Terataner foreli

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Castes
Ergatoid queen described by Alpert (1992).

No alate or dealate queens occur in any of the Malagasy Terataner species. Colonies are almost always monogynous with a single reproductive, an ergatoid queen, that differs only slightly from corresponding workers. This reproductive lacks both wings and ocelli, and has an almost normal, worker-like thorax. The ergatoid queen is externally distinguishable from workers only by very subtle characters (e.g., small spines or tubercles below the mesonotal groove; a unique pattern of rugae on the sides of the pronotum) that vary among species. Ergatoid queens have ovaries bearing two to three ovarioles.

Nomenclature

 *  foreli. Atopomyrmex foreli Emery, 1899f: 274, figs. (w.m.) MADAGASCAR. Combination in Terataner: Emery, 1912b: 103.

Type Material
Bolton (1981) - Syntype workers, Madagascar: Baia di Antongil, 1897-98 (A. Mocquerys) [examined].