The Ants of Africa

The Ants of Africa
Genus Tetramorium
Tetramorium gabonense (André)

Tetramorium gabonense (André)

Type location Gabon (Triglyphothrix gabonensis nov. sp., André, 1892a: 53, all forms) collected by Mocquerys - see below
junior synonyms
areolatus (Triglyphothrix areolatus n. sp., Stitz, 1910: 142, illustrated, worker) from Cameroun, collected at Bibundi, by Tessmann - no images on Antweb (April 2015)
kamerunensis (Triglyphothrix gabonensis, André v. kamerunensis n. v., Santschi, 1937b: 102, worker) from Cameroun - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0915014
boulognei (Triglyphothrix gabonensis, André v. Boulognei n. var., Forel, 1916: 423, worker) from Zaïre, collected by H Kohl - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0909088
burgeoni (Triglyphothrix areolata Stitz v. burgeoni n. v., Santschi, 1935a: 265, worker) from Zaïre, collected at Haut Uélé, Moto, by L. Burgeon, 1920 - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0915013
mucidus (Triglyphothrix mucidus n. sp., Forel, 1909b: 71, worker) from Zaïre, collected at Kasai, Sankuru, by Luja - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0909091
soyauxi (Triglyphothrix gabonensis, André r. soyauxi n. stirps, Forel, 1901: 53, worker) from Gabon, collected at Ssibange, by Soyaux - no images on Antweb (April 2015)
(see Bolton, 1995, including name re-spelling) .

{Tetramorium gabonense} André's (1892a) description is at . Forel's (1901h) description of soyauxi is at . Forel's (1909b) description of mucidus is at . Stitz's (1910) description of areolatus is at .

{Tetramorium gabonense mucidus} Forel's (1916) description of boulognei is at . Santschi's (1935a) description of burgeoni is at . Santschi's (1937b) description of kamerunensis is at . Bolton's modern description (1976) is at .

{etramorium gabonense} WORKER - TL 3.8-4.6 mm; one of the largest species with branched hairs, all over densely clothed and those on gaster quadrifid. Has long propodeal spines (Bolton, 1976, alitrunk profile illustrated).

Most records are from Gabon east- and southwards. Known from Cameroun, at Bibundi (areolatus, Tessmann, 15-30.iv.1905), Buea, Kamerunberg (Mt. Cameroun, kamerunensis, F. Zumpt, 12.xi.1935), at Ikiliwindi (C.A. Collingwood), Mt. Kala (G. Terron) and Matute (B. Malkin) (Bolton, 1976); also Mundame (Conradt, in Wheeler, 1922).

As Triglyphothrix areolata and variety burgeoni, it was recorded by Santschi (1935) from six locations in Zaïre. He described them as smaller than the type. Black brown with appendages and base of gaster redder, sculpturation better defined, with median rugae on head reaching the vertex; pilosity long, white and very dense.

Forel (1909b) regarded mucidus as easily distinguished from gabonense by virtue of the stronger sculpturation giving a matte appearance (Bolton has gabonense as usually finely and superficially rugulose and shining) plus its very dense polyfid pilosity exceeding all the genus (Triglyphothrix) members; also the form of the head [which appears to have more distinct scrobes; although Bolton claimed to have examined the mucidus specimens]. Forel gave the colour as brown black, with the pedicel lighter and the appendages, clypeus and frontal carina rust.

{Tetramorium gabonense} The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0915428.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Tetramorium gabonense B Taylor det.	Cameroun A Fotso Kuate Sample 39	5.vii.2008 Awae II 03°54'30" N 11°25'58"	aphid survey	2
Tetramorium gabonense B Taylor det. Queen	Central African Republic P Annoyer NQ	24.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; nuit : 17h45 - 6h30, UV, Azobé, canopée (35 m), camp de base lac 1	1
Tetramorium gabonense B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer PCO1	25.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; pitfall/dung trap, Lake 1 base	2
Tetramorium gabonense B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer PCO2	24.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; pitfall/dung trap, Lake 1 base	1
Tetramorium gabonense B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer PCO4	25.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; pitfall/dung trap, Lake 1 base	1
Tetramorium gabonense B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer PCO5	27.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; pitfall/dung trap, Lake 1 base	1
Tetramorium gabonense B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer PCO6	27.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; pitfall/dung trap, Lake 1 base	1
Tetramorium gabonense B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer PCO7	25.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; pitfall/dung trap, Lake 1 base	1
Tetramorium gabonense B Taylor det.	Central African Republic P Annoyer PCO7	26.xi.2010 Dzanga-Sangha 2°28'49.5"N 16°12'55.9"E	392 m; pitfall/water buffalo dung trap, Lake 1 base	4

{Tetramorium gabonense} The photomontage is of a worker from Cameroun; Awae; collector A Fotso Kuate (fk unmounted 39).

{Tetramorium gabonense} The photomontage is of a worker from Central African Republic; Dzanga-Sangha NP; collector P Annoyer (CAR PCO2).

{Tetramorium gabonense queen} The photomontage is of a worker from Central African Republic; Dzanga-Sangha NP; collector P Annoyer (CAR NQ).

{Tetramorium gabonense} The photomontage is of a worker from Zaïre collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0217968. Listed by Bolton (1976: 325).

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