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Tetramorium megalops
| Tetramorium megalops | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Tetramorium |
| Species: | T. megalops |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetramorium megalops Bolton, 1977
| |
A species of semi-arid habitats (Heterick 2009).
Identification
Bolton (1977) - The most conspicuous character of this species is without doubt the eyes, which are both relatively and absolutely large. The maximum eye diameter of 0·24 is approached in general only by species with HW considerably greater than 0·80 so that the maximum diameter is < 0.30 x HW, usually markedly less. The position of the eyes, behind the centre of the sides, may indicate some affinity to Tetramorium viehmeyeri, but the unique form of the clypeus will quickly differentiate that species.
Keys including this Species
- Key to Australian Tetramorium Species
- Key to Tetramorium of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -32.032124° to -32.05°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia (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.
- megalops. Tetramorium megalops Bolton, 1977: 139, fig. 61 (w.) AUSTRALIA.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype. TL 4.1, HL 0.90, HW 0.78, CI 87, SL 0.66, SI 84, PW 0.66, AL 1.18.
Mandibles distinctly longitudinally striate; anterior clypeal margin without a median notch. Median clypeal carina absent from anterior (descending) face of clypeus, not reaching anterior margin but fading out just below the clypeal curve. Frontal carinae strong, consisting of a raised, narrow, semitranslucent flange which runs back to the occipital corners where it merges with the sculpture. Scrobe a shallow groove below the carinae capable of partially accommodating the scape. Eyes relatively large, maximum diameter c. 0.24, about 0.32 x HW; the eyes situated well back on the sides of the head (Fig. 61). Propodeal spines in profile short (length c. 0.16) but acute; metapleural lobes elongate-triangular and acute. Node of petiole in dorsal view slightly longer than broad, broader behind than in front. In profile the tergal portion of the node is longer than high and the dorsum is very shallowly convex. Postpetiole in profile dome-shaped, as high as the petiole. Dorsum of head longitudinally rugose, with some anastomoses in the occipital region. Sides of head except for scrobe finely reticulate-rugose. Spaces between rugae and area of scrobe finely, densely but distinctly reticulate-punctate. Pronotal dorsum with a fine rugoreticulum but on mesonotum the cross-meshes are reduced so that the sc1erite is predominantly longitudinally rugose. Petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate-rugulose everywhere, spaces between rugae on both alitrunk and pedicel filled with dense, fine puncturation. Gaster unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of body with short, quite stout, blunted hairs. Colour light yellow-brown, the gaster lighter in shade than the head.
Type Material
Holotype worker, Australia: Western Australia, c. 60 km NW. Balladonia, 13.ii.1955, no. 440 (E. O. Wilson & A. Douglas) (Museum of Comparative Zoology).
- Holotype, worker, about 60km NW Balladonia, Western Australia, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
References
- Bolton, B. 1977. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions, and in Australia. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology. 36:67-151. (page 139, fig. 61 worker described)
- [[Media:Heterick 2009b.pdf|Heterick, B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76*Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
- Heterick, B.E. 2022. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part II: Distribution and biology. Records of the Western Australian Museum, supplement 86: 247-510 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2022.247-510).
- 1-206.]]