Tetramorium luteipes

Known only from the type collection, which was found over one hundred years ago.

Identification
Bolton (1980) - One of the four known light-coloured (yellowish) species belonging in the camerunense-complex of this group, together with Tetramorium gegaimi, Tetramorium miserabile and Tetramorium browni, T. luteipes is the only one which has the mandibles distinctly striate. In T. gegaimi and T. browni the mandibles are smooth with scattered pits. The mandibles of T. miserabile conform mostly to this pattern but have some faint marks between the pits which may be taken as striation. However, the petiole node in dorsal view is subglobular in T. miserabile, the dorsum rounding into the sides and the anterior and posterior faces, whereas in T. luteipes the petiole node is angular anteriorly and the dorsum is bounded anteriorly and laterally by a narrow raised rim or crest, absent in T. miserabile.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Congo.

Nomenclature

 *  luteipes. Tetramorium grassii st. luteipes Santschi, 1910c: 383, fig. 11 (w.q.m.) CONGO. Raised to species: Santschi, 1914e: 24. See also: Bolton, 1980: 341.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 2.8-3.1, HL 0.67-0.78, HW 0.59-0.70, CI 88-90, SL 0.46-0.55, SI 77-78, PW 0.40-0.46, AL 0.72-0.86 (3 measured).

Mandibles finely longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin with a small median notch. Median clypeal carinae strong and sharp, flanked by a pair of weaker carinae but otherwise the clypeus unsculptured. Frontal carinae weakly developed, fine and narrow, reaching back beyond the level of the eyes but fading out on the occiput and becoming indistinguishable from the other cephalic sculpture. Maximum diameter of eye 0.13-0.15, about 0.21-0.22 x HW. Propodeal spines fairly short but longer than the triangular, slightly upcurved, metapleural lobes. Petiole in profile with both antero- and posterodorsal angles blunt and the node as high as or slightly higher than long. Sides of petiole node with vestigial remains of a diagonal rugula or carina running from the anterodorsal angle posteroventrally to the site of attachment to the postpetiole. Petiole node in dorsal view as broad as or slightly broader than long. Dorsum of head with fine, narrow and fairly indistinct irregular longitudinal rugulae, 11-13 of which are present between the frontal carinae at eye level. In the occipital region a few very feeble anastomoses are present but no rugoreticulum is developed. Ground-sculpture a feeble and superficial punctulation or granulation, almost effaced in places, the surfaces glossy. Sides of head between eye and frontal carinae with some sparse, weak rugulation and with a fairly distinct punctulate ground-sculpture which is much more obvious than on the dorsum. Dorsal alitrunk finely irregularly rugulose, the longitudinal component tending to predominate but with numerous cross-meshes, anastomoses or meanders. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole to all intents and purposes unsculptured, with only the very faintest superficial vestiges of sculpture remaining. First gastral tergite smooth and shining. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous, relatively short standing hairs, those on the alitrunk, pedicel segments and gaster shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye. Hind tibiae only with short, fine, decumbent to appressed pubescence. Colour light yellowish brown, the gaster slightly darker, the legs lighter.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, female, males, Congo: Brazzaville (A. Weiss) [examined].

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.
 * Santschi F. 1910. Formicides nouveaux ou peu connus du Congo français. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 78: 349-400.
 * 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