Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913

Mbanyana, Nokuthula, Garcia, Francisco Hita, Robertson, Hamish Gibson & Roux, Johannes Jacobus Le, 2018, A taxonomic revision of seed harvester ants of the Tetramorium solidum group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Africa, European Journal of Taxonomy 454, pp. 1-59 : 26-29

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2018.454

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:07F6B28D-ECA4-4F14-8132-0A58DE156057

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3818706

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039887DC-FF89-A468-2B0A-A04DFBFFA62E

treatment provided by

Valdenar (2020-05-08 15:01:49, last updated 2024-11-24 23:21:51)

scientific name

Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913
status

 

Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913 View in CoL

Figs 3C View Fig , 13 View Fig , 24 View Fig

Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913: 308 View in CoL View Cited Treatment (included in Bolton 1980: 247).

Tetramorium grandinode var. hopensis Forel, 1914: 223 (included in Bolton 1980: 247).

Diagnosis

The remarkable lateral extensions of both petiolar and postpetiolar nodes ( Fig. 3C View Fig ) distinguish T. grandinode from all other species in the T. solidum group. This species has superficial similarities with T. duncani sp. nov. in that T. duncani sp. nov. also has a broader postpetiole, but to a much lesser extent (DPpI 104–123) compared to T. grandinode (DPpI 184–322). Moreover, T. grandinode has a much broader petiole node when viewed dorsally compared to T. duncani sp. nov. Additionally, these two species can be separated on the basis of the mesosoma sculpture: in T. grandinode , the dorsal surface has fine longitudinal rugulae and a glossy appearance in between, whereas in T. duncani sp. nov. it has a reticulate ground sculpture overlain by short fine longitudinal striations.

Material examined

Type material

SOUTH AFRICA: syntype of Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913 : worker, Western Cape, Cape Colony ( NHMB: CASENT0915017 ); syntype of Tetramorium grandinode var. hopensis Forel, 1914 , worker, Northern Cape, Orange River, Hope Town ( MNHG: CASENT0909135 ).

Other material

SOUTH AFRICA (98 pinned specimens): Northern Cape: Goegap Nature Reserve , Jul. 1986, U. Kruger leg. (SAM-HYM-C013306); Tankwa Karoo National Park , 32.17430° S, 19.97382′ E, 602 m a.s.l., 9 Jan. 2009, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C023302); Road between Karsten Farms and Goodhouse, Klein Pella , 29.02700° S, 18.99008° E, 621 m a.s.l., Plein Gariep desert, deep soils without gravel, Euphorbia present, 16 Dec. 2007, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. ( SAM- HYM-C019900). GoogleMaps – Western Cape: Prince Albert, Farm Argentina, 33.165444° S, 22.2595° E, 745 m a.s.l., 3 Mar. 2007, Succulent Karoo, pitfall trap, Iimbovane Outreach Project , B. Braschler leg. ( SAM- HYM-C024969); GoogleMaps Abrahamskraal, 32.93011° S, 22.00949° E, 522 m a.s.l., 12 Apr. 2008, rocky ridges, with sparsely distributed shrubs including Lycium , shallow soils, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020349); GoogleMaps Vêrgenoeg, 33.24421° S, 21.47939, 10 Apr. 2008, Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo , N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020425); Vêrgenoeg, 33.24467° S, 21.47597° E, 10 Apr. 2008, Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo , east-facing rocky slope, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020434); GoogleMaps Josephskraal, 33.04287° S, 20.71934° E, 900 m a.s.l., 16 Apr. 2008, Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo , Karoo plain slightly N-facing, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020482). GoogleMaps

NAMIBIA (42 pinned specimens): Navachab 67, Karibib District , SE 2715 Ba , Mar.– 24 Apr. 1988, pitfall traps, S. Schubert leg.; GoogleMaps Rotkop , Diamond Area 1, 26°42′ S, 15°23′ E, 12–26 Nov. 1993, pitfall trap, E. Marais leg.; GoogleMaps Klein Aus 10, Luderitz District , 26°38′ S, 16°10′ E, 12–26 Nov. 1993, pitfall trap, E. Marais leg.; GoogleMaps Khabus 146, Keetmanshoop District , 26°18′ S, 18°13′ E, sandy plain next to dry riverbed, 14 Mar.–14 Apr. 1983, N. and G. Olivier leg.; GoogleMaps Wolwedans 144, Maltahöhe District , 25°06′ S, 15°59′ E, 12–18 Mar.1992, pitfall trap, chateau dune, E. Griffin leg.; GoogleMaps White house , 11 km N of Grünau, 27°36.666′ S, 18°23.726′ E, 1241 m a.s.l., nest in rocky soil with crater of soil around the entrance, 2 Apr. 2011, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. ( SAM-HYM-C026796 ); GoogleMaps Klein-Aus Vista , 26°39.143′ S, 16°14.546′ E, 1316 m a.s.l., nest in rocky sandy soil, two entrances at opposite sides of grass tuft, 4 Apr. 2011 ( SAM-HYM-C026794 ); GoogleMaps 59 km from Mariental on M29, 24°50.592′ S, 18°17.173′ E, 18 Apr. 2011, nest in rocky soil with rounded pebbles and red sandy soil, found under rock and excavated to a depth of 20 cm ( SAM-HYM-C026793 ); GoogleMaps Namib Desert, Ganab , G34, 25.1° S, 15.66° E, collected at the edge of sandy dry river bed, 18 May 1981, A.C. Marsh leg. ( BMNH: CASENT0764655 ); GoogleMaps Luderitz , 1 Sep. 2003, A. Andersen leg. ( BMNH: CASENT0248477 ).

Measurements (worker N =26)

HL 1.003 –1.229 (1.122); HW 0.962 –1.229 (1.095); SL 0.757 –0.885 (0.816); EL 0.248 –0.354 (0.301); PH 0.462 –0.679 (0.528); PW 0.669 –0.856 (0.743); WL 0.915 –1.377 (1.189); PSL 0.197 –0.275 (0.240); PTH 0.374 –0.521 (0.431); PTL 0.246 –0.344 (0.297); PTW 0.384 –0.659 (0.523); PPH 0.384 –0.570 (0.450); PPL 0.207 –0.315 (0.255); PPW 0.482 –0.875 (0.652); OI 27–29 (27); CI 95–102 (98); SI 68– 180 (75); DMI 59–79 (63); LMI 39–54 (44); PSLI 19–24 (21); PeNI 56–83 (70); LPeI 58–85 (70); DPeI 130–212 (177); PpNI 68–110 (87); LPpI 45–73 (57); DPpI 184–322 (257); PPI 118–134 (124).

Distribution

Tetramorium grandinode is known to occur in South Africa (Northern Cape, Western Cape) and Namibia, where it has been collected in the Kalahari Xeric Savanna, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo, Namibian Savanna Woodlands and Namib Desert.

Remarks

This species has been recorded nesting in deep soil on a flood plain. Specimens of T. grandinode have been collected from pitfall traps, tuna baits, sugar baits and cookie bait.

Bolton B. 1980. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 40: 193 - 384. https: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 26845

Forel A. 1914. Formicides d'Afrique et d'Amerique nouveaux ou peu connus. Bulletin de la Societe Vaudoise des Sciences naturelles 50: 211 - 288.

Santschi F. 1913. Glanures de fourmis africaines. Annales de la Societe entomologique de Belgique 57: 302 - 314.

Gallery Image

Fig. 3. A–B. Waist segments and gaster oblique lateral view. A. T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 (MCZ_ ENT00512567). B. T. clunum Forel, 1913 (CASENT0764600). C–F. Waist segments in dorsal view. C. T. grandinode Santschi, 1913 (CASENT0764655). D. T. lerouxi Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (SAM-HYM-C023329). E. T. signatum Emery, 1895 (SAM-HYM-C020573). F. T. glabratum Stitz, 1923 (SAM-HYM-C024395). G–I. Mesosoma in profile. G. T. jordani Santschi, 1937 (CASENT0248475). H. T. glabratum (SAM-HYM-C024395). I. T. rufescens Stitz, 1923 (CASENT0250852). J–M. Head in full-face view. J. T. barbigerum Bolton, 1980 (CASENT0901181). K. T. pogonion Bolton, 1980 (CASTYPE13390 – Antweb, photographer unknown). L. T. glabratum (SAM-HYM-C024395). M. T. rufescens (CASENT0250852). N–P. Waist segments in profile. N. T. duncani Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (SAM-HYM-C027003). O. T. glabratum (SAM-HYM-C024395). P. T. rufescens (CASENT0250852).

Gallery Image

Fig. 13. Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913 (CASENT0764655). A. Body in profile. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in full-face view.

Gallery Image

Fig. 24. Map showing the distribution of species in the Tetramorium solidum group.

NHMB

Switzerland, Basel, Naturhistorisches Museum

MNHG

MNHG

BMNH

United Kingdom, London, The Natural History Museum [formerly British Museum (Natural History)]

NHMB

Natural History Museum Bucharest

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

SubFamily

Myrmicinae

Tribe

Crematogastrini

Genus

Tetramorium