Tetramorium bothae

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium simillimum species group.

Bolton (1980) - This small, apparently uncommon species is the closest known relative of Tetramorium simillimum and is separable from it by its uniform dark colour (yellow-brown or bicoloured in T. simillimum) and the fact that the mandibles in T. bothae are smooth whilst those of T. simillimum are sculptured. Other close relatives in the T. simillimum-complex of this group include Tetramorium delagoense and Tetramorium rhetidum, the four together being characterized by a dense blanketing reticulate-punctulate or granular cephalic ground-sculpture which separates them from the remaining members of the complex (Tetramorium anxium and Tetramorium buthrum) where cephalic ground-sculpture is feeble or absent. T. delagoense is separated from T. bothae by its possession of a single stiff hair projecting from the sides of head immediately behind the eye (absent in T. bothae) and by the fact that the antennal scapes are longer in T. delagoense, SI 84-92 as opposed to SI 76-81 in T. bothae. Characters separating T. bothae from the smaller, bright yellow T. rhetidum are tabulated under the latter species.

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

Nomenclature

 *  bothae. Tetramorium simillimum subsp. bothae Forel, 1910e: 425 (w.q.m.) SOUTH AFRICA. Raised to species and senior synonym of guillarmodi: Bolton, 1980: 309.
 * guillarmodi. Tetramorium guillarmodi Arnold, 1960b: 454, fig. 4 (w.q.) LESOTHO. Junior synonym of bothae: Bolton, 1980: 309.

Bolton (1980) - On present evidence there is no doubt that T. bothae and Tetramorium simillimum represent separate although closely related species. The colour character alone is not convincing evidence as some populations of T. simillimum have the gaster very dark brown, particularly in West African countries, and these may be regarded as intermediate between the light yellowish or yellowbrown usually seen in T. simillimum and the darker colour of T. bothae. However, no populations of T. simillimum are known in which the mandibles are unsculptured and thus I feel that the two forms are best regarded as distinct, at least until further samples of T. bothae can be obtained.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 2.4-2.6, HL 0.58-0.60, HW 0.50-0.54, CI 86-90, SL 0.38-0.42, SI 76-81, PW 0.34-0.40, AL 0.64-0.68 (10 measured).

Mandibles smooth and shining when clean but some specimens with a waxy coating on the surfaces of the mandibles which gives them an irregular dull appearance. Anterior clypeal margin entire, evenly arcuate, without trace of a median notch or impression. Frontal carinae strongly developed, running back unbroken almost to the occiput. Maximum separation of the carinae at eye level 0.26-0.28, about 0.52-0.54 x HW. Antennal scrobes strongly developed and conspicuous, forming a wide concave area below the frontal carina and above the eye on each side of the head and extending back almost to the occipital corner. Eyes with 7-8 ommatidia in the longest row, the maximum eye diameter 0.13-0.14, about 0.24-0.27 x HW. Propodeum armed with a pair of short triangular teeth which vary from shorter than the metapleural lobes to about equal to their length. Petiole in profile a high and fairly narrow node, which in dorsal view is distinctly broader than long. Dorsum of head with irregular fine longitudinal rugulae which are fairly dense, usually 12-14 between the frontal carinae at eye level. These rugulae are superimposed on a coarse granular or reticulate-punctate ground-sculpture which is very conspicuous and blankets the entire dorsum. Scrobal area densely and strongly reticulate-punctate, without rugular sculpture such as is present on the dorsum. Dorsal surfaces of alitrunk and pedicel segments reticulate-punctate, the former also usually with a few faint longitudinal rugulae, but the number and intensity of these rugulae varying within a single series. First gastral tergite smooth or at most with a vestigial superficial reticular pattern at the extreme base. All dorsal surfaces of the head and body with sparse short stout blunt hairs, those on the head and alitrunk behind the anterior pronotum generally distinctly shorter than those on the first gastral tergite. Middle and hind tibiae only with minute appressed pubescence. Colour uniform dark brown to blackish brown, the appendages lighter, yellowish brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, female, male, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal (Haviland); and Natal and Lesotho (= Basutoland) (Wroughton) [examined]. Syntype workers, female, Lesoruo (‘Basutoland’): Mamathes, x.1957 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod). [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.
 * Forel A. 1910. Note sur quelques fourmis d'Afrique. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 54: 421-458.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * 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