Tetramorium dysalum

Tetramorium dysalum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Tetramorium
Species:	T. dysalum
Binomial name
	Tetramorium dysalum; Bolton, 1979 Specimen labels

It can be encountered in most rainforests and montane rainforests of eastern and northern Madagascar, and it occurs at altitudes of 25 to 1565 m.

Identification

A member of the Tetramorium dysalum-species group

Hita Garcia and Fisher (2012) - Tetramorium dysalum can be well recognised within the species group due to its unique character combination of: very short antennal scapes (SI 64 - 69); propodeal spines stout, long and often curved backwards (PSLI 30 - 43); unsculptured mandibles; mesosomal dorsum with longitudinally rugose sculpture.

This species displays a remarkable size variation. Generally, there seem to be two size classes within this species that differ in several aspects. Smaller specimens (HW 0.53 - 0.69) are found throughout the whole range, and tend to have shorter propodeal spines (PSLI 30 - 34), and a stronger anteroposteriorly compressed and sculptured petiolar node. The larger specimens (HW 0.80 - 0.90), which are much rarer and only found in few localities (Marojejy, Anjanaharibe, Manongarivo, and Amparihibe), have larger spines (PSLI 40 - 43) and a less anteroposteriorly compressed and sculptured petiolar node.

Keys including this Species

Key to Tetramorium dysalum-group species

Distribution

Tetramorium dysalum has a very wide distribution range in Madagascar, and can also be found on Nosy Be.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -12.33333° to -24.76389°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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.

Biology

Castes

Hita Garcia and Fisher (2012) - This species displays a remarkable size variation. It is possible there are morphologically distinct subcastes in this species. Within the genus Tetramorium it is common to find remarkable intraspecific size variation without the development of distinct subcastes (Bolton, 1980; Hita Garcia et al., 2010; Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2011). Very common and widely distributed species are the most likely to display large size variations. Yamane and Jaitrong (2011) recently described a new species from Laos which appears to possess a morphologically distinct major worker subcaste. The apparent division into minor and major subcastes is based on differences in pilosity, head shape, and sculpture. This variation is comparatively common in several Afrotropical and Malagasy Tetramorium, and is usually considered a regular intraspecific size variation that includes minor differences in pilosity, head shape, and sculpture. Nevertheless, both subcastes described by Yamane and Jaitrong (2011) were collected from a single nest, which provides good evidence for this polymorphism. In the case of T. dysalum, it would be more difficult to recognise the two observed size classes as polymorphic subcastes, and we are very reluctant to do so. Despite examining a large number of specimens, more material, especially from nest collections, is necessary before drawing such a conclusion.

Worker

Images from AntWeb


Worker. Specimen code casent0102349. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.

Nomenclature

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

dysalum. Tetramorium dysalum Bolton, 1979: 141, fig. 24 (w.q.) MADAGASCAR. See also: Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2012: 63.

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

Description

Worker

Hita Garcia and Fisher (2012) - HL 0.54 - 0.91 (0.70); HW 0.53 - 0.90 (0.70); SL 0.35 - 0.60 (0.47); EL 0.11 - 0.20 (0.14); PH 0.27 - 0.45 (0.35); PW 0.38 - 0.67 (0.51); WL 0.64 - 1.15 (0.87); PSL 0.16 - 0.38 (0.24); PTL 0.10 - 0.19 (0.15); PTH 0.21 - 0.36 (0.29); PTW 0.15 - 0.28 (0.21); PPL 0.16 - 0.28 (0.21); PPH 0.18 - 0.33 (0.26); PPW 0.21 - 0.35 (0.27); CI 98 - 103 (100); SI 64 - 69 (67); OI 18 - 23 (21); DMI 55 - 62 (59); LMI 39 - 42 (40); PSLI 30 - 43 (34); PeNI 38 - 44 (41); LPeI 45 - 58 (52); DPeI 128 - 155 (142); PpNI 51 - 57 (54); LPpI 74 - 88 (80); DPpI 125 - 147 (131); PPI 121 - 140 (131) (25 measured).

Head generally as long as wide (CI 98 - 103). Anterior clypeal margin with distinct median impression. Frontal carinae well-developed, after posterior eye margin distinctly weaker, ending between posterior eye margin and posterior head margin. Antennal scrobes faint, narrow. Antennal scapes short, not reaching posterior head margin (SI 64 - 69). Eyes comparatively small to moderate (OI 18 - 23). Mesosomal outline in profile weakly convex, distinctly marginate from lateral to dorsal mesosoma, promesonotal suture absent, metanotal groove usually absent, rarely weakly present; mesosoma comparatively stout and compact (LMI 39 - 42). Propodeal spines stout, long to very long, and often curved backwards (PSLI 30 - 43). Propodeal lobes short and broadly triangular. Petiolar node in profile weakly cuneiform to moderately nodiform, approximately 1.7 to 2.2 times higher than long (LPeI 45 - 58), anterodorsal margin sharply developed and situated higher than posterodorsal, dorsum strongly tapering backwards posteriorly; node in dorsal view between 1.1 to 1.4 times longer than wide (DPeI 128 - 155). Postpetiole in profile rounded, approximately 1.7 to 2.2 times higher than long (LPpI 74 - 88), in dorsal view between 1.2 to 1.5 times wider than long (DPpI 125 - 147). Postpetiole in profile appearing a bit less voluminous than petiolar node, in dorsal view approximately 1.2 to 1.4 times wider than petiolar node (PPI 121 - 140). Mandibles always unsculptured, smooth and shiny; clypeus with variable sculpture, generally with few irregular, longitudinal rugae and medially relatively unsculptured, sometimes with more regularly arranged longitudinal rugae; cephalic dorsum between frontal carinae with eight to 13 longitudinal, mostly unbroken rugae, most rugae running from anterior clypeal margin to posterior head margin; scrobal area mostly unsculptured, smooth and shining, remainder of lateral and ventral head with longitudinal rugae. Ground sculpture generally faint, sometimes moderately developed. Mesosoma laterally generally with irregular longitudinal rugae, sometimes lateral pronotum almost unsculptured; mesosomal dorsum packed with comparatively regular longitudinal rugae. Petiolar node laterally and posteriorly usually with weak, irregular rugulae and often with weak reticulate-punctate ground sculpture, petiolar dorsum almost always unsculptured, smooth, and shiny. Postpetiole generally with irregular longitudinal rugulae and often with reticulate-punctate ground sculpture. Gaster always unsculptured, smooth and shining. All dorsal surfaces of body with long, erect or suberect pilosity. Head, mesosoma, waist segments, and gaster uniformly brown to dark brown, often mandibles, antennae, and legs of lighter brown.

Type Material

Hita Garcia and Fisher (2012) - Tetramorium dysalum Bolton, 1979:141. Holotype worker, MADAGASCAR, Perinet and vicinity, rainforest, 17.III.1969 (W.L. Brown) (Museum of Comparative Zoology) [examined]. Paratypes, 39 workers and one dealate queen with same data as holotype (Museum of Comparative Zoology; The Natural History Museum) [examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton B. 1979. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Malagasy region and in the New World. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 38:129-181.
Fisher B. L. 1996. Ant diversity patterns along an elevational gradient in the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale d'Andringitra, Madagascar. Fieldiana Zoology (n.s.)85: 93-108
Fisher B. L. 1997. Biogeography and ecology of the ant fauna of Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History 31: 269-302.
Fisher B. L. 1998. Ant diversity patterns along an elevational gradient in the Réserve Spéciale d'Anjanaharibe-Sud and on the western Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Fieldiana Zoology (n.s.)90: 39-67.
Fisher B. L. 1999. Ant diversity patterns along an elevational gradient in the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale d'Andohahela, Madagascar. Fieldiana Zoology (n.s.)94: 129-147
Fisher B. L. 2003. Formicidae, ants. Pp. 811-819 in: Goodman, S. M.; Benstead, J. P. (eds.) 2003. The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, xxi + 1709 pp.
Garcia H. F. and B. L. Fisher. 2012. The ant genus Tetramorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Malagasy regiontaxonomy of the T. bessonii, T. bonibony, T. dysalum, T. marginatum, T. tsingy, and T. weitzeckeri species groups. Zootaxa 3365: 1-123