Tetramorium urbanii

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Bolton (1977) - Of the known species of the tortuosum-group urbanii has the shortest propodeal spines. This character, coupled with the moderately long scapes, should serve to separate urbanii from other species of the group.

Bharti and Kumar (2012) - T. urbanii belongs to the tortuosum-group (Bolton 1977). It has very short propodeal spines and moderately long scapes, these characters clearly separate it from the rest of the tortuosum-group species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Bhutan, India.

Nomenclature

 *  urbanii. Tetramorium urbanii Bolton, 1977: 84, fig. 12 (w.) BHUTAN. See also: Bharti & Kumar, 2012b: 27.

Worker
Bolton (1977) - Holotype. TL 4.0, HL 0.86, HW 0.80, CI 93, SL 0.74, SI 93, PW 0.62, AL 1.10.

Mandibles striate. Frontal carinae strongly developed, running back almost to the occipital margin, equipped above with a narrow, raised lamella which is distinct to the level of the eyes. Antennal scapes moderately long (SI range 90-95), much longer than the narrow scrobe which, however, is visible on the side of the head to just behind the posterior margins of the eyes. Maximum diameter of eye c. 0.20, about 0.25 x HW. In full-face view the occipital margin of the head more or less straight, only very feebly indented medially, sides of head feebly convex. Propodeum armed with a pair of short acute teeth which are only slightly longer than their basal width and only marginally longer than the narrowly rounded metapleurallobes. Petiole in profile as shown in Fig. 12; in dorsal view about as long as broad and much broader behind than in front. Dorsum of head with a few low meandering longitudinal rugulae and very few cross-meshes. Promesonotal dorsum mostly unsculptured, smooth and shining, with traces of rugulose sculpture towards the sides and also posteriorly. Petiole and postpetiole weakly rugulose but with a narrow un sculptured median strip on the dorsum of each segment. Gaster unsculptured. Erect hairs present on all dorsal surfaces of head and body. Colour orange-brown.

Paratypes. TL 3.8-4.1, HL 0.78-0.88, HW 0.72-0.82, CI 91-95, SL 0.68-0.74, SI 90-95, PW 0.56-0.64, AL 1.00-1.12 (9 measured). As holotype but colour varying from orange-brown to light yellow-brown and with some individuals having the propodeal teeth broader than the holotype.

Bharti and Kumar (2012) - HL 0.85-0.87, HW 0.74- 0.75, SL 0.70, EL 0.16, WL 1.05, PW 0.60, PSL 0.06, PTL 0.28-0.30, PPL 0.32-0.34, PTW 0.28, PPW 0.35-0.36, PTH 0.32-0.34, PPH 0.35, CI 85.06-88.24, OI 21.33-21.62, SI 93.33-94.59, PSLI 6.90-7.06, PeNI 46.67, LPeI 82.35-93.75, DPeI 93.33-100.00, PpNI 58.33-60.00, LPpI 91.43-97.14, DPpI 105.88-109.38, PPI 125.00-128.57 (2 measured).

Head longer than broad, sides almost straight, rounded posterolateral corners, posterior head margin straight, very feebly indented medially; clypeus consisting of slightly convex basal half and steep apical half, without anteromedian indentation; anterior margin of clypeus with a narrow transverse plate like fringe and having convex anterior margin; mandibles triangular, with 7 teeth, masticatory margin of mandibles with large apical and preapical tooth; third tooth slightly smaller than the preapical tooth followed by four denticles; frontal lobes weakly developed and elevated laterally; frontal area deep, forming concavity behind clypeus, broader than long; antennal scrobe distinct, strongly margined dorsally by the frontal carina; eye moderate in size, located laterally and at mid-length of head, composed of ca. 9-10 ommatidia in a series along its maximum length; antennae slender, 11-segmented; scape reaching to posterolateral corners of head; mesosoma longer than head, broader anteriorly than posteriorly, dorsum convex in lateral view; pro-mesonotal suture and metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal teeth small (PSL 0.06mm), triangular, almost equal to its width and propodeal lobes; propodeal lobes narrowly rounded; posterior declivity of propodeum short, slightly concave, separated from dorsum by a strong transverse carina; petiole with a short peduncle, its node longer than broad with convex dorsum, broader behind than front; ventrally petiole downcurved along its length; postpetiole slightly broader than long, gaster oval.

Head longitudinally rugose with few cross meshes; interrugal space punctured and somewhat shiny; frontal carinae strongly developed, almost straight, divergent at eye level, running back almost to the posterior head margin; antennal scrobes feebly sculptured; mandibles longitudinally striate; clypeus longitudinally rugulose; promesonotal dorsum mostly unsculptured smooth and shiny with traces of rugulose sculpture towards the sides and posteriorly; propodeum reticulate, sides of mesosoma longitudinally rugulose; petiole and postpetiole longitudinally rugulose; propodeal declivity and gaster smooth and shiny; legs smooth.

Whole body blackish brown except mandibles, antennae and legs yellowish brown. Whole body covered with abundant, long, erect and short subdecumbent pilosity; antennal scapes and hind tibiae with short subdecumbent hairs.

Type Material
Bolton (1977) - Holotype worker, Bhutan: Phuntsholing, 2/400 m, 21-28.iv., Nat. Hist. Mus. Basel- Bhutan expedition 1972 (C. Baroni Urbani). Paratypes. 9 workers with same data as holotype (NHMB; ; ).