Tetramorium quadridentatum

Tetramorium quadridentatum is an arboreal species which nests in rot-holes in the trunks or branches of large trees.

Identification
Bolton (1980) - Widely distributed in West and Central Africa, T. guadridentatum is one of the three closely related species constituting the core of the group. It and its relatives Tetramorium viticola and Tetramorium unicum are characterized by the shape of the petiole node, which is quite distinctive. Tetramorium quadridentatum is separated from T. unicum as the latter lacks propodeal spines, and from T. viticola as follows.

Tetramorium quadridentatum
 * Larger species, HW > 0.80 (range 0.86-1.12) with broader head (CI 87-93) and shorter antennal scapes (SI 77-85).
 * Dorsum of head without rugular cross-meshes at level of eyes.
 * Postpetiole not reticulate-rugose.
 * First gastral tergite finely superficially shagreened at most.

Tetramorium viticola
 * Smaller species, HW < 0.80 (range 0.70-0.72) with narrower head (CI 81-83) and longer antennal scapes (SI 86-89).
 * Dorsum of head with conspicuous rugular cross meshes at level of eyes.
 * Postpetiole coarsely reticulate-rugose.
 * First gastral tergite blanketed by fine dense reticulate-punctate sculpture.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda.

Nomenclature

 *  quadridentatum. Tetramorium quadridentatum Stitz, 1910: 144 (w.) CAMEROUN. Senior synonym of commodum: Bolton, 1980: 364.
 * commodum. Tetramorium commodum Santschi, 1924b: 215 (w.q.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Junior synonym of quadridentatum: Bolton, 1980: 364.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 4.1-5.9, HL 0.96-1.24, HW 0.86-1.12 CI 87-93, SL 0.68-0.94, SI 77-85, PW 0.60-0.86, AL 1.20-1.72 (25 measured).

Mandibles finely longitudinally striate, sometimes delicately so. Apical margin of mandible armed with 3 teeth followed by a series of 6-7 minute denticles, not the usual 3 teeth plus 4 denticles. Anterior clypeal margin arcuate and entire, without trace of a median notch or impression. Median clypeal carina running the length of the clypeus and flanked on each side by 1-2 other carinae; sometimes with two flanking carinae on one side of the median and one on the other. Frontal carinae not more strongly developed than other cephalic sculpture, usually running back beyond the level of the eyes but fading out on the occiput or merging with the occipital sculpture before reaching the margin. Frontal carinae sometimes broken or interrupted anteriorly and a number of specimens with one side carina complete, the other broken or deflected. Maximum diameter of eye 0.22-0.26, about 0.23-0.26 x HW. Propodeal spines in profile usually about equal to the length of the elongate-triangular, very strongly developed metapleural lobes, sometimes slightly longer or shorter; the propodeal spines and long metapleural lobes subparallel. Petiole node in profile with the anterior and dorsal surfaces confluent through a broad smooth curve, the dorsum shallowly convex. Dorsal surface separated from posterior face by a blunt angle, the posterior face vertical or even slightly concave. Dorsum of head sculptured with widely spaced longitudinal rugulae which usually are irregular or meandering but which are commonly quite straight and regular. Cross-meshes are absent between the rugulae but the occiput usually has a ruguloreticulum ; only rarely is the reticulum inconspicuous or reduced in extent. Ground-sculpture of head a fine superficial punctulation or granulation. Dorsal surfaces of alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole rugose; on the alitrunk at least the pronotum reticulate-rugose, sometimes the entire dorsum so sculptured. On the petiole and postpetiole the rugae are mostly commonly longitudinal but a few cross-meshes or a partial reticulum may be formed, especially on the petiole. First gastral tergite finely shagreened, at least basally. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous elongate hairs, some or all of them curved so as to follow the line of curvature of the sclerite on which they arise. Hairs on the first gastral tergite subdecumbent to decumbent and, at least on the posterior half of the sclerite, directed towards the midline. Colour very variable but apparently consistent in each nest-sample, varying from yellowish brown to blackish brown, the lighter coloured forms commonly with the gaster darker in shade than the head and alitrunk.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Holotype worker, CAMEROUN: Mundame (Conradt) [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.
 * Eidmann H. 1944. Die Ameisenfauna von Fernando Poo. 27. Beitrag zu den Ergebnissen der Westafrika-Expedition. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Ökol. Geogr. Tiere 76: 413-490.
 * Hita Garcia, F., G. Fischer, M.K. Peters, R.R. Snelling and H.W. Wagele. 2009. A preliminary checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Kakamega Forest (Kenya). Journal of East African Natural HIstory 98(2): 147-165.
 * Menozzi C. 1942. Formiche dell'isola Fernando Poo e del territorio del Rio Muni (Guinea Spagnola). 24. Beitrag zu den wissenschaftlichen Ergebnissen der Forschungsreise H. Eidmann nach Spanisch-Guinea 1939 bis 1940. Zoologischer Anzeiger 140: 164-182.
 * Santschi F. 1924. Descriptions de nouveaux Formicides africains et notes diverses. II. Revue Zoologique Africaine (Brussels) 12: 195-224.
 * Stephens S. S., P. B. Bosu, and M. R. Wager. 2016. Effect of overstory tree species diversity and composition on ground foraging ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in timber plantations in Ghana. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & management 12(1-2): 96-107.