Tetraponera morondaviensis (Forel)

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 : 41-42

Tetraponera morondaviensis (Forel)

( Fig. 20 )

Sima Sahlbergii race morondaviensis Forel 1891: 206 . Syntype, 1 worker, Morondava , Madagascar (Grevé) (MHNG) [examined]. Imaged on AntWeb: CASENT0101715.

Sima hysterica r. dimidiata Forel 1895: 487 . Syntypes, 4 workers, Central Madagascar (Sikora) ( MSNG, MHNG) [examined] . 1 syntype worker from MSNG imaged on AntWeb: CASENT0102035 . 3 syntype workers from MHNG imaged on AntWeb: CASENT0101049, CASENT0101050, CASENT0101051. Syn. nov .

Sima arrogans Santschi 1911b: 117 . Holotype queen (by monotypy), partially dealate, Morondava, Madagascar (G. Grandidier) (MNHN) [examined]. Imaged on AntWeb : CASENT0101397. Syn. nov.

Sima demens Santschi 1911d: 282 . Holotype worker (by monotypy), Andriolana , Baie d’Ampasindava, Madagascar (Joly) (MNHN) [examined]. Imaged on AntWeb: CASENT0101396. Syn. nov.

Sima morondaviensis Forel ; Dalla Torre 1893: 54. Raised to species.

Sima (Tetraponera) sahlbergi subsp. morondaviensis Emery ; Emery 1921: 28. Combination in Sima (Tetraponera) ; subspecies of S. sahlbergii .

Tetraponera sahlbergi subsp. morondaviensis (Emery) ; Wheeler 1922c: 1016. Combination in Tetraponera .

Tetraponera morondaviensis (Forel) ; Ward 1991: 338, 346. Raised to species.

Tetraponera morondaviensis (Forel) ; Chomicki et al. 2015: figure S1. Placement in molecular phylogeny.

Sima (Tetraponera) hysterica subsp. dimidiata Forel ; Emery 1921: 27. Combination in Sima (Tetraponera) .

Tetraponera hysterica subsp. dimidiata (Forel) ; Wheeler 1922c: 1015. Combination in Tetraponera .

Sima (Tetraponera) arrogans Santschi ; Emery 1921: 27. Combination in Sima (Tetraponera) .

Tetraponera arrogans (Santschi) ; Wheeler 1922c: 1014. Combination in Tetraponera .

Sima (Tetraponera) demens Santschi ; Emery 1921: 27. Combination in Sima (Tetraponera) .

Tetraponera demens (Santschi) ; Wheeler 1922c: 1014. Combination in Tetraponera .

Worker measurements (n =10). HW 0.69–0.97, HL 0.89–1.29, LHT 0.67–0.97, CI 0.75–0.78, FCI 0.13–0.16, REL 0.28–0.31, REL2 0.36–0.41, SI 0.63–0.70, SI3 1.59–1.91, FI 0.36–0.43, PLI 0.65–0.73, PWI 0.49–0.56, LHT/HW 0.96–1.05, CSC 2–8, MSC 13–22.

Worker diagnosis. Small to medium-sized species, with relatively broad head (CI 0.75–0.78) and eyes of moderate size (see ocular indices); minimum distance between frontal carinae exceeding basal scape width (FCI 0.13–0.16); scape relatively long, about two-thirds of head width and about one-half head length (SI 0.63–0.70, SI2 0.48–0.53); median clypeal lobe crenulate, broadly convex ( Fig. 20a ); profemur moderately robust (FI 0.36–0.43); mesosoma with a differentiated, transverse metanotal plate, about one-half the length of the mesonotum; dorsal face of propodeum weakly convex (posterior view), in profile as long as or longer than declivitous face and rounding insensibly into the latter; petiole moderately robust (see PLI and PWI values), with a differentiated anterior peduncle and anteroventral tooth; petiolar node rounded in profile, the anterodorsal face usually steeper than the posterodorsal face ( Fig. 20b ); postpetiole longer than broad. Head finely reticulate-punctate, sublucid, the punctures dense and relatively coarse (0.01 mm in diameter), and associated with conspicuous, appressed to subdecumbent pubescence ( Fig. 20a ); mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster with weaker reticulate sculpture and scattered punctures, sublucid. Standing pilosity moderately common on head (CSC 2–8), more so on mesosoma dorsum (MSC 13–22), but absent from propodeum. Medium reddish-brown to dark-brown, mandibles, antennae, and anterior third of head tending to be lighter ( Fig. 20 ).

Comments. This species can be recognized in the worker caste by the crenulate median clypeal lobe, relatively broad and rather densely punctate head (CI 0.75–0.78), well developed metanotal plate, conspicuous standing pilosity on the promesonotum (absent from the propodeum), robust petiole (PLI 0.65–0.73, PWI 0.49–0.56), and brown to red-brown coloration. Related species, such as T. perlonga , tend to be smaller in size and darker in color, and they have a more elongate head (CI 0.64–0.74) and/or finer cephalic sculpture. The T. morondaviensis queen can be recognized by its large size (HW 1.08–1.30), massively expanded masticatory margin of the mandible, and ligulate clypeal lobe with medial notch.

Distribution and biology. T. morondaviensis is widespread in dry forest of Madagascar, nesting in dead twigs and branches of many kinds of plants. This species forms large polydomous colonies and the workers can be quite aggressive.

Figures

FIGURES 19–21. Tetraponera allaborans group, workers, full-face (dorsal) view of head (a) and lateral profile of body (b). 19, T. mandibularis, Madagascar (CASENT0012845); 20, T. morondaviensis, Madagascar (CASENT0012835); 21, T. sahlbergii, Madagascar (CASENT0012851). Images from AntWeb (www.antweb.org); photographer April Nobile.