Tetramorium fuscipes

Besides a collection record noting a specimen found under a stone in dry sclerophyll, nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Although originally described as a subspecies of Tetramorium turneri this species is distinct and consistently smaller, lighter in colour and more densely sculptured.

This is one of the Australian species which I suspect may be an aggregate, with two or more sibling species concealed by a mass of variable characters. Variation within fuscipes as defined above relates to size, sculpture, impression of metanotal groove, spine length and slight differences in petiole shape. Many of these features do not appear to have any geographical significance (at least not among the few series examined) but one character may be significant, that is the sculpturation, or lack of it, upon the postpetiole. It appears that specimens from the northern end of the range usually have traces of postpetiolar sculpture whilst more southerly samples do not.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  fuscipes. Xiphomyrmex turneri subsp. fuscipes Viehmeyer, 1925a: 29 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in Tetramorium: Bolton, 1977: 138. Raised to species: Bolton, 1977: 138.

Worker
Bolton (1977) - TL 2.8-3.1, HL 0.64-0.72, HW 0.58-0.68, CI 90-94, SL 0.44-0.50, SI 72-78, PW 0.46-0.56, AL 0.76-0.88 (10 measured).

Mandibles weakly longitudinally striate, the anterior clypeal margin without a notch medially. Frontal carinae strong and extending back almost to the occiput, forming the dorsal margins of the broad but shallow scrobes. Scrobes as long as the antennal scapes but not deep enough to accommodate them fully. Eyes at the midlength of the sides of the head. Alitrunk in profile with the metanotal groove variously impressed, in most specimens not or only feebly marked but in a few very distinctly impressed. This feature shows much variation in the single nest-series in which it was found (Queensland, Sunnybank). Propodeal spines moderately long, acute; metapleural lobes long, narrow-triangular, acute and feebly upcurved. Petiole in dorsal view at least as long as broad, usually longer than broad. Dorsum of head regularly and quite densely longitudinally rugulose, the spaces between the rugulae packed with a dense, conspicuous reticulate-puncturation. Cephalic rugulae anastomosing or with reticulation on the occipital surface. Dorsal alitrunk reticulate-rugulose, most coarsely so on the pronotum, the spaces filled with puncturation as on the head. Dorsum of petiole unsculptured medially or with a few fine rugulae, the puncturation usually absent; the postpetiole usually smooth and polished, rarely with faint shagreening or puncturation. Gaster smooth and shining. All dorsal surfaces of the head and body with numerous erect to suberect long hairs, those of the alitrunk and pedicel generally blunted apically. Colour yellowish brown, the legs and sometimes also the gaster lighter than the alitrunk. Head always much darker than the remainder, brown to dark brown, this colour contrast distinct to the naked eye.

Type Material
Bolton (1977) - Syntype workers, Australia: New South Wales, Liverpool [examined]. The published name of this species is as above but the name on the det. label of the syntypes is fusciceps, which is more appropriate as the head is dark and is probably the name originally intended by Viehmeyer. However, the above published name must stand, despite the fact that the legs are yellow and not infuscated.