Tetramorium lobulicorne

There are only a few collections of this species. It has been sampled from pitfall traps placed in mountain Bushveld and thornveld, open woodland.

Identification
Bolton (1980) - A member of the Tetramorium capense species group. Tetramorium lobulicorne is related to Tetramorium amatongae and, for the same reasons as discussed under the latter, cannot be placed in any other species-group with any degree of certainty. Characters for separating the two species are tabulated under T. amatongae.

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

Nomenclature

 *  lobulicorne. Tetramorium lobulicorne Santschi, 1916b: 504 (w.) ZIMBABWE. Arnold, 1917: 299 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1989a: 325 (l.). See also: Bolton, 1980: 361.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 3.3-3.6, HL 0.86-0.90, HW 0.72-0.76, CI 83-84, SL 0.60-0.64, SI 81-85, PW 0.48-0.54, AL 0.90-0.98 (10 measured).

Mandibles strongly longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin with a deep conspicuous anterior notch. Frontal carinae long and sinuate, surmounted by a narrow raised rim or flange and running back onto the occipital region but weakening posteriorly and not reaching the margin; instead they curve outwards posteriorly and form part of the posterior border of the scrobes. Antennal scapes of moderate length but noticeably stout. Scrobes developed below the frontal carinae and running back as a broad impression almost to the occipital margin. Maximum diameter of eye 0.15-0.16, about 0.20-0.22 x HW and with 9-10 ommatidia in the longest row. Propodeal spines in profile short and stout, slightly longer but decidedly narrower than the broadly triangular metapleural lobes. Petiole in profile with a thick anterior peduncle, about equal to the thickness of the node itself, as shown in Fig. 140. Petiole in dorsal view much broader than long. Dorsum of head sharply longitudinally rugulose, with about 9-11 rugulae between the frontal carinae at eye level. No rugoreticulum is developed occipitally but the longitudinal rugulae diverge left and right on the occiput and follow the curve of the frontal carinae towards the occipital corners. Ground-sculpture of head a fine superficial punctulation. Dorsal alitrunk finely and quite densely longitudinally rugulose, usually with some transverse components on the extreme anterior pronotum and often the longitudinals on the promesonotum slightly arched away from the midline. Few or no crossmeshes are present but the ground-sculpture is finely reticulate-punctate and distinct. Dorsum of petiole sometimes with a few faint rugulae but the postpetiole densely reticulate-punctulate or granular. Base of first gastral tergite gently shagreened or finely punctulate. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous short stout blunt hairs; the longest of those on the alitrunk and first gastral tergite distinctly shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye. Antennal scapes and middle and hind tibiae with minute appressed pubescence only. Colour uniform glossy mid-brown, the gaster usually darker brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, RHODESIA: Bulawayo, 1.1.1915 (G. Arnold) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection