Tetramorium matopoense

Tetramorium matopoense
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Tetramorium
Species:	T. matopoense
Binomial name
	Tetramorium matopoense; Arnold, 1926 Specimen Labels

Known from grasslands, shrubland, and a citrus orchard, this species has been collected in winkler samples and by hand.

Identification

Bolton (1980) - Tetramorium matopoense is easily recognized within the squaminode-group by its smooth pronotum coupled with the lack of hairs on the first gastral tergite. All other known species of the group have pronotal sculpture and gastral pilosity present.

Keys including this Species

Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium squaminode species group

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 25.45° to -28.96667°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: 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.

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.

matopoense. Tetramorium matopoensis Arnold, 1926: 254, fig. 68 (w.) ZIMBABWE. See also: Bolton, 1980: 257.

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 2.5-2.6, HL 0.62-0.64, HW 0.56-0.58, CI 90-91, SL 0.44-0.48, SI 79-82, PW 0.42-0.44, AL 0.66-0.68 (2 measured).

Mandibles unsculptured except for scattered pits, anterior margin of clypeus with a shallow median notch. Frontal carinae sinuate and strongly developed. Antennal scrobes broad and shallow. Occipital margin in full-face view flat or at most only very feebly concave medially. Metanotal groove feebly impressed in profile. Propodeal spines strong, acute, broad basally. Petiole squamiform, the dorsal crest narrow but not knife-like, flat in posterior view. Postpetiole slightly antero-posteriorly compressed but by no means squamate, the dorsum evenly convex in profile. Clypeus without transverse rugulae. Dorsum of head feebly longitudinally rugulose, the spaces between them faintly superficially sculptured. Pronotal dorsum absolutely smooth, devoid of sculpture, the remainder of the dorsal alitrunk with weak and disorganized rugular and punctulate sculpture. Pedicel segments and gaster unsculptured, smooth and shining. Dorsal surfaces of head, alitrunk and pedicel segments with scattered long hairs which are quite stout and tend to be blunt apically, the head also with a number of shorter, finer hairs. First gastral tergite without pilosity. Appendages only with fine, appressed pubescence. Colour uniform and brown, the appendages a lighter, more yellowish brown.

Type Material

Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, RHODESIA: Matopos, Mt Bambata, 4800 ft [1460 m], 5.vi.1918 (G. Arnold) (Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe) [examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
Samways M. J. 1983. Community structure of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a series of habitats associated with citrus. Journal of Applied Ecology 20: 833-847.
Samways M. J. 1990. Species temporal variability: epigaeic ant assemblages and management for abundance and scarcity. Oecologia 84: 482-490.