Tetraponera andrei (Mayr)

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 : 46

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5102.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BEA963B7-F7B9-458A-92EE-A4740AC390AC
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6822786
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A33567-FF90-5410-1CD0-8115FBB53914
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Tetraponera andrei (Mayr)
status

Treatment

Tetraponera andrei (Mayr) View in CoL

( Figs 23 View FIGURES 22–24 , 41 View FIGURES 41–46 )

Sima Andrei Mayr 1895: 144 View Cited Treatment . Holotype worker (by monotypy), Delagoa Bay , Mozambique (Brauns) (NHMV) [examined]. Imaged on AntWeb: CASENT0915848.

Sima (Sima) andrei Mayr ; Arnold 1916: 179. Combination in Sima (Sima) .

Tetraponera andrei (Mayr) View in CoL ; Wheeler 1922b: 796. Combination in Tetraponera View in CoL .

Tetraponera andrei (Mayr) View in CoL ; Chomicki et al. 2015: figure S1. Placement in molecular phylogeny.

Worker measurements (n = 8). HW 1.03–1.15, HL 1.14–1.30, LHT 0.74–0.85, CI 0.89–0.95, FCI 0.17–0.19, REL 0.50–0.56, REL2 0.53–0.59, SI 0.46–0.50, SI3 0.81–0.91, FI 0.45–0.50, PLI 0.75–0.86, PWI 0.69–0.81, LHT/HW 0.71–0.74, CSC 0–2, MSC 0–3.

Worker diagnosis. Moderate-sized species, with broad head (CI 0.89–0.95) and large eyes (REL 0.50–0.56); posterior margin of eye attaining the level of the lateral ocelli; frontal carinae widely separated, the minimum distance between them almost one-fifth of head width (FCI 0.17–0.19) and more than one-third of scape length (MFC/ SL 0.35–0.40); scapes relatively short (SI 0.46–50), less than eye length (SI3 0.81–0.91); anterior clypeal margin almost straight (slightly emarginate medially) and weakly crenulate ( Fig. 23a View FIGURES 22–24 ); profemur robust (FI 0.45–0.50); mesonotum bounded posteriorly by a well marked, longitudinally rugulose impression; metanotal plate lacking; dorsal face of propodeum flattened, laterally submarginate, longer than declivitous face and rounding insensibly into the latter; petiole relatively short and high (see PLI and PWI values), dorsolaterally marginate, and with an anteroventral tooth; in profile, petiolar node with steep anterodorsal and posterodorsal faces, rounding insensibly into one another ( Fig. 23b View FIGURES 22–24 ); postpetiole broader than long. Head and mesosoma densely punctulate-coriarious, matte. Standing pilosity very sparse (CSC 0–2, MSC 0–3), absent from petiole and postpetiole, the few erect setae relatively long, and distinct from the inconspicuous, short pubescence. Dark brownish-black, the mandibles, antennae, tibiae and tarsi lighter.

Comments. Within the T. natalensis group this species is easily recognized by its small worker size (HW 1.03–1.15), large eyes, short and strongly marginate petiole (PL/HW 0.50–0.55), dark color, and sparse standing pilosity. Workers of the most closely similar species, T. anthracina , are larger (worker HW 1.40–1.54), have more closely adjacent frontal carinae (FCI 0.14–0.16), lack a rugulose transverse impression at the posterior margin of the mesonotum, and have standing pilosity on the petiole and postpetiole (2–4 and 2–6 standing hairs, respectively).

Distribution and biology. Tetraponera andrei is an East African species of rather limited distribution, being known only from Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya. Workers have been collected foraging on foliage and tree trunks, in semi-dry habitats. One nest collection is known, from a dead twig (BLF37780).

Material examined ( CASC, MCZC, NHMW, PSWC, SAMC, UCDC). Kenya: Lamu: Waboniland (c.u.); Mozambique: Cabo Delgado: P.N. Quirimbas, Taratibu , 505 m (Fisher, B. L.; et al.) ; Maputo: Delagoa Bay (Brauns); Tanzania: Kilimanjaro: Mkomazi Game Reserve , Dindera Dam (van Noort, S.) ; Morogoro: Morogoro (Loveridge, A.); Pwani: Mafia Is. (Vesey-Fitzgerald) ; Tanga: Kange , near Tanga, 50 m (Ward, P. S.) .