Tetramorium phasias

A forest species that apparently nests in rotten wood (ex rotten stick above ground, under bark of dead tree, rotten log) and the ground (ex soil, nest in soil mound). Tetramorium phasias have been found on the ground, in vegetation, and in dead sticks above ground level.

Identification
Bolton (1980) - A member of the T. bicarinatum species complex in the Tetramorium bicarinatum species group. This small species is separated from its close relatives within the group by its uniform pale colour and strong sculpture.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 *  phasias. Tetramorium guineense var. phasias Forel, 1914d: 226 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Raised to species and senior synonym of hertigi: Bolton, 1980: 273.
 * hertigi. Tetramorium guineense st. hertigi Santschi, 1937d: 236 (w.) ANGOLA. Junior synonym of phasias: Bolton, 1980: 273.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 2.9-3.6, HL 0.70-0.86, HW 0.56-0.70, CI 78-81, SL 0.44-0.58, SI 76-83, PW 0.42-0.54, AL 0.80-0.98 (15 measured).

Mandibles smooth and shining with scattered pits. Anterior clypeal margin with a distinct impression or notch medially and the portion of the clypeus immediately behind the notch shallowly transversely concave. Median portion of clypeus with three longitudinal carinae, its lateral marginations narrow and sinuate. Frontal carinae strong, reaching back almost to the occipital margin where they merge with the rugoreticular sculpture. Eyes with maximum diameter 0.15-0.20, about 0.27-0.30 x HW. Propodeal spines long and quite stout, acute apically, straight or feebly upcurved along their length. Petiole node in profile with the anterior face more or less vertical, meeting the shallowly convex dorsal surface roughly in a right angle. Posterodorsal angle more sharply defined than anterodorsal and tending to overhang the posterior face slightly. In dorsal view the petiole node slightly longer than broad. Dorsum of head with five major longitudinal rugae which run approximately to the level of the posterior margins of the eyes, but most individuals tend to have a few cross-meshes or weaker, short, meandering rugulae in front of this level. Occipital region of head with a strong rugoreticulum. Dorsal alitrunk reticulate-rugose, the reticulation often weaker on the mesonotum than on the pronotum. Alitrunk with a weak transverse crest at the promesonotal junction, very reduced in some specimens. Dorsal surfaces of both petiole and postpetiole reticulate-rugulose. First gastral tergite with fine, poorly defined, often faint basal costulae. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous erect or suberect strong hairs. Colour uniform pale yellow to light brownish yellow.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, Durban, 20.vi.1914 (C. B. Cooper) [examined].

Tetramorium guinense [sic] st. hertigi. Holotype worker, ANGOLA: Ebanga, no. 117, xi-xii (A. Monard) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 271-402.
 * 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.
 * Forel A. 1914. Formicides d'Afrique et d'Amérique nouveaux ou peu connus. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 50: 211-288.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * Santschi F. 1937. Résultats de la Mission scientifique suisse en Angola (2me voyage) 1932-1933. Fourmis angolaises. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 44: 211-250.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004