Tetramorium smithi

Known from forest, open and disturbed habitats, e.g., roadside, village garden, Tetramorium smithi has been collected from a ground nest and litter samples (Onoyama, 1980; Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification
Bolton (1977) - This small species is a member of the angulinode-group, otherwise confined to the Ethiopian region. Its small size, unsculptured mandibles and short antennal scapes immediately separate it from all other Tetramorium with 11-segmented antennae in the regions at present under consideration.

Japan
Tetramorium smithi workers are similar to those of Tetramorium kraepelini in general appearance and size, but they are separable by the different number of antennal segments (11 versus 12), the inclination of the propodeal spines, the angulate petiolar node in profile, and the broad and angulate postpetiole in dorsal view (Japanese Ant Image Database).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Niue, Philippines, Singapore. Oriental Region: Bangladesh, India, Laos, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic Region: China, Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  smithi. Tetramorium smithi Mayr, 1879: 673 (w.) INDIA. Imai, Baroni Urbani, et al. 1984: 8 (k.). Senior synonym of kanariense, laevinode: Bolton, 1977: 90.
 * kanariense. Tetramorium (Xiphomyrmex) smithi var. kanariense Forel, 1902c: 703 (w.) INDIA. Viehmeyer, 1916a: 139 (q.). Junior synonym of smithi: Bolton, 1977: 90.
 * laevinode. Tetramorium simillimum r. laevinode Forel, 1902c: 235 (w.) INDIA. Junior synonym of smithi: Bolton, 1977: 90.

Type Material
Bolton (1977) - Syntype workers, India: Calcutta (Rothney) [examined].

Worker
Xu and Zheng (1994) - TL 2.4-2.8, HL 0.63-0.70, HW 0.58-0.69, CI 92-98, SL 0.41-0.16, SI 67-74, PW 0.44-0.55, AL 0.68-0.80, MDE 0.14-0.18 is (8 measured).

Bolton (1977) - TL 2.40-2.60, HL 0.60-0.68, HW 0.56-0.64, CI 89-97, SL 0.42-0.46, SI 69-75, PW 0.44-0.52, AL 0.68-0.76 (25 measured).

Mandibles unsculptured, smooth and shining with scattered small pits. Frontal carinae extending back beyond the level of the posterior margins of the eyes. Antennal scrobes shallow but quite broad and long enough to accommodate the scapes; the latter short, with SI < 80. Pronotum in dorsal view with the corners sharply angulate. Propodeum with a pair of spines, the metapleural lobes triangular, upcurved, acute apically. Petiole in dorsal view with the node as broad as or broader than long, the postpetiole distinctly broader than long. In profile the node of the petiole a roughly rectangular block, usually slightly higher than long, with parallel and near-vertical anterior and posterior faces, and the dorsum flat to feebly convex. Postpetiole lower and rounded dorsally. Head and dorsal alitrunk predominantly longitudinally rugose but with scattered, smaller cross-meshes which are not as conspicuous. Petiole usually sculptured dorsally, only very rarely with this sculpture completely effaced. Postpetiole and gaster without sculpture. Hairs numerous on all dorsal surfaces. Colour light to mid-brown, usually with the gaster darker.

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