Tetramorium margueriteae

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Mbanyana et al. (2018) - Morphologically, T. margueriteae is similar to Tetramorium peringueyi, Tetramorium dichroum and Tetramorium brigitteae in that, these are the only species in the T. solidum species group with erect simple hairs covering the entire body. This species can be separated from T. peringueyi on the basis of colour and the pattern of the sculpture on the mesosoma. Tetramorium margueriteae is black in colour, whereas T. peringueyi is orange to light brown. In T. peringueyi, the dorsal surface of the mesosoma has a strongly developed irregular reticulate sculpture, whereas in T. margueriteae the dorsum of the mesosoma has short longitudinal rugulae, and the ground sculpture is mainly smooth and shiny, with peripheral patches of fine, superficial reticulations. Tetramorium margueriteae is separated from both T. dichroum and T. brigitteae by the presence of erect hairs on the antennal scapes.

Distribution
South Africa: Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.

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

Habitat
Known from Nama Karoo and Drakensberg Montane Grasslands.

Nomenclature

 *  margueriteae. Tetramorium margueriteae Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia, 2018: 33, figs. 4F, H, 16, 24 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.

Worker
(N = 6) HL 1.059–1.163 (1.107); HW 1.137–1.279 (1.199); SL 0.775–0.930 (0.840); EL 0.245–0.258 (0.256); PH 0.472–0.610 (0.528); PW 0.710–0.827 (0.764); WL 1.201–1.356 (1.281); PSL 0.167–0.207 (0.183); PTH 0.369–0.423 (0.392); PTL 0.388–0.413 (0.405); PTW 0.388–0.452 (0.415); PPH 0.439–0.594 (0.499); PPL 0.362–0.388 (0.377); PPW 0.478–0.530 (0.502); OI 20–23 (21); CI 107–110 (108); SI 66–74 (70); DMI 58–61 (60); LMI 39–45 (41); PSLI 14–19 (17); PeNI 52–56 (54); LPeI 98–109 (103); DPeI 100–106 (103); PpNI 62–68 (66); LPpI 65–82 (76); DPpI 127–141 (133); PPI 116–124 (121).

Holotype. Mandibles with longitudinal striations. Anterior clypeal margin with extensive, semicircular indentation. Frontal carinae extending back from frontal lobes as fine ridges and ending at about level of anterior eye margin. Eyes with 16 ommatidia in longest row. Propodeum armed with pair of medium length propodeal spines, longer than basal width (PSLI 14–19). Metapleural lobes low with angled corner. Peduncle with prominent keel-shaped subpetiolar process. Petiolar node in profile nodiform, with posterior face slightly more steeply angled than anterior face; anterior face rounding onto dorsum but with slightly angled corners as seen in dorsal view. Postpetiolar node low and rounded. Dorsal surfaces of head with longitudinal striations, spaces between them with superficial reticulate ground sculpture. Dorsum of mesosoma with short longitudinal striations, with superficial ground sculpture in between them. Petiolar and postpetiolar nodes with fine reticulate sculpture overlain by irregular striations. Gastral tergite with fine, superficial reticulate pattern. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with abundant fine, erect, and short hairs. The tibia of middle and hind legs with numerous short, stout, erect hairs. Ventral surface of head with strongly developed psammophore. Colour uniformly black.

Type Material
Holotype. South Africa: Northern Cape: worker, Klein Pella, road between Karsten Farms and Goodhouse, Kokerboom site, 29.06211° S, 18.97985° E, 832 m a.s.l., Gariep Rocky Desert with Kokerboom and Euphorbia, 16 Dec. 2007, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C019829). Paratypes. South Africa: Northern Cape: 24 pinned workers, same collection data as for holotype (SAM-HYM-C019827, SAM-HYM-C019836, SAM-HYM-C019838, SAM-HYM-C019839).

Etymology
Named after Marguerite Blignaut who helped with molecular lab work on the T. solidum group.