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Tetramorium agile
| Tetramorium agile | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Tetramorium |
| Species: | T. agile |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetramorium agile Arnold, 1960
| |
This species has been collected in pitfall traps from a range of habitats, e.g., grassland, bushveld, and open woodland.
Identification
Bolton (1980) - Tetramorium agile is very distinct in the setigerum-group as it is the only species known in which the mandibles lack longitudinal striation.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -3.91667° to -27.75517°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe (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. |
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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. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- agile. Tetramorium agile Arnold, 1960b: 455, fig. 5 (w.) ZIMBABWE. See also: Bolton, 1980: 275.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 4.0-4.1, HL 0.92-0.94, HW 0.72-0.75, CI 76-80, SL 0.84-0.86, SI 112-119, PW 0.56-0.58, AL 1.24-1.30 (4 measured).
Mandibles smooth with scattered, quite conspicuous, pits. Anterior clypeal margin entire, without a median impression or notch. Frontal carinae long and strong, reaching back almost to the occipital margin where they merge into the occipital-area rugoreticulum. The frontal carinae are surmounted by a distinct raised rim or flange and are slightly convex with respect to one another, their maximum separation is at the level of the eyes, where they are about 0.47-0.48 x HW apart, behind this they are weakly convergent. Antennal scrobes narrow and shallow but fairly conspicuous. Antennal scapes relatively long, SI > 100. Maximum diameter of eye 0.22-0.24, about 0.30-0.32 x HW. With the alitrunk in profile the metanotal groove usually broadly but shallowly impressed; feebly so in some individuals. Propodeal spines straight, stout and strongly elevated; the spines quite short, distinctly longer than the low triangular metapleural lobes but shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye. Node of petiole in profile with the dorsal length slightly shorter than the height of the tergal portion. Anterodorsal angle approximately right-angular, the dorsum behind it feebly convex and sloping downwards slightly to the rather more bluntly rounded posterodorsal angle. In dorsal view the petiole node broader than long, broader behind than in front and with the anterior face more strongly arched than the posterior. Dorsum of head with 5-7 fine longitudinal tugulae between the frontal carinae at eye-level. These are quite widely spaced and have scattered crossmeshes on the dorsum behind the level of the eyes. Occipital area with a fine rugoreticulum. Dorsal alitrunk irregularly rugose, the rugae more strongly developed and more widely spaced on the pronotum than elsewhere, and with a tendency for a longitudinal component to be more obvious on the pronotum. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole with fine rugulae superimposed on a fine punctulate ground-sculpture. Base of first gastral tergite with fine punctulation or shagreening, faint in some individuals. All dorsal surfaces with numerous strong hairs but the scapes and middle and hind tibiae only with fine decumbent to appressed pubescence. Colour medium to dark brown, the gaster darker in shade than the head and alitrunk.
Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, RHODESIA: Woodvale, 28.xi.57 (G. Arnold) (Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe) [examined].
References
- Arnold, G. 1960b. New species of African Hymenoptera. No. 15. Occas. Pap. Natl. Mus. South. Rhod. B. Nat. Sci. 3: 452-488. (page 455, fig. 5 worker described)
- 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(3):193-384.
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection