Tetramorium bendai

Known only from the single type collection of workers.

Identification
The characteristic and dense reticulate-punctate ground sculpturation overlaid by longitudinal rugulae on head and mesosoma, absence of standing hairs on mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and first gastral tergite, and strongly squamiform postpetiole (DPpI 206 - 239, LPpI 41 - 50) render Tetramorium bendai immediately recognizable.

A member of the Afrotropical weitzeckeri species complex, which is part of the weitzeckeri species group.

Key to weitzeckeri-group species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Burundi.

Nomenclature

 *  bendai. Tetramorium bendai Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010b: 64, figs. 11A, 12B, 13A, 73-75 (w.) BURUNDI.

The new species is morphologically very close to Tetramorium humbloti, Tetramorium sepultum, and Tetramorium tanaense since they all share the reduced pilosity on the first gastral tergite that distinguishes them from Tetramorium boltoni, Tetramorium guineense, Tetramorium renae, Tetramorium snellingi, and Tetramorium weitzeckeri. Nevertheless, the very conspicuous densely packed reticulate-punctate ground sculpturation on the mesosoma that underlay's the longitudinal rugulae distinctly separates Tetramorium bendai from T. humbloti, T. sepultum, and T. tanaense. Additionally, the postpetiole in T. bendai (DPpI 206 - 239) is more transverse in dorsal view than in the other three species (DPpI 183 - 207).

Worker
HL 0.794 - 0.828 (0.814); HW 0.756 - 0.811 (0.783); SL 0.578 - 0.617 (0.595); EL 0.178 - 0.200 (0.187); PW 0.567 - 0.606 (0.588); WL 0.944 - 0.989 (0.969); PSL 0.244 - 0.267 (0.254); PTL 0.111 - 0.122 (0.118); PTH 0.367 - 0.378 (0.375); PTW 0.311 - 0.339 (0.327); PPL 0.172 - 0.200 (0.187); PPH 0.389 - 0.422 (0.411); PPW 0.383 - 0.433 (0.409); CI 94 - 98 (96); SI 73 - 79 (76); OI 22 - 25 (24); PSLI 30 - 32 (32); PeNI 53- 58 (56); LPeI 29 - 33 (31); DPeI 259 - 286 (277); PpNI 66 - 74 (70); LPpI 41 - 50 (46); DPpI 206 - 239 (219); PPI 122 - 132 (125) (15 measured).

Head weakly longer than wide (CI 94 - 98). Anterior clypeal margin with distinct median impression. Frontal carinae strongly developed, ending shortly before posterior margin of head. Antennal scrobe narrow, shallow, and without defined ventral margin, ending before posterior margin of head. Antennal scape moderate, not reaching posterior margin of head (SI 73 - 79). Eyes of moderate size (OI 22 - 25), with 10 to 12 ommatidia in longest row. In lateral view metanotal groove weakly impressed. Propodeal spines elongate-triangular to spinose, long and acute (PSLI 30 - 32). Propodeal lobes small, triangular and acute. Node of petiole strongly squamiform, in dorsal view transverse, more than 2.5 times wider than long (DPeI 259 - 286), in lateral view around 3 to 3.4 times higher than long (LPeI 29 - 33). Postpetiole strongly squamiform, too, in dorsal view 2 to 2.5 times wider than long (DPpI 206 - 239); in lateral view only weakly thicker than petiolar node, and between 2 to 2.5 times higher than long (LPpI 41 - 50). Mandibles distinctly longitudinally striate. Clypeus irregularly rugose, mostly rugo-reticulate, sometimes longitudinally rugose; median ruga sometimes developed. Head mostly longitudinally rugose, dorsum of head with 10 to 12 rugae between frontal carinae, most reaching posterior margin of head. Head with very suspicious densely packed reticulate-punctate ground sculpturation underlaying longitudinal rugulation. Mesosoma with same distinct reticulate-punctate ground sculpturation, except for unsculptured and shiny propodeal declivity. Dorsum of mesosoma and lateral area with very fine, mostly longitudinal, widely spaced rugae. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster completely unsculptured, smooth and shiny. Head with fine, long, erect hairs; mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and gaster without standing hairs. Fine pubescence on tibiae and antennal scapes always appressed. Body colour uniformly dark brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, BURUNDI, Bujumbura, 27.V.1977, leg. A. Dejean (: ZFMK_HYM_2009_6204). Paratypes, 13 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH: 11 workers ZFMK_HYM_2009_6203, ZFMK_HYM_2009_6205, ZFMK_HYM_2009_6206, ZFMK_HYM_2009_6207; : 1 worker ZFMK_HYM_2009_6173; ; ZFMK: 1 worker ZFMK_HYM_2009_6208).

Etymology
The new species is dedicated to Christoph Benda from Bonn, Germany, for his continuous support and encouragement of the first author's entomological work.