Tetramorium luteolum

An ant of open to semi-open habitats (savannah, woodland, Bushveld, etc.), non-type collections with microhabitat information were all pitfall trap samples.

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium simillimum species group.

Bolton (1980) - Of the three yellow species in the large-eyed oculatum-complex of this group T. luteolum is easily distinguished from the other two by the presence of propodeal teeth. It is one of the four species of the complex in which the presence of elongate curved or J-shaped hairs on the ventral surface of the head behind the buccal cavity has been confirmed. (The others are Tetramorium berbiculum, Tetramorium krynitum and Tetramorium oculatum, see under species-group discussion.)

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

Nomenclature

 *  luteolum. Tetramorium incruentatum var. luteolum Arnold, 1926: 272, fig. 27 (w.) ZIMBABWE. Raised to species: Bolton, 1980: 313.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 2.5-2.7, HL 0.62-0.64, HW 0.56-0.58, CI 89-94, SL 0.40-0.44, SI 71-76, PW 0.38-0.42, AL 0.66-0.72 (10 measured).

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin entire, without a median impression or notch. Frontal carinae feeble, not more strongly developed than the longitudinal cephalic rugulae; variable in length. Usually the weak, narrow frontal carinae extend beyond the level of the posterior margins of the eyes but sometimes they are interrupted or broken, or fade out just behind eye-level, becoming indistinguishable from the other sculpture. Less commonly the carinae end at the level of the mid-length of the eyes; considerable variation is present in a single nest-series. Antennal scrobes vestigial. Maximum diameter of eye 0.17-0.18, about 0.30-0.31 x HW and usually with 10-11 ommatidia in the longest row. Metanotal groove distinctly impressed in profile. Propodeum armed with a pair of stout short teeth which are sometimes blunt apically. Metapleural lobes rounded. Petiole in profile with the height of the tergal portion greater than the dorsal length of the node; in dorsal view the petiole node much broader than long. Dorsum of head with spaced out longitudinal rugulae, the spaces between them with only a faint superficial punctulation or weakly granular appearance, lacking the conspicuous reticulate-punctate blanket seen in related species. Dorsal alitrunk feebly punctulate-granular, the pronotum commonly with a few vestigial rugulae which may extend onto the anterior portion of the mesonotum. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole very feebly superficially punctulate or shagreened. Base of first gastral tergite shallowly and lightly shagreened with superimposed larger punctures from which hairs arise. All dorsal surfaces of head and body except propodeum with projecting short, stout, blunted hairs. Colour pale yellow, the gaster usually slightly darker than the head and alitrunk.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, RHODESIA: Nyamandhlovu, 15.xii.1915 (G. Arnold) (BMNH) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection