Tetramorium latreillei

Hita Garcia and Fisher (2012) - Unfortunately, no modern material is available. The original type series is from "eastern Imerina" (Forel, 1895), which might be located in central-eastern Madagascar. The exact type locality remains unknown, making it difficult to resample new material. It is surprising, though, that no more specimens have been collected in the last 120 years, especially considering the large sampling effort undertaken by the Malagasy ant inventory project (Fisher, 2005).

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium smaug species complex of the Tetramorium tortuosum-species group.

Key to Malagasy Tetramorium tortuosum-group species

Tetramorium latreillei is clearly recognisable within the T. smaug complex because it is the only species without any standing hairs on the first gastral tergite. (Hita Garcia and Fisher 2012)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  latreillei. Tetramorium (Xiphomyrmex) latreillei Forel, 1895c: 247 (w.) MADAGASCAR. See also: Bolton, 1979: 146; Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2012b: 69.

Worker
Hita Garcia and Fisher (2012) - HL 1.05 - 1.06 (1.06); HW 1.06 - 1.08 (1.07); SL 0.82 - 0.85 (0.84); EL 0.23 - 0.24 (0.24); PH 0.52 - 0.55 (0.53); PW 0.72 - 0.76 (0.74); WL 1.37 - 1.40 (1.38); PSL 0.54 - 0.56 (0.55); PTL 0.34 - 0.35 (0.35); PTH 0.41 - 0.43 (0.42); PTW 0.27 - 0.30 (0.29); PPL 0.30 - 0.32 (0.31); PPH 0.43 - 0.45 (0.44); PPW 0.40 - 0.44 (0.42); CI 100 - 101 (101); SI 77 - 79 (79); OI 22 (22); DMI 53 - 55 (54); LMI 38 - 39 (39); PSLI 50 - 53 (52); PeNI 38 - 39 (39); LPeI 81 - 85 (83); DPeI 79 - 86 (83); PpNI 55 - 58 (56); LPpI 70 - 72 (71); DPpI 132 - 138 (134); PPI 141 - 148 (145) (three measured).

Head as long as wide to weakly wider than long (CI 100 - 101); posterior head margin strongly concave. Anterior clypeal margin medially impressed. Frontal carinae strongly developed, diverging posteriorly, and ending at corners of posterior head margin. Antennal scrobes well-developed, moderately deep, but narrow, and without defined posterior and ventral margins. Antennal scapes short, not reaching posterior head margin (SI 77 - 79). Eyes of moderate size (OI 22). Mesosomal outline in profile flat, moderately marginate from lateral to dorsal mesosoma; promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent; mesosoma comparatively stout and high (LMI 38 - 39). Propodeal spines massively developed with very broad base, extremely long, and acute (PSLI 50 - 53); propodeal lobes short and rounded. Petiolar node in profile rectangular nodiform, around 1.2 times higher than long (LPeI 81 - 85), anterior and posterior faces approximately parallel, anterodorsal and posterodorsal margins approximately at same height, dorsum slightly convex; node in dorsal view between 1.1 to 1.3 times longer than wide (DPeI 79 - 86). Postpetiole in profile subglobular, weakly anteroposteriorly compressed, approximately 1.4 times higher than long (LPpI 70 - 72); in dorsal view around 1.3 to 1.4 times wider than long (DPpI 132 - 138). Postpetiole in profile appearing less voluminous than petiolar node, in dorsal view about 1.4 to 1.5 times wider than petiolar node (PPI 141 - 148). Mandibles distinctly longitudinally rugose; clypeus longitudinally rugose, with three to five rugae; cephalic dorsum between frontal carinae with 9 to 12 longitudinal rugae, most rugae running unbroken from posterior head margin to anterior clypeus, few rugae interrupted or with cross-meshes; lateral and ventral head longitudinally rugose, rarely with cross-meshes. Mesosoma laterally and dorsally distinctly longitudinally rugose. Forecoxae with very distinct and pronounced longitudinal rugae. Waist segments longitudinally rugose, rugae on waist segments weaker than on head and mesosoma, especially dorsally. Gaster completely unsculptured, smooth, and shining. Ground sculpture generally faint to absent everywhere on body. Head with abundant standing hairs; mesosoma with up to two pairs restricted to pronotal dorsum; remainder of mesosoma, waist segments, and first gastral tergite without standing hairs; first gastral tergite with moderately dense appressed pubescence. Anterior edges of antennal scapes with appressed hairs. Body a uniform very dark brown to black colour.

Type Material
Hita Garcia and Fisher (2012):

Forel, 1895:247. Lectotype worker [designated here] MADAGASCAR, est Imerina ("eastern Imerina") (Sikora) (: CASENT0102340) [examined]. Paralectotypes, two workers with same data as lectotype (: CASENT0101291, CASENT0101292) [examined].

Bolton (1979) noted that all syntypes were located in the Forel collection in MHNG. However, we also found one syntype (the newly designated lectotype) in BMNH with the additional information "remounted B. Bolton 1975".