Tetramorium solidum Emery, 1886

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 : 53-56

Tetramorium solidum Emery, 1886

Figs 2I , 4K , 23–24

Tetramorium solidum Emery, 1886: 362 (included in Bolton 1980: 252).

Diagnosis

In the T. solidum-group , only T. solidum and T. aisha sp. nov. have sparse hairs that are restricted to the mesosoma and the petiole; other species in this group either have abundant hairs covering the whole body or lack erect hairs. Tetramorium solidum has very long and acute propodeal spines (PSLI 17–20) ( Fig. 4K ), whereas the propodeal spines in T. aisha sp. nov. are very short (PSLI 5–9) ( Fig. 4L ).

Unexamined type material

Syntypes

SOUTH AFRICA: pinned workers, Cape of Good Hope, L. Peringueyi leg. ( MHNG: CASENT0904840 ; RMCA).

Material examined

Other material

SOUTH AFRICA (121 workers): Northern Cape: Tankwa Karoo National Park , 32.24758° S, 20.09660° E, 490 m a.s.l., 7 Jan. 2009, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C023312). – Western Cape: Anyskop Farm, 4 km 270° W of Langebaanweg , 32°58.611′ S, 18°06.976′ E, 18–25 Sep. 2002, yellow pan traps, Fynbos on limestone, S. van Noort leg. (SAM-HYM-C018836); West Coast Fossil Park, 3 km 280° W of Langebaanweg , 32°58.098′ S, 18°07.244′ E, 4–11 Sep. 2002, pitfall traps, rehabilitated mine dump, S. van Noort leg. (SAM-HYM-C018823); West Coast Fossil Park, 3 km 280° W of Langebaanweg , 32°58.020′ S, 18°07.285′ E, 4–11 Sep. 2002, pitfall traps, rehabilitated mine dump(SAM-HYM-C018830); West Coast Fossil Park, 4 km 290° E of Langebaanweg , 32°57.512′ S, 18°06.728′ E, 4–11 Sep. 2002, pitfall traps, rehabilitated mine dump, S. van Noort leg. ( SAM- HYM-C018824); Helshoogte Valley outside Stellenbosch , 33°55′ S, 18°54′ E, 22–23 Mar. 1996, P.J. Pieterse leg. (SAM-HYM-C008817); Lorraine Farm , 32°04′ S, 19°03′ E, five open nest entrances with crates of sand round them, 9 Sep. 1996 (SAM-HYM-C008986); Jacobsbaai , 32°58′ S, 17°54′ E, 16 Feb. 1966, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C007491); 6 mi. from Saldanha Bay to Jacobsbaai , Long Point , 32°59′ S, 17°53′ E, 9 Jan. 1963, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C007496); Sevilla Rock Art Trail , 32.0797° S, 19.08828° E, 329 m a.s.l., 10 Sep. 2009, P. Hawkes and J. Fisher leg. (SAM-HYM-C024393); jeep tract between Welbedacht and Sneeukop Hut Site 1, Cederberg Wilderness Area , Wupperthal , 32.45515° S, 19.235033° E, 1187 m a.s.l., Fynbos pitfall trap, 5 Mar. 2003, A. Botes leg. ( SAM- HYM-C024975); Sneeukop, A.Andersen leg. ( CASC: CASENT0248478 ); foragers, 5 km S of Lamberts Bay , 32.41603° S, 18.30696° E, 10 m a.s.l., West Coast Strandveld , on ground, 30 Sep. 2011, B.L. Fisher leg. ( CASC: CASENT0264029 , CASENT0264031 ); Clanwilliam, Sevilla Rock Art Trail , 32.07973° S, 19.08828° E, 329 m a.s.l., Cedarberg Sandstone Fynbos , hand collected, 8 Sep. 2009, P. Hawkes and J. Fisher leg. ( CASC: CASENT0250960 ); Berg River, 4 mi. S of Piketberg , 150 m a.s.l., 30 Apr. 1958, E.S. Ross and R.E. Leech leg. ( CASC: CASENT0217978 , CASENT0270797 to CASENT0270799 ).

Measurements (worker N =13)

HL 0.905 –1.076 (1.004); HW 0.905 –1.151 (1.026); SL 0.669 –0.831 (0.755); EL 0.207 –0.275 (0.242); PH 0.452 –0.580 (0.523); PW 0.575 –0.698 (0.647); WL 0.964 –1.153 (1.081); PSL 0.177 –0.197 (0.188); PTH 0.295 –0.374 (0.345); PTL 0.256 –0.315 (0.290); PTW 0.305 –0.396 (0.346); PPH 0.295 –0.384 (0.363); PPL 0.246 –0.325 (0.277); PPW 0.379 –0.482 (0.432); OI 22–24 (24); CI 95–106 (102); SI 70–81 (74); DMI 56–61 (60); LMI 44–51 (48); PSLI 17–20 (19); PeNI 50–57 (53); LPeI 77–89 (84); DPeI 110–126 (119); PpNI 65–70 (67); LPpI 64–85 (76); DPpI 145–184 (157); PPI 119–134 (125).

Distribution

Only known from South Africa.

Remarks

Tetramorium solidum has been collected in Strandveld, Succulent Karoo, Fynbos and in transformed lands on tillite shales. This species has been recorded only in the Montane Fynbos and Renosterveld, Nama Karoo and Succulent Karoo; found nesting in clays soils, with craters of soil around nest entrances. Queens of this species were collected in April and males were collected in September from the nests. Seed stores have been found in nests. This species has been collected either by digging up nests or from pitfall traps and yellow pan traps.

Figures

Fig. 2. Body in profile showing pilosity and pubescence. A. T. dichroum Santschi, 1932 (CASENT0746320). B. T. peringueyi Arnold, 1926 (CASENT0250873). C. T. rothschildi (Forel, 1907) (CASENT0764434). D. T. clunum Forel, 1913 (CASENT0764600). E. T. galoanasum Santschi, 1910 (CASENT0915015 – Antweb, William Ericson). F. T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 (MCZ_ENT00512567). G. T. glabratum Stitz, 1923 (SAM-HYM-C024395). H. T. rufescens Stitz, 1923 (CASENT0250852). I. T. solidum Emery, 1886 (CASENT0250960).

Fig. 4. A–B. Mesosoma in dorsal view. A. T. signatum Emery, 1895 (SAM-HYM-C020573). B. T. glabratum Stitz, 1923 (SAM-HYM-C024395). C–D. Antennal scape in frontal view. C. T. aisha Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (CASENT0250969). D. T. peringueyi Arnold, 1926 (SAM-HYM-C026796). E–F. Mesosoma in dorsal view. E. T. peringueyi (CASENT0250873). F. T. margueriteae Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (SAM-NC07-012). G–H. Body in profile. G. T. peringueyi (CASENT0250873). H. T. margueriteae sp. nov. (SAM-HYM-C019839). I–L. Mesosoma in profile. I. T. dichroum Santschi, 1932 (CASENT0746320). J. T. brigitteae Mbanyana, Robertson&HitaGarciasp.nov.(SAM-HYM-C027040).K.T.solidumEmery, 1886(CASENT0250960). L. T. aisha sp. nov. (CASENT0250969).

Fig. 23. Tetramorium solidum Emery, 1886 (CASENT0250960). A. Body in profile. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in full-face view.

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