Tetramorium setuliferum

This species has populous colonies that nest in open areas. There is often a mound of refuse surrounding a single nest entrance.

Identification
Tetramorium setuliferum is morphologically similar to Tetramorium clunum. The two species are separated by the characters listed under T. clunum.

Distribution
This is a widespread and common species in savanna and grassland regions of southern Africa, including: South Africa (Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, Free State), Zaire; Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho and Malawi.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Biology
A general scavenger including seeds as well as insect prey in their diet. It has been collected in grasslands, forest clearings, in weedy areas, in savanna on white clay soil, dry forest savanna, thornveld savanna, Kimberley Thornveld, Miombo woodland, riverine-grassveld, old tobacco fields, sandy soil areas dominated by shrubs, and in citrus orchards. The species normally nests in sandy to loamy soils, with nest entrances found in open areas, away from the basal parts of plants or at the base of a grass tuft. There can be more than one nest entrance per colony. Circles of grass seed husks, piles of small stones or scattered soil particles have been found around nest entrances. Seeds are regularly found in nests. Reproductive forms have been collected from nests between October and February. Collected using pitfall traps, tuna baits, and sugar baits.

Nomenclature

 *  setuliferum. Tetramorium setuliferum Emery, 1895h: 36 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Forel, 1910f: 19 (q.); Arnold, 1917: 290 (m.). Material of the nomen nudum squamiferum referred here by Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 903. Senior synonym of cucalense (and its junior syonym triptolemus): Bolton, 1980: 250.
 * cucalense. Tetramorium setuliferum var. cucalense Santschi, 1911c: 356 (w.) ANGOLA. Santschi, 1930b: 71 (q.). Senior synonym of triptolemus: Santschi, 1930b: 71. Junior synonym of setuliferum: Bolton, 1980: 250.
 * triptolemus. Tetramorium setuliferum var. triptolemus Arnold, 1917: 292 (w.) ZAMBIA. Junior synonym of cucalense: Santschi, 1930b: 71.