Tetramorium emeryi

Specimen records suggest this ant is most common in Bushveld. It has also be found in other habitats (e.g., garden, Indigenous evergreen forest along stream). Three records are of nests found in the cavities of dead branches on living trees.

Identification
Bolton (1980) - The reduced propodeal armament immediately distinguishes T. emeryi from its relatives. The closest related species appears to be Tetramorium erectum, which shares the rounded petiole node of T. emeryi, but in T. erectum the propodeal spines are elongate and markedly elevated. The structure of the petiole node, with its rounded angles and its exaggerated width in dorsal view, marks off these two species from the remainder of the group where the node is angular and tends to be longer than broad when seen from above.

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

Nomenclature

 *  emeryi. Tetramorium emeryi Mayr, 1901b: 23 (w.q.m.) SOUTH AFRICA. Senior synonym of cristulatum: Bolton, 1980: 269.
 * cristulatum. Tetramorium emeryi st. cristulatum Forel, 1913j: 218 (w.m.) SOUTH AFRICA. Arnold, 1917: 302 (q.). Junior synonym of emeryi: Bolton, 1980: 269.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 4-5—-5-0, HL 1-06-1:12, HW 0-92-0-98, CI 85-89, SL 0-62-0-67, SI 65-70, PW 0-66-0-70, AL 1-20-1-26 (10 measured).

Mandibles smooth and shining, unsculptured except for scattered hair-pits. Anterior clypeal margin with a distinct median notch or impression. Median portion of clypeus without the three strong longitudinal carinae usually seen in this group, instead with a varying series of fine rugulae. Lateral margination of median portion of clypeus conspicuous, running anteriorly to the clypeal margin and posteriorly to the frontal carinal lobes. Frontal carinae strongly developed, running back to a point about midway between the posterior margins of the eyes and the occiput and curving outwards slightly before blending into the remaining cephalic sculpture. Eyes large, maximum diameter 0-27-0-30, about 0:29-0:32 x HW. Alitrunk in profile feebly depressed at site of metanotal groove. Propodeum armed only with a pair of minute teeth or tubercles which are much smaller than the upcurved and broadly triangular metapleural lobes. Petiole in profile rounded-nodiform, without sharply developed anterodorsal or posterodorsal angles, the node generally slightly narrower above than below. In dorsal view the petiole node distinctly broader than long. Dorsum of head finely longitudinally rugulose except occipitally where a weak rugoreticulum is present. At the level of the eyes with 9-12 rugulae between the frontal carinae. Dorsal alitrunk feebly rugulose, stronger on the pronotum than elsewhere and sometimes reticulate. Propodeal dorsum least strongly rugulose and the interstitial punctulation consequently more distinct here than on the rest of the alitrunk. A transverse crest present on the alitrunk at the site of the promesonotal junction. Petiole and postpetiole dorsally finely rugulose and densely finely punctulate, with a rough and matt appearance. Base of first gastral tergite with a few very weak costulae, the spaces between them shagreened or indistinctly punctulate. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous erect or suberect quite strong hairs. Colour uniform dark brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, female, males, SOUTH AFRICA: Port Elizabeth (H. Brauns) [examined]. Tetramorium emeryi st. cristulatum Forel, 1913c: 218. Syntype workers, males, SOUTH AFRICA: Cape, Willowmore (H. Brauns) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 271-402.
 * Bolton B. 1980. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 40: 193-384.
 * Forel A. 1913. Ameisen aus Rhodesia, Kapland usw. (Hym.) gesammelt von Herrn G. Arnold, Dr. H. Brauns und Anderen. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1913(Suppl.): 203-225.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * 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