Tetramorium seneb

The type-series was retrieved from a Berlese funnel extraction of leaf litter taken by the side of a small stream on a densely overgrown embankment.

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium tonganum-species group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 *  seneb. Tetramorium seneb Bolton, 1977: 128 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA. Imai, Brown, et al. 1984: 68 (k.).

Bolton (1977) - Additional material examined fit the above description very well but show some variation in colour, ranging from light brown to yellow. CI and SI of these series fall within the range given above but some specimens from Java are slightly larger than the typeseries. The combined size-range of the specimens is HL 0.54-0.60, HW 0.52-0.56, SL 0.34-0.40, PW 0.38-0.44, AL 0.62-0.68.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.56, HW 0.54, CI 96, SL 0.36, SI 67, PW 0.40, AL 0.64.

Mandibles striate; anterior clypeal margin entire and the median portion with a narrow anterior flange or apron. Frontal carinae reaching back well beyond the level of the eyes, anteriorly distinctly more strongly developed than the other cephalic sculpture but near the occipital area becoming much weaker and blending in with the sculpture. Antennal scrobes broad, quite shallow but conspicuous. Occipital margin of head concave medially in full-face view. Eyes situated in front of middle of sides, maximum diameter c. 0.12, about 0.22 x HW. Pronotal corners bluntly angular in dorsal view, giving a square-shouldered appearance. Propodeal spines long, tapering and acute, much longer than the broadly triangular, acute metapleural lobes. Petiole in profile with a relatively high node, the length of the dorsum less than the height of the tergal portion of the node; postpetiole evenly convex. Node of petiole in dorsal view as long as broad, the node slightly broader behind than in front. Dorsum of head longitudinally irregularly rugulose with few or no cross-meshes, but with a fine ruguloreticulum occipitally. Dorsal alitrunk irregularly reticulate-rugulose, the petiole dorsum with traces of rugulation towards the sides. Postpetiole and gaster unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous fine hairs, the majority of which are short, but the antennal scapes and dorsal (outer) tibial surfaces without such hairs, only with dense, short, erect or suberect pubescence. Colour light brown, the appendages yellowish.

Paratypes. As holotype but some show a slight upcurving of the apex of the propodeal spines. Range of dimensions TL 2.1-2.3, HL 0.54-0.56, HW 0.50-0.54, CI 91-96, SL 0.34-0.36, SI 63-71, PW 0.38-0.40, AL 0.62-0.64 (14 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, West Malaysia: Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 13.x.1973 (B. Bolton). Paratypes. 14 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH; ; ; ).