Tetramorium binghami

Tetramorium binghami
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Tetramorium
Species group:	tortuosum
Species:	T. binghami
Binomial name
	Tetramorium binghami; Akbar, Schifani, Bharti & Wachkoo, 2023

This species seems a rare occurrence as it was encountered only once, with only a few specimens collected during the extensive surveys. The specimens were collected from the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, a lowland evergreen forest area, located along the the Periyar River.

Photo Gallery

Akbar et al. (2023), Fig. 4. Tetramorium binghami worker. A, head in full-face view; B, body in lateral view; C, body in dorsal view.

Identification

Akbar et al. (2023) - Tetramorium binghami resembles Tetramorium belgaense but has head longer than broad, posterior margin weakly concave, anterodorsal margin of petiolar node in profile weakly higher than posterodorsal margin, postpetiolar node weakly inclining anteriorly, and black body; while in T. belgaense head is as broad as long, posterior margin straight, anterodorsal margin of petiolar node in profile as high as posterodorsal margin, postpetiolar node erect, and body brownish-yellow with darker gaster.

Keys including this Species

Key to the Indian and Sri Lankan Tetramorium tortuosum group species

Distribution

Only known from the type locality in Kerala, India.

Akbar et al. (2023), Fig. 1. Distribution of the Tetramorium tortuosum group species in India and Sri Lanka. A: T. alii; B: T. belgaense; C: T. binghami; D: T. hitagarciai; E: T. keralense; F: T. pilosum; G: T. tortuosum; H: T. urbanii; I: T. yerburyi.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 10.4° to 10.4°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: Akbar et al., 2023

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: India.

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.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

alii. Tetramorium binghami Akbar et al., 2023: 114, fig. 4 (w.) INDIA (Kerala).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 4 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype India: Kerala, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, 10°45´N, 76°44´E, 118 m a.s.l., 10.x.2011, hand collected (Shahid A. Akbar); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depository: PUAC (holotype + paratypes)

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

Description

Worker

Measurements (mm) and indices (n=4): HL = 0.67−0.70, HW = 0.59−0.61, SL = 0.52−0.54, EL = 0.11−0.15, PH = 0.31−0.33, WL = 0.79−0.81, PW = 0.45−0.48, PTH = 0.28−0.30, PTL = 0.21−0.23, PTW = 0.20−0.21, PPH = 0.26−0.28, PPL = 0.17−0.19, PPW = 0.29−0.31, PSL = 0.20−0.22, CI = 86-90, OI = 19-25, SI = 87-90, PSLI = 29-31, LMI = 39-42, DMI = 56-61, PeNI = 43-45, LPeI = 75-82, DPeI = 87-95, PpNI = 63-67, LPpI = 61-70, DPpI = 163-182, PPI = 143-155.

Head longer than broad (CI = 86-90), posterolateral corners rounded, converging posterolaterally; posterior head margin con- cave. Anterior clypeal margin weakly convex without a distinct median notch. Mandible triangular with masticatory margin having 6–8 small teeth; large apical teeth followed by series of smaller teeth. Frontal lobes well developed and elevated laterally, frontal area distinct; antennal scrobes well defined. Eye large (OI = 19-25) located laterally and at mid-length of the head, composed of ca. 35-36 ommatidia. Antenna slender, 11-segmented, scape just reaching pos- terior margin of head (SI = 87-90). Mesosoma broader anteriorly; dorsum strongly convex; pro-mesonotal suture and metanotal groove inconspicuous. Propodeal spines well developed (PSLI = 29-31), long acute and slightly up-curved apically. Propodeal lobes reduced, triangular; propodeum convex with declivity almost straight. Petiolar node in profile rectangular nodiform, higher than long (LPeI = 75-82), anterior and posterior margins almost parallel, anterodorsal margin higher than posterodorsal margin, dorsum convex; node in dorsal view longer than wide (DPeI = 87-95). In profile, postpetiole subglobular, higher than long (LPpI = 61-70); in dorsal view wider than long (DPpI = 163-182). In profile, postpetiolar node weakly inclining anteriorly with rounded anterodorsal margin, and in dorsal view, wider than the petiolar node (PPI = 143-155); the base of first gastral tergites lightly curved behind the postpetiole; gaster oval shaped. Head with longitudinal rugae at places forming loose network; spaces between rugae smooth; antennal scrobes smooth and shining; lateral sides of head rugulose; frontal carinae well developed reaching posterior margin of head; mandible weakly striate; clypeus with two prominent lateral longitudinal rugae, medial clypeal carinae absent; dorsum of mesosoma rugulose; surfaces in between smooth and shining; lateral margins of mesosoma with rugulose sculpture; petiole with rugulose sculpture, postpetiole smooth and shining; propodeum and gaster also smooth. Pilosity consists of long, thick, erect white hairs distributed throughout the body surface; appendages with subdecumbent pubescence. Body black with appendages light brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker: India, Kerala, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary,, 10 October 2011 (S. A. Akbar) (deposited in PUAC).
Paratypes: 4 paratype workers with same data as holotype (deposited in PUAC).

Etymology

The species is named after the Irish entomologist and naturalist Charles Thomas Bingham (1848– 1908) for his valuable contribution to the knowledge of Indian ants.

References

Akbar, S. A.; Schifani, E.; Bharti, H.; Wachkoo, A. A. 2023. Taxonomic overview of the Tetramorium tortuosum group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in India and Sri Lanka, with descriptions of three new species from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. Annales Zoologici Fennici 60:109-126. (doi:10.5735/086.060.0112).