Tetramorium peutli

Known from rainforest and swamp forest, T. peutli nests in downed wood (collections from a rotten log and downed rotten stick).

Identification
Bolton (1980) - Among the small species of the group T. peutli is distinguished by its reduced or absent postpetiolar sculpture, lack or near lack of basal costulae on the first gastral tergite, and its strongly contrasting colour pattern. Of the other small species Tetramorium amentete is black and coarsely sculptured everywhere, Tetramorium phasias is uniformly pale yellow, again with coarse sculpture everywhere, and Tetramorium pullulum is black with very reduced sculpture so that it is to a large extent smooth. In T. amentete basigastral costulae are conspicuous, but in T. phasias and T. pullulum they are often reduced or replaced by punctation which is, however, well defined and easily visible. The colour pattern of T. peutli is also found in Tetramorium cristatum but this is a much larger species with a strongly sculptured postpetiole, differently shaped petiole node and strong basigastral costulae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Cameroun, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Uganda.

Nomenclature

 *  peutli. Tetramorium guineense r. peutli Forel, 1916: 419 (w.q.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Raised to species: Bolton, 1980: 272.

Description
TL 2.9-3.5, HL 0.72-0.80, HW 0.58-0.68, CI 78-84, SL 0.48-0.54, SI 79-86, PW 0.44-0.54, AL 0.82-0.98 (13 measured).

Mandibles smooth and shining, with scattered minute pits. Anterior clypeal margin with a marked median notch or impression, the anterior quarter of the median portion of the clypeus shallowly transversely concave. Median clypeus with three strongly developed longitudinal carinae, the lateral margination feeble and sinuate. Frontal carinae strong, extending back almost to the occipital margin, merging with the cephalic sculpture posteriorly. Maximum diameter of eyes 0.16-0.19, about 0.27-0.31 x HW. Propodeal spines in profile long and stout, acute apically and commonly slightly upcurved along their length or feebly upturned apically. In some samples the spines are more or less straight. Metapleural lobes elongate-triangular and upcurved. Petiole node in profile long and low, the posterior face usually slightly longer than the anterior so that the shallowly convex dorsum tends to slope upwards posteriorly. Anterodorsal angle of node blunt or rounded, the posterodorsal angle blunt or narrowly rounded but more strongly developed than the anterodorsal and overhanging the posterior face which is shallowly concave or which slopes anteriorly below the angle. In dorsal view the petiole node longer than broad. Dorsum of head to approximately the level of the posterior margins of the eyes with five strong ' longitudinal rugae between the frontal carinae. In general cross-meshes are absent but occasionally a few may be developed as far forwards as the anterior margins of the eyes. Occiput with a strong rugoreticulum approximately from the level of the posterior margins of the eyes to the margin. Dorsal alitrunk with a wide-meshed rugoreticulum, strongest on the pronotum and with a tendency to be weakened or partially effaced on the mesonotum. A transverse crest present on the dorsum at the site of the promesonotal junction; usually distinct but reduced in some individuals. Dorsum of petiole rugulose, the postpetiole dorsum unsculptured or at most with 2-3 very feeble longitudinal rugulae which are much less strongly - developed than those on the petiole dorsum. Basigastral costulae absent or at most indicated by sparse, very feeble marks. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous erect or suberect strong hairs. Head, - alitrunk and pedicel segments bright orange or orange-brown, the gaster much darker, blackish brown or black.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, female, ZAIRE: Miss. St. Gabriel (Kohl) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Belshaw R., and B. Bolton. 1994. A survey of the leaf litter ant fauna in Ghana, West Africa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 3: 5-16.
 * Belshaw R., and B. Bolton. 1994. A survey of the leaf litter ant fauna in Ghana, West Africa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 3: 5-16.
 * 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.
 * Yeo K., T. Delsinne, S. Komate, L. L. Alonso, D. Aidara, and C. Peeters. 2016. Diversity and distribution of ant assemblages above and below ground in a West African forest–savannah mosaic (Lamto, Cote d’Ivoire). Insectes Sociaux DOI 10.1007/s00040-016-0527-6