Tetramorium bicolor

Tetramorium bicolor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Tetramorium
Species:	T. bicolor
Binomial name
Tetramorium bicolor Viehmeyer, 1914 Specimen Labels

Specimens have been found in forest habitats, in a twig nest and as a ground forager.

Identification

Bolton (1977) - The construction of the petiole and general habitus shows that bicolor is very closely related to Tetramorium pacificum and its allies, but the reduced sculpture and distinct colouring immediately separates bicolor. It is one of three bicoloured (yellow and black) species occurring in New Guinea. One of these, Tetramorium diligens, belongs to the carinatum-group and hence is separable by its 11-segmented antennae and spatulate sting appendage. The other is Tetramorium tricarinatum, which is very closely related to bicolor but much more strongly sculptured, and which possesses three carinae on the cephalic dorsum between the frontal carinae, running from the posterior clypeal margin almost to the occiput.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -5.43751° to -5.43751°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• bicolor. Tetramorium bicolor Viehmeyer, 1914b: 39 (w.) NEW GUINEA. See also: Bolton, 1977: 97.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Bolton (1977) - TL 3.6-3.8, HL 0.84-0.90, HW 0.68-0.76, CI 80-84, SL 0.64-0.72, SI 76-80, PW 0.52-0.56, AL 0.98-1.08 (2 measured).

Mandibles smooth with scattered pits. Anterior clypeal margin with a median notch or impression. Clypeus with three strong longitudinal carinae. Frontal carinae feeble but extending back almost to occiput. Median carina of head distinct only to level of posterior margins of eyes, behind this rapidly fading out or absent. Eyes prominent, maximum diameter C. 0.17-0.18. Pronotal corners angular in dorsal view. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeal spines long, narrow and acute, the metapleural lobes triangular and upcurved. Petiole in profile with the tergal portion longer than high, the anterior and dorsal faces united through a curve, not separated by an angle. Dorsum convex and sloping upwards posteriorly so that the posterodorsal angle is on a higher level than the anterodorsal. Head either completely unsculptured dorsally except for the median carina or at most with one or two short, fine rugulae here and there on the surface. Pronotal dorsum with a few rugae anteriorly and laterally but the middle of the pronotum and the whole mesonotum smooth and very shiny. Propodeal dorsum reticulate-rugulose. Petiole and postpetiole each with some rugae, predominantly or entirely longitudinal. Gaster unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with abundant erect, long hairs. Colour very distinctive, the head and gaster black or blackish brown, the alitrunk, pedicel and appendages bright yellow, the colours strongly contrasting.

Type Material

Bolton (1977) - Holotype worker, New Guinea: Wareo (Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität) [examined].

References

• Bolton, B. 1977. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions, and in Australia. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology. 36:67-151. (page 97, see also)
• Viehmeyer, H. 1914b [1913]. Neue und unvollständig bekannte Ameisen der alten Welt. Arch. Naturgesch. (A)79(1 12: 24-60 (page 39, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Bolton B. 1977. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions, and in Australia. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 36:67-151.
• Bolton, B. "The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicinae. The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions and in Australia." Bulletin of the British Museum (National History): Entomology series 36, no. 2 (1977): 68-151.
• Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
• Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
• Lucky A., E. Sarnat, and L. Alonso. 2011. Ants of the Muller Range, Papua New Guinea, Chapter 10. In Richards, S. J. and Gamui, B. G. (editors). 2013. Rapid Biological Assessments of the Nakanai Mountains and the upper Strickland Basin: surveying the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea’s sublime karst environments. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 60. Conservation International. Arlington, VA.
• Viehmeyer H. 1914. Neue und unvollständig bekannte Ameisen der alten Welt. Archiv für Naturgeschichte (A)79(12): 24-60.