Tetramorium dumezi

Based on collection records, this is a species of mesic forests (e.g., rainforest, wet forest). It nests in stems and branches (e.g., live stem, dead branch above ground) that forages on vegetation (canopy fogging samples).

Identification
Bolton (1980) - The closest relative of T. dumezi, Tetramorium pialtum, is separated from it by the presence in the latter of a strong median pronotal costa, absent in T. dumezi. The two together are distinguished from other members of the T. dumezi-complex by their lack of standing hairs or pubescence on the scapes and tibiae. In Tetramorium elidisum the scapes have short erect hairs similar to those found on the body whilst the tibiae are without standing pilosity. The two other members of the complex, Tetramorium isipingense and Tetramorium candidum, both have short erect to suberect pubescence on the scapes and on the tibiae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda.

Nomenclature

 *  dumezi. Tetramorium simillimum var. dumezi Menozzi, 1942: 177 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. [First available use of Tetramorium simillimum st. isipingense var. dumezi Forel, 1916: 422; unavailable name.] Raised to species and senior synonym of dumezi Bolton: Bolton, 1995b: 407.
 * dumezi. Tetramorium dumezi Bolton, 1980: 346 (w.) GHANA. Junior synonym of dumezi Menozzi: Bolton, 1995b: 407.

Worker
Holotype: TL 2.8, HL 0.62, HW 0.52, CI 84, SL 0.37, SI 71, PW 0.38, AL 0.75. Paratypes (10 measured): TL 2.7-3.1, HL 0.60-0.70, HW 0.50-0.57, CI 80-84, SL 0.36-0.44, SI 70-77, PW 0.36-0.42, AL 0.72-0.84.

Mandibles smooth and shining with scattered minute pits. Anterior clypeal margin entire, without trace of a median notch. Clypeus with 3 carinae, the median and a weaker lateral flanking pair; usually all three are easily visible but in some the carinae may be faint. Frontal carinae narrow and fine but sharp and conspicuous, reaching back beyond the level of the eyes to the occiput where they fade out or blend with the remaining sculpture, only rarely approaching the margin. Maximum diameter of eye 0.13, about 0.25 x HW and with 7.8 ommatidia in the longest row. With the head in full-face view the sides roughly parallel, more or less straight. Propodeum armed with a pair of short triangular teeth which are variable in size. In general the teeth are shorter than their basal width or about as long as their basal width, but in some they are reduced to minute denticles and in one instance are longer than their basal width. Metapleural lobes varying from triangular to bluntly plate-like, always broader than the propodeal teeth and generally longer, though in some they are about equal in length. Petiole in profile with the sides converging from base to apex so that the node is broader below than above, the dorsal length of the node less than the height of the tergal portion. Both the antero- and posterodorsal angles of the node are blunt, but the latter is distinctly more broadly rounded than the former. Petiole node in dorsal view subglobular, as broad as or slightly broader than long. Dorsum of head with fine, widely spaced, roughly straight longitudinal rugulae; with only 5-6 such rugulae between the frontal carinae at eye level. Occipital region sometimes with a few anastomoses or cross-meshes posteriorly, sometimes without, but never having a developed reticulum. Ground-sculpture of head very faint and superficial, at strongest only forming a weak surface-pattern between the rugulae. Dorsal alitrunk finely and feebly rugulose. In most the rugulae are longitudinal but in some specimens a few cross-meshes are developed. Generally the rugulae are strongest on the pronotum, weaker on the mesonotum and inconspicuous or absent from the propodeum. Ground-sculpture of dorsal alitrunk finely granular or feebly punctulate, usually more conspicuous than on the head. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole smooth or with superficial ground-sculpture, not rugulose. First gastral tergite unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and alitrunk with scattered short straight hairs, those on the alitrunk and first gastral tergite distinctly shorter than the maximum diameter of the eyes. Leading edges of scapes and dorsal (outer) surfaces of hind tibiae only with short decumbent to appressed pubescence. Colour clear pale yellow.

Paratypes: As holotype but maximum diameter of eye 0.13-0.15, about 0.25-0.27 x HW.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ghana: Tafo, 9.ii.1971, litter sample (B. Bolton). Paratypes. 10 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH; ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1980. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 40: 193-384.
 * Eidmann H. 1944. Die Ameisenfauna von Fernando Poo. 27. Beitrag zu den Ergebnissen der Westafrika-Expedition. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Ökol. Geogr. Tiere 76: 413-490.
 * Menozzi C. 1942. Formiche dell'isola Fernando Poo e del territorio del Rio Muni (Guinea Spagnola). 24. Beitrag zu den wissenschaftlichen Ergebnissen der Forschungsreise H. Eidmann nach Spanisch-Guinea 1939 bis 1940. Zoologischer Anzeiger 140: 164-182.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. II. The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 39-269.