Tetramorium microgyna

Occurrence records are sparse for this parasitic species. Records with details about the collection conditions are of T. microgyne queens, smaller than their host workers, found in nests of their hosts. Since workers of T. microgyne have not been found, the species is presumed to be an inquiline. Host species include Tetramorium sericeiventre and Tetramorium sepositum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 *  microgyna. Tetramorium microgyna Santschi, 1918b: 132 (q., not w.) SOUTH AFRICA. See also: Arnold, 1926: 253; Santschi, 1928f: 207; Bolton, 1980: 329.

Queen
Bolton (1980) - TL 3.0-3.5, HL 0.72-0.76, HW 0.62-0.66, CI 84-89, SL 0.68-0.70, SI 106-109, PW 0.48-0.56, AL 1.00-1.12 (6 measured).

An inquiline species known only from females (queens) found in nests of sericeiventre and sepositum in Rhodesia and South Africa and differing radically from the true queens of these species. Females of microgyna are much smaller than the host workers, whereas the real females of the hosts are larger than their workers. In terms of colour and sculpture the queens of sericeiventre and sepositum resemble their workers, but inquiline females of microgyna are much lighter, usually dull yellow with brown gaster and are much more delicately and finely sculptured. All surfaces of the head, alitrunk and pedicel segments in microgyna are exceedingly finely and incredibly densely shagreened so that the surfaces look dull and very finely granular. Rugulose sculpture is generally absent but in a few individuals some exceptionally fine rugular traces are present on the dorsum of the head between the frontal carinae and more rarely laterally on the mesoscutum. Gaster in most cases is as finely sculptured as the rest of the body but in some there are extremely fine costulae discernible.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Holotype female, South Arrica: Natal, 1895 (Haviland) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Santschi F. 1937. Résultats de la Mission scientifique suisse en Angola (2me voyage) 1932-1933. Fourmis angolaises. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 44: 211-250.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. 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. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004