Tetramorium laevithorax

A ground nesting species. Tetramorium laevithorax has been sampled in pitfall traps and collected by hand in natural open (grassland, savannah) to semi-open habitats (Acacia woodland, Bushveld), and highly disturbed areas (maze field, urban garden).

Identification
Bolton (1980) - One of the few species of Tetramorium to have very reduced sculpture, T. laevithorax is quickly separated from its relatives by the lack of strong sculpture on the promesonotal dorsum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda.

Biology
SAM-HYM-C000788 - Little grass turret at entrance c 1cm high. Origin: Nest. Method: saw nest/nest entrance. Habitat:grass. Habitat: citrus. Nest site: ground: underground. Entrance: in open away from basal parts of plants.

Nomenclature

 *  laevithorax. Tetramorium laevithorax Emery, 1895h: 39 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Senior synonym of jeanae: Bolton, 1980: 279.
 * jeanae. Tetramorium jeanae Weber, 1943c: 371, pl. 16, fig. 29 (w.) SUDAN. Junior synonym of laevithorax: Bolton, 1980: 279.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 3.0-3.5, HL 0.70-0.78, HW 0.58-0.64, CI 81-84, SL 0.61-0.70, SI 103-113, PW 0.44-0.50, AL 0.84-0.96 (10 measured).

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin entire, without median notch or impression. Median clypeal carina distinct but often failing to reach posterior margin; other sculpture vestigial or absent on clypeus. Frontal carinae strong, surmounted by a narrow, raised rim or flange and running back almost to the occipital margin. Antennal scrobes narrow and shallow, but fairly conspicuous. Antennal scapes relatively long, SI > 100. Maximum diameter of eye 0.16-0.18, about 0.27—0.29 x HW. With the alitrunk in profile the propodeal spines short but strong and acute, distinctly longer than the low, bluntly triangular metapleural lobes but not as long as the maximum diameter of the eye. Petiole in profile a high node, the dorsal length of the node less than the height of the tergal portion. Anterodorsal angle sharp, generally projecting into a low peak which in dorsal view is seen as a narrow crest or rim running along the anterior face of the node. In dorsal view the petiole node distinctly broader than long. Dorsum of head feebly sculptured, with only 3-5 weak and widely separated longitudinal rugulae between the frontal carinae at the level of the eyes. Occipital margin with a few rugular anastomoses or a weak reticulum; ground-sculpture vestigial, the head glossy. Promesonotal dorsum usually unsculptured, smooth and very shining, but quite commonly with 1-3 weak longitudinal rugulae traversing the glossy surface. Propodeal. dorsum usually with sparse rugular sculpture, rarely, effaced. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole with traces of feeble punctulate sculpture, especially the postpetiole, and this segment commonly with traces of rugular sculpture also. First gastral tergite unsculptured except for hair-pits. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous strong hairs; middle and hind tibiae only with fine decumbent to appressed dense pubescence. Colour mid-brown to dark brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Holotype worker, SOUTH AFRICA: Pietermaritzburg (Weitzecker) (probably in ). Tetramorium jeanae Weber, 1943: 371, pl. 16, fig. 29. Holotype worker, SUDAN: Imatong Mts, W. slopes, 6400 ft [1950 m], 2.viii.1939, no. 1395 (N. A. Weber) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 271-402.
 * 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.
 * Emery C. 1895. Voyage de M. E. Simon dans l'Afrique australe (janvier-avril 1893). 3e mémoire. Formicides. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 64: 15-56.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * Nsengimana V., K. A. Beth, F. Frederic, K. M. M. Lombart, D. Wouter, and N. Donat. 2018. Use of soil and litter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as biological indicators of soil quality under different land uses in Southern Rwanda. Environmental Entomology 47(6): 1394-1401.
 * Weber N. A. 1943. The ants of the Imatong Mountains, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 93: 263-389.
 * 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