Tetramorium coloreum

A rainforest species that has been found in rotting logs and under a stone, in addition to many samples from leaf litter.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Central African Republic, Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  coloreum. Tetramorium coloreum Mayr, 1901a: 273 (w.) CAMEROUN. Senior synonym of muscicola: Bolton, 1980: 297.
 * muscicola. Tetramorium humerosum r. muscicola Bernard, 1953b: 246 (w.) GUINEA. Junior synonym of coloreum: Bolton, 1980: 297.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 3.0-3.6, HL 0.76-0.88, HW 0.70-0.82, CI 90-95, SL 0.58-0.66, SI 79-83, PW 0.50-0.58, AL 0.82-0.92 (20 measured).

Mandibles finely longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin entire, without a notch or impression. Clypeus usually with three longitudinal carinae, more rarely with four or five. Frontal carinae long, reaching back almost to the occipital margin, but not strongly developed, surmounted by a low rim or flange dorsally. Antennal scrobes broad and shallow. Maximum diameter of eye 0.15-0.18, about 0.20-0.23 x HW. Alitrunk relatively short and broad (see measurements), the dorsum in profile distinctly arched from front to back. Propodeum armed with a pair of long, narrow, more or less straight spines. Metapleural lobes very long and narrow, spiniform and elevated, but shorter than the propodeal spines. Petiole node in profile high and narrow, the dorsal length less than the height of the tergal portion; node variable in shape but always with an approximately vertical anterior face and a short dorsum which rounds more or less evenly into the convex posterior face. A diagonal ridge or rugula runs across the side of the node from the anterodorsal angle almost to the posteroventral corner and is usually very distinct. In dorsal view this ridge is seen to be continuous, running in an arc across the dorsum at the junction of the anterior and dorsal faces as a narrow raised line or crest. Petiole node in dorsal view slightly longer than broad. Dorsum of head with a few widely spaced longitudinal rugae which run to the occipital margin where a few weak anastomoses are sometimes present; there is, however, no trace of a reticulum occipitally. Dorsal alitrunk with irregular low longitudinal rugae, the dorsal surfaces of the petiole and postpetiole always with fine, longitudinal rugulae present, denser on the latter. Base of first gastral tergite sculptured, either finely densely striate or shagreened. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous or abundant stout standing hairs. Colour conspicuous: head, gaster (and usually also the legs) yellow, alitrunk (and usually also pedicel segments) black or dark brown, the two colours strongly contrasting. Colour of the legs is variable, usually yellow like the head, sometimes brown but never as dark as the alitrunk. Petiole and postpetiole sometimes as dark as alitrunk, commonly lighter than the alitrunk but darker than the gaster. Rarely the petiole notably darker than the postpetiole.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, CAMEROUN: Mungo-Fluss, x.1874 (R. Buchholz) [examined]. Tetramorium humerosum subsp. muscicola. Syntype workers, GUINEA: Nimba N-E. (Villiers) (types not in, Paris; presumed lost).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection