Tetramorium transversarium

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium scabrosum-species group.

Bolton (1977) - Most closely related to the Indian Tetramorium rugigaster but in that species the petiole is much less massively developed.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Sri Lanka.

Nomenclature

 *  transversarium. Tetramorium transversarium Roger, 1863a: 181 (w.) SRI LANKA. See also: Bolton, 1977: 115.

Worker
Bolton (1977) - TL 3.0, HL 0.68, HW 0.64, CI 94, SL 0.46, SI 72, PW 0.48, AL 0.80.

Mandibles striate; anterior clypeal margin entire. Frontal carinae reaching back well beyond the level of the posterior margins of the eyes and forming the dorsal margins of the broad, shallow but conspicuous antennal scrobes. Eyes of moderate size, maximum diameter 0.14, about 0.22 x HW. Pronotal corners rounded in dorsal view. Propodeal spines strongly divergent in dorsal view, feebly curved; in profile appearing straight and acute, longer than the elongate-triangular metapleural lobes. Petiole node in profile massive, much larger than postpetiole. Anterior face of node vertical, the anterior half of the dorsum fiat, behind this the dorsum sloping to the short, straight posterior face. In dorsal view the petiole node massively transverse, its maximum width c. 0.40, almost as broad as the pronotum, its shape in dorsal view as shown in Fig. 40. Anterolateral angles of first gastral tergite produced forwards as a pair of low, rounded, blunt tubercles, not nearly so conspicuous as in other members of the group. Dorsum of head irregularly weakly rugulose, the spaces between rugulae with superficial punctulate ground-sculpture. Dorsal surfaces of alitrunk, petiole and post petiole irregularly and finely reticulate-rugulose. Basal one-third of first gastral tergite feebly rugulose and with traces of superficial punctulation. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous elongate, fine hairs which are also present on the leading edge of the scape and the dorsal (outer) surface of the hind tibiae. Colour reddish brown.

I base my interpretation of this distinctive species upon a single specimen from Sri Lanka: Hakgalam, 1700 m, Hargala (Mussard, Besuchet, Lobl) at present housed in NM, Bas1e.

Type Material
Bolton (1977) - Syntype workers, Sri Lanka (location of types not known). It seems probable that the types of transversarium have been lost or destroyed.