Tanipone hirsuta

All specimens of hirsuta originate in tropical dry forest or spiny forest, except for one that was found in gallery forest. The majority of specimens were collected from low vegetation or in dead twigs and branches above the ground, but a good proportion were discovered as ground foragers, or in rotting logs and tree stumps. A single worker was retrieved as a stray, in a Malaise trap sample.

Identification
A member of the hirsuta species group. T. hirsuta is the most densely setose and most densely uniformly coarsely punctate species yet discovered in the genus. It also has the most posteriorly located eyes, with EP 1.92–2.28, as opposed to EP 1.10–1.80 for all other Tanipone species. The two most closely related species, as defined by the hirsuta group characters, are Tanipone pilosa and Tanipone subpilosa. Both of these species are strikingly more finely and more sparsely punctate than hirsuta, and generally with the entire side of the pronotum as smooth as the anepisternum. (Bolton and Fisher 2012)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  hirsuta. Tanipone hirsuta Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 87, figs. 82, 83, 95–97 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
(holotype in parentheses). HL 1.04–1.22 (1.21), HW 0.86–1.02 (1.02), SL 0.50–0.61 (0.60), EL 0.36–0.42 (0.42), PW 0.64–0.81 (0.81), AIIW 0.60–0.79 (0.78), AIIL 0.58–0.73 (0.72), AIIIW 0.70–0.92 (0.91), AIIIL 0.64–0.81 (0.80), WL 1.36–1.64 (1.64), MFL 0.84–1.00 (0.97), CI 81–87 (84), SI 55–60 (59), EL/HW 0.39–0.43 (0.41), AIIW/AIIL 1.00–1.08 (1.08), AIIIW/AIIIL 1.09–1.18 (1.14) (15 measured).

With head in full-face view the side from the posterior clypeal margin to the anterior margin of the eye with more than one (usually 3–4) laterally projecting seta present. Side of head below outline of eye with 2–3 setae that project laterally. Side of head behind level of eye with numerous projecting, curved setae of varying length. In profile the entire cephalic dorsum with a number of long, fine, standing setae, and also with abundant short, suberect to subdecumbent setae; far too many setae in all to count easily. The short setae on the dorsum to the level of the eye are curved posteromedially; those near the posterior margin are curved anteriorly. Posterior margin of head with 6–8 longer setae and a greater number of short setae. Entire dorsum of mesosoma with an abundance of short, suberect to subdecumbent, curved setae. Dorsum of each sclerite also with a variable number of longer, fine setae: pronotum, mesonotum and propodeum each usually with 2–3 such long pairs; variation in numbers may be partially natural and partially the result of abrasion. Mesofemur and metafemur in dorsal view with a number of standing setae, of variable length, on both the anterior and posterior surfaces. Dorsal and ventral surfaces of both mesofemur and metafemur with setae present; those on the ventral surfaces tending to average longer than those on the dorsa. Dorsum of AII (petiole) with 2–3 pairs of long setae and numerous shorter setae, and with a transverse row of about 6–8 long setae along the posterior margin. Dorsa of AIII and AIV each with standing long setae present all over their surfaces, and everywhere with abundant short subdecumbent setae that are directed posteriorly. Sternites of AIII and AIV with numerous setae of varying length present. Cephalic dorsum with densely packed, broad, shallow, foveolate punctures; distances between punctures distinctly less than the diameters of the punctures. Narrow spaces between the punctures very finely, superficially microreticulate. Side of pronotum usually with fine sculpture present, at least on the lower half; anepisternum almost entirely smooth. Dorsum of mesosoma with dense foveolate punctures that are similar to those on the cephalic dorsum. AII (petiole) in dorsal view appears as broad as long to slightly broader than long; in profile its tergite appears longer than high. Structure of AIII glandular patches as described in definition of hirsuta group, above. Tergite of AIII, in front of and between the glandular patches, with broad foveolate punctures; their diameters greater than the distances between them except posteromedially, where they tend to be somewhat more widely spaced. Cuticle between punctures smooth to weakly, superficially microsculptured. Posterior margin of AIII tergite with a pair of elongate off-white to yellowish spots. Tergite of AIV with dense foveolate punctures whose diameters, especially on the basal half, are distinctly greater than the distances between them. Full adult colour uniformly black, except for the pale spots on AIII; appendages usually lighter than mesosoma, brown to dark brown, and usually with tarsi lighter than tibiae and femora.

Type Material
Holotype worker (top specimen of three on pin), Madagascar: Prov. Toliara, Kirindy, 15.5 km 64° ENE Marofandilia, 28.xi.-3.xii.2001, 100 m, 20°03’S, 44°40’E, ex rotting tree stump, tropical dry forest, BLF4633, CASENT0000842 (B.L. Fisher). Paratypes. 8 workers (two on same pin as holotype) with same data, all BLF4633 but coded: CASENT0000841; CASENT0000843; CASENT0000844 (CASC).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B., and B. L. Fisher. 2012. Taxonomy of the cerapachyine ant genera Simopone Forel, Vicinopone gen. n. and Tanipone gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3283: 1-101.