Tetraponera grandidieri species group

This article is based on [[Media:Ward 2006.pdf|Ward, P. S. 2006. The ant genus Tetraponera in the Afrotropical region: synopsis of species groups and revision of the T. ambigua-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8:119-130.]]

The group was revised at [[Media:Ward 2009.pdf | Ward, P. S. 2009. The ant genus Tetraponera in the Afrotropical region: the T. grandidieri group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 18:285-304.]]

Worker diagnosis

 * Medium to large species (HW 0.95 - 1.59)
 * Masticatory margin of mandible with four teeth
 * Basal margin lacking teeth and subequal in length to masticatory margin
 * Labrum with a pair of tubercles closely flanking the midline near proximal margin (no median tubercle)
 * Anteromedial margin of clypeus crenulate or emarginate
 * Distance between frontal carinae slightly exceeding basal scape width (FCI 0.11 - 0.17), scape length threequarters or more of head width (SI 0.74 - 0.85)
 * Head capsule with three distinct ocelli
 * Pronotum laterally marginate
 * Posteroventral margin of petiole lying adjacent to helcium venter
 * Metabasitarsal sulcus present; legs long and slender (FI 0.28 - 0.32, LHT / HL 0.94 - 1.12)
 * Appressed pubescence sparse on abdominal tergite 4. Orange to reddish-brown, head concolorous or darker.

This is a small homogeneous group, endemic to Madagascar. The relatively large size, slender appendages, presence of three ocelli, and orange-brown body coloration set this group apart from other Tetraponera species on the island

Distribution
Madagascar

Valid Species

 * Tetraponera grandidieri (Forel, 1891)
 * Tetraponera hespera Ward, 2009
 * Tetraponera hirsuta Ward, 2009
 * Tetraponera inermis Ward, 2009
 * Tetraponera manangotra Ward, 2009
 * Tetraponera merita Ward, 2009
 * Tetraponera variegata (Forel, 1895)