Tetramorium traegaordhi

Tetramorium traegaordhi has been found in open to semi-open habitats, e.g., grassland, bushveld, and thornveld, and appears to be a ground nesting species. Specimens have been collected from litter samples, pitfall traps, and by hand. One collection (BLF01845) of a queen and workers was found under a stone.

Identification
Bolton (1980) - Within the group the species most closely related to T. traegaordhi are Tetramorium amaurum and Tetramorium subcoecum. In both of these the clypeus has a very distinct median impression, the mandibles are much less strongly sculptured and the pilosity is shorter than in T. traegaordhi. Besides these characters T. amaurum also differs in having larger eyes (3—5 facets), a petiole node which is only just broader than long in dorsal view (much broader in T. traegaordhi), and an alitrunk in which the pronotal transverse crest is vestigial. On the other hand T. subcoecum differs from T. traegaordhi by having eyes of only a single facet and acute metapleural lobes, as well as the characters noted above. The species Tetramorium typhlops and Tetramorium warreni are rather more distantly related to T. traegaordhi, but both of these are minute ants with HW < 0.50.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa.

Nomenclature

 *  traegaordhi. Tetramorium traegaordhi Santschi, 1914e: 23 (w.q.) SOUTH AFRICA. See also: Bolton, 1980: 292.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 2.8-3.0, HL 0.66-0.69, HW 0.59-0.62, CI 89-90, SL 0.46-0.48, SI 75-81, PW 0.42-0.44, AL 0.76-0.78 (3 measured).

Mandibles strongly and closely longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin entire or at most with a narrow and shallow inconspicuous median impression in the clypeal apron which is not easy to see. Frontal carinae very short and inconspicuous, represented only by a pair of fine, divergent lines which are very narrow and which end at about eye-level. Antennal scrobes absent. Eyes minute, with two ommatidia, their maximum diameter approximately 0.05, about 0.08 x HW. Propodeum in profile armed with a pair of broad triangular teeth; metapleural lobes low, broad and broadly rounded apically. Petiole quite narrow in profile, the height of the tergal portion of the node more than the length of the dorsal surface. Anterodorsal angle of petiole a blunt right-angle in profile, the posterodorsal angle rounded. Petiole node in dorsal view transverse, distinctly broader than long. Dorsum of head with numerous weak, spaced-out fine longitudinal tugulae which do not extend onto the occiput. Spaces between the rugulae with vestiges of superficial ground-sculpture. Dorsal alitrunk with a transverse fine crest on the anterior pronotum and weakly defined lateral margination but otherwise unsculptured. Dorsal surfaces of petiole, postpetiole and gaster unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous fine, standing hairs, the longest of which are longer than the maximum width of the hind tibiae. Middle and hind tibiae only with appressed fine pubescence. Colour yellow.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, Stamford Hill, 7.1.1905 and 26.i.1905 (J. Trägårdh) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 271-402.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004