The Ants of Africa
Genus Tetramorium
Tetramorium new species Cameroun FK unmounted 54

Tetramorium new species Cameroun FK unmounted 54

return to group key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Cameroun

TL ca 3.7 mm, HL 0.75 HW 0.65 CI 84 SL 0.48 SI 80 PW 0.46 EL 0.15 OI 21
Antennae 12-segmented; mandibles smooth, with 9-10 coarse teeth; clypeus with median and lateral longitudinal carinae those continuing back full length of head, anterior margin obscured but appears to be entire; frontal carinae extend back to occiput but do not turn back to form a scrobe; funiculus segments 2-7 wider than long; eye weakly ovoid of a moderate size; alitrunk with relatively long low profile, the metanotal suture distinctly but shallowly impressed, propodeum unarmed with no metapleural lobes, spiracle circular; petiole domed with a long pedicel and minute anterior ventral tooth; postpetiole sub-globular, from above circular; head with effaced spiculate ground sculpture; semi-shiny with weak ill-defined sculpturation on alitrunk and, even weaker, the gaster, overall very dark brown to near black; with distinctive yellow brown funiculus and mandibles; lower legs brown; erect hairs very sparse and short but present on head, alitrunk, pedicel and gaster; scape with appressed short pubescence (possibly like the short erect hairs of T. candidum).

Not obviously related to any species defined by Bolton (1980) and with no obvious route through his keys. A possibility is to compare it with members of the dumezi-group, for instance, assuming the anterior clypeal margin has a median impression,  Tetramorium qualarum, known from one collection in Ghana; that is about 10% larger, has distinct propodeal spines and is almost unsculptured.  Another member of the dumezi-group but with an entire margin to the clypeus is Tetramorium candidum, which is yellow-brown with more abundant short fine hairs and finer striations on the head.

The overall form and proportions, plus the well developed mandibular teeth and the reduced or absent metapleural lobes are closer to Decamorium species, although this has smaller eyes, no antennal scrobes and carinae on the clypeus.


Oxford University Museum specimens

Tetramorium n sp Cameroun FK1
B Taylor det.

Cameroun
A Fotso Kuate
Sample 54
28.vii.2010
Nko’ondo
03°54'30" N
11°25'58
near in form to Decamorium

1
{album}

{Tetramorium nsp fk unmounted 54}The photomontage is of the holotype worker from Cameroun; Nko'ondo; aphid survey; 28.vii.2010; collector A Fotso Kuate (fk tunmounted 54)


{Tetramorium nsp fk unmounted 54 head}The photomontage is of head details of holotype worker.

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© 2011, 2012 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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