Tetramorium feroxoides

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Csösz and Schulz (2010) - A member of the Tetramorium ferox species complex in the Tetramorium caespitum species group. The very smooth surface of mesosoma, the relatively sparse pubescence and the smooth and shiny first gastral tergite make the T. feroxoides gynes unique within this group. The general appearance of the head and mesosoma of T. feroxoides workers is always finely rugulose, in comparison the head of Tetramorium diomedeum is at least partly smooth.

Tetramorium feroxoides workers bear usually much feebler and often parallel rugulae on head and mesosoma than T. ferox and Tetramorium densopilosum workers, but in a few cases T. feroxoides workers can be confused with the smallest T. ferox or T. densopilosum workers in this characteristic. Discriminant D(3a) function proves the separation between T. feroxoides and T. densopilosum (see differential diagnosis of T. densopilosum) and D(3b) function between T. feroxoides and T. ferox (see differential diagnosis of T. ferox).

A discriminant function using various morphological measurements has also been defined and can be used to make determinations in this species group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Turkey, Turkmenistan.

Nomenclature

 *  feroxoides. Tetramorium feroxoides Dlussky & Zabelin, 1985: 230, fig. 7 (w.q.) KAZAKHSTAN. Synonym of perspicax: Radchenko, 1992b: 56. [Radchenko gives perspicax as the senior name, but feroxoides has priority: Bolton, 1995b: 407.] Senior synonym of bursakovi: Csösz & Schulz, 2010: 24.
 * bursakovi. Tetramorium bursakovi Radchenko, 1992a: 41, fig. 2 (w.q.m.) KAZAKHSTAN. Junior synonym of feroxoides: Csösz & Schulz, 2010: 24.

Worker
Csösz and Schulz (2010) - Medium to large size, CS 755 [683, 855]. Whole body and appendages usually black. Head slightly longer than broad, CL/CW 1.01 [0.99, 1.06], with feebly convex sides, straight posterior margin with widely rounded corners. Eyes large, EYE 0.17 [0.16, 0.20]. Frons wide, FR/CS 0.40 [0.38, 0.42], frontal lobes usually as wide as the frons, FL/FR 1.00 [1.00, 1.04]. Scape long, SL/CS 0.78 [0.75, 0.80], with a feeble dorso-basal carina. Promesonotal dorsum slightly convex, metanotal groove shallow, or completely absent. Propodeal denticles very short. Petiolar node moderately high, NOH/NOL 1.09 [0.76, 1.40] trapezoid in profile.

Head dorsum and posterior surface longitudinally rugulose, microreticulate, and sides ruguloso-reticulate, ground surface feebly microreticulate. Mesosoma dorsum longitudinally rugulose ground surface smooth. Dorsum of petiolar node semi-circularly rugulose, ground surface smooth, dorsum of postpetiole longitudinally rugulose and finely microreticulate. First gastral tergite smooth, appears shiny. Ventral surface of head with a row of short setae and long C-shape hairs arising just posteriorly to buccal cavity forming a psammophore.

Queen
Csösz and Schulz (2010) - Medium size, CS 893 [852, 952]. Whole body and appendages black. Head broader than long, CL/CW 0.90 [0.85, 0.93] with sides and posterior margin straight, with widely rounded corners. Head trapezoid in full face view, narrower at genae. Frons wide, FR/CS 0.43 [0.41, 0.45]. Scape long, SL/CS 0.75 [0.72, 0.78], without dorsal carina basally, its surface smooth and shiny. Head slightly narrower than scutum, MW/CS 1.04 [0.97, 1.12]. Propodeal teeth long and blunt. Petiole and postpetiole wide, CS/PEW 1.66 [1.48, 2.16], CS/PPW 1.25 [1.18, 1.56].

Head dorsum, posterior surface and sides rugulose, ground surface feebly microreticulate, or smooth and shiny. Frons longitudinally rugulose, ground surface smooth and shiny. Scutum smooth and shiny (or finely rugulose), scutellum longitudinally rugulose, with the median part smooth and shiny. Sides of mesosoma rugoso-reticulate and microreticulate, ventral part of katepisternum always finely rugulose, or microreticulate. Petiolar node and postpetiole reticulate, or microreticulate. Ventral surface of head with a row of short setae and long C-shape hairs arising just posteriorly to buccal cavity forming a psammophore.

Male
Csösz and Schulz (2010) - Head sides feebly convex, posterior margin widely rounded. Scutum much broader than head. Propodeal denticles reduced, propodeum rounded in profile. Dorsum of petiolar node without a transverse crest, with a sharp angle dorsolaterally. Whole body and appendages brownish black. Head finely rugulo-reticulate, between main sculpturation microreticulate. Scutum and scutellum finely rugulose, in part smooth. Anepisternum rugulose, ventral part of katepisternum smooth and shiny. Petiole and postpetiole finely rugulo-reticulate, between main sculpturation microreticulate.

Type Material
Csösz and Schulz (2010) - Holotype gyne and paratype workers, gynes, males: Turkmenistan, Kopet dag 29.V.1971 Ipaj-Kala (Dlussky) [label: Turkmenia Ipaj-, kala n. 71–117, Dlussky 29.v. 71] (1w, 1q paratype examined).