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Tetramorium gladstonei
| Tetramorium gladstonei | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Tetramorium |
| Species: | T. gladstonei |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetramorium gladstonei Forel, 1913
| |
This species has been found in open to semi-open habitats, e.g., Mopane savanna, Acacia nigrescens savanna, and Guibourtia conjugata open woodland. All four specimen labels that include a collecting method (pitall traps) shows T. gladstonei forages on the ground.
Identification
Bolton (1980) - Along with Tetramorium quadrispinosum and Tetramorium sericeiventre this species forms a triad of closely related forms within the sericeiventre-complex. The three together are characterized by their reduced pilosity, hairs being absent from the scapes, tibiae, sides of head behind eyes and propodeal dorsum. Tetramorium gladstonei is separated from its allies by its very strong rugose sculpture and suppressed groundsculpture. In the two related species either the ground-sculpture is a very conspicuous reticulatepunctate mat or the rugosity is vestigial or absent.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -18.38527° to -24.4°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Benin, Mozambique, South Africa, 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.
- gladstonei. Tetramorium gladstonei Forel, 1913j: 219 (w.) ZIMBABWE. Subspecies of sericeiventre: Santschi, 1918b: 125. Revived status as species: Santschi, 1918b: 131; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 895. See also: Arnold, 1917: 284; Bolton, 1980: 326.
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 3.8-4.5, HL 0.94-1.08, HW 0.82-0.90, CI 83-88, SL 0.82-0.96, SI 100-109, PW 0.58-0.66, AL 1.18-1.34 (20 measured).
Mandibles coarsely longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin entire, without trace of a median impression. Median clypeal carina distinct. Frontal carinae short and no more strongly developed than the remaining cephalic rugae, usually ending at about the level of the midlengths of the eyes but fairly frequently extending back to the level of their posterior margins. Antennal scrobes absent. Scapes relatively long, SI usually > 100, only rarely as low as 100. Maximum diameter of eye 0.19-0.22, about 0.22-0.25 x HW. Propodeum armed with a pair of short acute spines which are about as long as or slightly longer than the metapleural lobes; the latter elongate-triangular and running parallel to the propodeal spines. Petiole node low and rectangular in profile, the dorsal length greater than the height of the tergum. In dorsal view the petiole node is usually longer than broad, but in a few it is roughly as broad as long. Dorsum of head strongly and quite densely longitudinally rugose, the ground-sculpture almost entirely effaced so that the spaces between the rugae are quite smooth and very shiny. Promesonotum similarly coarsely longitudinally rugose with virtually smooth interspaces but propodeal dorsum with variable sculpture, the rugae either irregular or strongly transverse (oblique in one worker). Petiole and postpetiole strongly rugose. Basal quarter to one-third of first gastral tergite finely costulate, the spaces punctulate or shagreened; more apical portion of sclerite unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and body except the propodeum with scattered standing hairs. Propodeum without hairs dorsally, the closest pair situated at or just in front of the site of the metanotal groove. Scapes and tibiae with fine decumbent to appressed pubescence only. Colour dark red, with the gaster blackish, glossy.
Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, RHODESIA: Shiloh (G. Arnold) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève) [examined].
References
- Arnold, G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 271-402 (page 284, see also)
- 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.
- Forel, A. 1913k. Ameisen aus Rhodesia, Kapland usw. (Hym.) gesammelt von Herrn G. Arnold, Dr. H. Brauns und Anderen. Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 1913(Su Suppl: 203-225 (page 219, worker described)
- Santschi, F. 1918b. Nouveaux Tetramorium africains. Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Afr. Nord 9: 121-132 (page 125, Stirps of sericeiventre, Revived status as species)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1922j. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 711-1004 (page 895, Revived status as species)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
- Prins A. J. 1964. Revised list of the ants collected in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 7: 77-93.