Tetramorium legone

In Benin, Taylor et al. (2018) report this species from mango (Mangifera indica) orchards. It is ground nesting.

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium angulinode species group.

Bolton (1980) - Amongst all African Tetramorium with 11-merous antennae T. legone is unique in having the base of the first gastral tergite densely sculptured. Like the closely related Tetramorium calinum this species inhabits open, sandy soils. The relationship of T. legone to calinum may be closer than is indicated by the material presently available. As can be seen in the type-series of legone the area of the first tergite covered by sculpture is variable, and if some specimens were found in which this sculpture was very reduced they would be difficult to separate from T. calinum. It is quite possible that T. legone and T. calinum may represent two extremes of a single variable species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Benin, Ghana, Nigeria.

Nomenclature

 *  legone. Tetramorium legone Bolton, 1980: 240 (w.) GHANA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3-3, HL 0-76, HW 0-72, CI 95, SL 0-54, SI 75, PW 0-54, AL 0-86.

Mandibles smooth and shining with scattered small pits. Anterior clypeal margin with a median impression. Antennal scrobes broad and conspicuous, bounded above by the strong frontal carinae and ventrally by longitudinal rugular sculpture running above the eye. Scrobe with a median longitudinal carina anteriorly which runs back at least to the level of the posterior margin of the eye and divides the scrobe into upper and lower sections. Pronotal corners in dorsal view sharply angular. Propodeal spines stout and acute, slightly downcurved along their length; metapleural lobes broadly triangular. Petiole in profile with the node roughly square, as high as long, the anterior and posterior faces parallel and the dorsum feebly convex. Postpetiole only slightly lower than petiole, rounded above. In dorsal view the petiole node slightly longer than broad, the postpetiole distinctly broader than long. Dorsum of head and alitrunk finely longitudinally rugulose, the spaces between rugulae everywhere blanketed by a dense, strong reticulatepuncturation. Pedicel segments more weakly rugulose, reticulate in places and having the strong, dense puncturation everywhere. Basal one-quarter of first gastral tergite extremely densely, finely punctulate; in places with the appearance of minute striation due to the alignment of adjacent punctures. Remainder of gaster smooth and shining. Fine, simple, acute short hairs dense on all dorsal surfaces of head and body; on the first gastral tergite they are subdecumbent to decumbent and on the posterior two-thirds of the segment are directed towards the midline. Colour dark brown, the gaster darker, blackish brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ghana: Legon A.D., 22.iii.72 (D. Leston). Paratypes. Ghana: 5 workers with same data as holotype. Nigeria: 1 worker, 18 km N. of Mokwa,28.iv.77 (C. Longhurst). (BMNH; ; )

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Taylor B., N. Agoinon, A. Sinzogan, A. Adandonon, Y. N'Da Kouagou, S. Bello, R. Wargui, F. Anato, I. Ouagoussounon, H. Houngbo, S. Tchibozo, R. Todjhounde, and J. F. Vayssieres. 2018. Records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Republic of Benin, with particular reference to the mango farm ecosystem. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 8(1): 006–029.