Tetramorium bevisi

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium simillimum species group.

Bolton (1980) - A fairly distinctive species in the oculatum-complex, characterized by its lack of gastral sculpture, dark colour, moderately sized eyes, triangular metapleural lobes and lack of glittering silvery gastral hairs. Its closest relatives are Tetramorium oculatum in which the eyes are enormous (0.37-0.39 x HW), Tetramorium argenteopilosum in which the gaster has strong basal puncturation and silvery hairs, and Tetramorium krynitum. The last-named is probably the closest known relative of T. bevisi, but the two may be separated as follows.

T. bevisi
 * Metapleural lobes triangular.
 * Promesonotum with scattered vestigial rugulae
 * Metanotal groove feebly indented
 * Head narrower (CI 86-88).
 * Scapes relatively longer (SI 80-87).
 * Petiole node in profile narrowing from base to apex

T. krynitum
 * Metapleural lobes bluntly rounded.
 * Promesonotum with weak but continuous rugulae.
 * Metanotal groove strongly impressed.
 * Head broader (CI 91).
 * Scapes relatively shorter (SI 71).
 * Petiole node in profile not narrowing from base to apex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Lesotho, Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 *  bevisi. Tetramorium bevisi Arnold, 1958: 120, fig. 1 (w.q.m.) LESOTHO. See also: Bolton, 1980: 308.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 2.8-3.0, HL 0.66-0.70, HW 0.58-0.61, CI 86-88, SL 0.48-0.52, SI 80-87, PW 0.42-0.44, AL 0.78-0.82 (5 measured).

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin entire, without a median notch or impression. Frontal carinae weak, no more strongly developed than the longitudinal rugulae of the cephalic dorsum, but extending back beyond the level of the posterior margins of the eyes before fading out. Antennal scrobes vestigial, no more than an exceedingly feeble impression in the sides of the head below the frontal carinae. Maximum diameter of eye 0.18, about 0.29-0.31 x HW and with 10 ommatidia in the longest row. With the alitrunk in profile the metanotal groove feebly indented. Propodeum armed with a pair of short triangular teeth. Metapleural lobes triangular and low, about as long as the propodeal teeth. Petiole in profile with the dorsal length less than the height of the tergal portion, the node narrowing slightly from base to apex and with the posterodorsal angle rounded, less sharply defined than the anterodorsal. Node in dorsal view distinctly broader than long. Dorsum of head finely longitudinally rugulose with faint punctulate ground-sculpture. Dorsal alitrunk predominantly finely punctulate but with faint or vestigial longitudinal rugulae on the promesonotum. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole with superficial, very faint punctulation or shagreening. First gastral tergite unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous stout hairs, erect or suberect, those on the alitrunk distinctly blunt apically. Colour dark brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, females, males, Lesotho: Molepi Stream, 40 miles [64 km] E. of Maseru, 8400 ft [2560 m], 6.iii.56 (J. Bevis) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Addison P., and M. J. Samways. 2000. A survey of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) that forage in vineyards in the Western Cape Province, South Africa
 * Arnold G. 1958. New species of African Hymenoptera. No. 13. Occasional Papers of the National Museum of Southern Rhodesia. B. Natural Sciences. 3: 119-143.
 * Hanrahan S. A., M. J. Steinbauer, and F. D. Duncan. 2014. Ant assemblages in a poorly sampled part of the arid Nama Karoo. African Entomology 22(2): 448453.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection