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Tetramorium flavocostatum
| Tetramorium flavocostatum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Tetramorium |
| Species group: | meridionale |
| Species: | T. flavocostatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetramorium flavocostatum Salata, Khalili-Moghadam & Borowiec, 2024 | |
Tetramorium flavocostatum appears to be a common species in mountain habitats of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari and Isfahan provinces, Iran, at altitudes from 1381 to 2100 m. Its nests were found in the soil in a walnut orchard, oak forest, grass area, and under bushes (mulberry, peach, plane, poplar, elm, and willow) in both natural and agricultural habitats.
Photo Gallery
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Identification
Tetramorium flavocostatum is a member of the T. meridionale species-group consisting in the western Palearctic of two additional species: Tetramorium davidi and Tetramorium meridionale. Tetramorium davidi, due to the head sculpture and bright body colouration, is the most similar species, but differs in having a frons with finer and denser rugae, usually with more than 15 rugae between frontal carinae, less regular rugae on lateral sides of the head with more distinct microsculpture in interspaces, as well as less regular and distinct rugae on dorsal promesonotum and lateral sides of pronotum (Figures 4B, 5B, 6B). Also, T. davidi has a frons narrower than T. flavocostatum (FR/HW approximately 0.308 vs. approximately 0.390 in T. flavocostatum). Tetramorium meridionale differs in the presence of transverse rugae in the whole central occipital part of the head (in T. flavocostatum only five of all examined specimens had very short transverse rugae close to the occipital margin), and lateral sides of promesonotum completely of mostly lacking regular and longitudinal rugae (Figures 4C, 5C, 6C). Also, T. davidi and T. meridionale have longer propodeal spines, and their petiolar nodes have stronger sculpture (sometimes the dorsal surface of the postpetiole has only a small shiny area, and petiole is completely rugose). While T. flavocostatum has very short propodeal spines, and the dorsal surfaces of the petiole and postpetiole always have a broad smooth and shiny patch. Additionally, T. flavocostatum is the only member of the T. meridionale species-group with such strong and regular longitudinal sculpture of the head and mesosoma.
Tetramorium flavocostatum might also be confused with T. biskrense (member of the caespitum species group). But that species differs from T. flavocostatum in yellowish brown to black body colouration, finer and denser rugae on frons with usually more than 15 rugae between frontal carinae, finer longitudinal carinae on alitrunk with more distinct microsculpture on the sides of the pronotum, and absence of rugae arching posterolaterally on the posterior part of the head (Figures 4A, 5A, 6A). Tetramorium flavocostatum differs from all remaining members of the caespitum species group (sensu Wagner et al., 2017) in completely smooth basal part of the first gastral tergite, smaller propodeal spines, coarsely sculptured head and mesosoma with no smooth patches, entirely smooth dorsal surface of petiole and postpetiole, head with lateral rugae arching posterolaterally and merging with the rugae running along the lateral sides of the head to form semicircular thick figures, and yellow to orange-yellow body colouration.
Additionally, T. flavocostatum differs from all members of the semilaeve species group (sensu Salata & Borowiec, 2017) in head and mesosoma with thick and sparse longitudinal rugae with most often smooth interspaces, and head with lateral rugae arching posterolaterally and merging with the rugae running along the lateral sides of the head to form semicircular thick figures; from all members of the chefketi species group (sensu Csősz et al., 2007) in the smooth and shiny basal part of the first gastral tergite and smooth dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole, and head with lateral rugae arching posterolaterally and merging with the rugae running along the lateral sides of the head to form semicircular thick figures; from members of the ferox species group (sensu Csősz & Schulz, 2010) in larger propodeal spines, entirely and coarsely sculptured head and mesosoma with no smooth patches and most often smooth interspaces, entirely smooth dorsal surface of petiole and postpetiole, and head with lateral rugae arching posterolaterally and merging with the rugae running along the lateral sides of the head to form semicircular thick figures.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari and Isfahan provinces of Iran. Also, available on AntWeb.org photographs of a specimen labelled as Tetramorium punicum collected in Iran (Zanjan, Saeedabad (36.385°N, 48.112°E), 1964 m, 15.viii.2009, leg. S. Hosseinnezhad, CSH000033) with great probability represents Tetramorium flavocostatum. If confirmed, then the distribution of the species will extend and cover montane regions of Iran.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 32.4° to 32.2°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Salata et al., 2024
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Iran (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.
- flavocostatum. Tetramorium flavocostatum Salata et al., 2024: 164, figs. 1-3 (w.q.) IRAN.
Type Material
- Holotype worker. IRAN: Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, Shahrekord (32.37774°N 50.76194°E), 2100 m, 5.v.2018, A. Khalili-Moghadam leg.; hand picking method (MNHW).
- Paratypes: IRAN: 7w., 3q.; same data as holotype (MNHW, EPAS). – 5w., Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, Ardal, Alikooh (32.131°N 50.504°E), 1908 m, 10.i.2021, A. Khalili-Moghadam leg. (MNHW, USMB); 5w., Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, Ardal, Dashtak (32.166°N 50.455°E), 2001 m; 10.i.2021, A. Khalili-Moghadam leg. (MNHW, EPAS); 3w.; Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, Lordegan (Mashkdozan) (31.554°N 50.569°E), 1381 m; 1.iv.2020, Khalili-Moghadam leg. (MNHW).