Tetramorium scabrosum

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium scabrosum-species group.

Bolton (1977) - Like Tetramorium pulchellum this small species has rather coarse cephalic sculpture, but differs from it as the pronotal corners are angular in scabrosum, rounded in pulchellum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  scabrosum. Myrmica scabrosa Smith, F. 1859a: 147 (w.) INDONESIA (Aru I.). Combination in Tetramorium: Donisthorpe, 1932c: 455. Senior synonym of papuanum: Bolton, 1977: 119.
 * papuanum. Tetramorium papuanum Emery, 1887b: 452 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Junior synonym of scabrosum: Bolton, 1977: 119.

Worker
Bolton (1977) - TL 2.7-2.8, HL 0.62-0.64, HW 0.56-0.58, CI 90, SL 0.44-0.46, SI 78-79, PW 0.44-0.46, AL 0.68-0.72 (3 measured).

Mandibles striate, anterior clypeal margin entire. Frontal carinae reaching back well beyond the level of the eyes but not much more strongly developed than the other cephalic sculpture. Antennal scrobes weakly developed, broad and shallow but quite easily discernible. Maximum diameter of eye c. 0.16, about 0.27-0.28 x HW. With the alitrunk in dorsal view the pronotal corners angular, giving a square-shouldered appearance. Propodeal spines quite short, stout and acute, slightly longer than the broadly triangular metapleural lobes. Node of petiole in profile with the dorsal length less than the height of the tergal portion; in dorsal view the node broader than long. Dorsum of head distinctly reticulate-rugulose from the level of the anterior margins of the eyes to the occiput, ground sculpture between the rugulae very inconspicuous. Dorsal alitrunk similarly sculptured but the petiole dorsum with only weak, very scattered rugulae and the postpetiole virtually without sculpture dorsally. Gaster unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous fine, erect or suberect hairs which are also present on the leading edges of the scapes and the outer surfaces of the hind tibiae. Colour uniform dark brown or dark reddish brown, the gaster blackish brown. Appendages lighter, yellowish brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1977) - Lectotype worker, Aru Is (A. R. Wallace), here designated [examined].

Myrmica scabrosa

One worker syntype in. Without a locality label but with “scabrosa” in Smith’s handwriting, and with a Donisthorpe type-label. Donisthorpe (1932c) noted that two specimens were present in at that time. A very dirty specimen (now cleaned and remounted), identical to the syntype, was found in. I suspect that this specimen is the second syntype.