanitelo, 1100 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); P.N. Mantadia, 895 m (Ratsirarson, H. J.); PN Zahamena, 860 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al); PN Zahamena, Besaky River, 760 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); PN Zahamena, Oribe River, 780 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); PN Zahamena, Sahavorondrano River, 765 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); vie. Andasibe (=Perinet), 950-980 m (Brown, W. L.; Brown, D. E.); Toliara: 10 km NW Enakara, Rés. Andohahela, 420 m (Fisher, В. L.); Env. de Tsivory ( Région du Sud) (Vacher); Forêt Ivohibe, 200 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); Forêt Ivohibe, 650 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); Fort Dauphin (Sikora); Grand Lavasoa, 450 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); P.N. Andohahela, Manampanihy, 5.4 km 113° ESE Mahamavo, 650 m (Fisher, В. L.; et al.); PN Andohahela, 275 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al.); province unknown: "Madagascar Central" (Sikora); "Madagascar /(S.-E.)" (Decary, R.).

Worker measurements (n = 9). HW

1.16-1.59, HL 1.23-1.74, LHT 1.38-1.83, CI 0.90-0.94, FCI 0.11-0.15, REL 0.31-0.34, REL2 0.34-0.38, SI 0.76-0.82, FI 0.28-0.32, PLI 0.49-0.56, PWI 0.46-0.53.

Worker diagnosis. Similar to T. grandidieri (q.v.). Basal margin of mandible with conspicuous tooth (Fig. 1); anterior clypeal margin deflected ventrally; head relatively broad (CI 0.90-0.94); metanotal spiracle visible in lateral view of mesosoma; dorsal face of propodeum broadly convex in posterior view; standing pilosity and appressed pubescence generally sparse; integument mostly sublucid, with fine coriarious /puncticulate sculpture; orange to reddish-brown, appendages paler; head usually concolorous with mesosoma.

Comments. This is one of the more distinctive species in the Г. grandidieri group, easily recognized by the presence of a tooth on the basal margin of the mandible and by the undercut median portion of the clypeus. T. merita is usually more or less unicolorous reddish- or orange-brown, without a contrastingly darker head, but in some northern populations(3.9 km S Ambaliha, Forêt Antsahabe and Forêt Binara) the head is infuscated relative to the rest of the body. This species also tends to be larger than ali the others except T. manangotra (see HW, HL and LHT measurements). Although the holotype of T. grandidieri hildebrandti (Forel, 1891) is conspecific with T. grandidieri (Forel, 1891), material referred to T. g. hildebrandti by Forel (1892: 260) includes T. merita . During earlier examination and identification of muséum material I assigned the code name Tetraponera psw92 to this species.

Distribution and biology. T. merita is widely distributed in rainforest of eastern and northern Madagascar, overlapping the ranges of ali other species in the T. grandidieri group (Fig. 26). Nests have been found on the ground in rotten logs, sticks and tree stumps. A worker from the type series ( PSW 10943) stung me on my left index finger. The sting was rather painful and left a pustule that lasted more than a week. It reinforced my impression that the conspicuous orange and reddish-brown coloration of workers of T. merita and related species in the T. grandidieri group is aposematic.