Tetramorium severini species group


 * Tetramorium severini

Based on Bolton and Hita Garcia and Fisher 2011.

Tetramorium species groups

This single species of this group is one of the most conspicuous Tetramorium species in Madagascar. It was formerly placed in the T. schaufussii group with the main arguments for this placement being the shape of the petiolar node and the unsculptured mandibles. However its size, mesosomal shape, and propodeal spine development differ substantially from all members of the T. schaufussii group, and at present, T. severini is kept in its own group.

The single representative of the group is very distinctive due to the large bosy size, relatively slender mesosoma, very long propodeal spines, and a rounded high nodiform petiolar node, and misidentifications with other species groups are not likely.

Diagnosis
Eleven-segmented antennae; anterior clypeal margin medially impressed; frontal carinae developed and usually ending between posterior eye margin and posterior head margin; anterior face of mesosoma only weakly developed and rounding onto the dorsum; margination between lateral and dorsal mesosoma weak; propodeal spines very long and spinose; propodeal lobes triangular and short; petiolar node in profile rounded high nodiform, anterior and posterior faces of the node roughly parallel, and all sides rounding smoothly onto the dorsal face without distinct angles, in profile much higher than long, in dorsal view about as wide as long; postpetiole roughly rounded; mandibles usually unsculptured; cephalic sculpturation distinct and predominantly longitudinally rugose; mesosoma with weak sculpturation; waist segments and gaster unsculptured, smooth, and shiny; cephalic dorsum with abundant dorsal long, fine hairs, mesosoma and waist segments with very few hairs, first gastral tergite without pilosity, only very sparse, short pubescence present; sting appendage spatulate.