Tetramorium bellicosum

Nests in leaf litter and in the ground (Taylor et al., 2018).

Identification
Bolton (1980) - One of the two species in this group which has blanketing reticulate-punctate sculpture (the other is Tetramorium granulatum), T. bellicosum is easily identified by its bizarre pilosity.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Benin, Nigeria.

Nomenclature

 *  bellicosum. Tetramorium bellicosum Bolton, 1980: 296 (w.) NIGERIA.

Worker
Holotype: TL 3.6, HL 0.82, HW 0.76, CI 93, SL 0.64, SI 84, PW 0.50, AL 0.98. Paratypes (5 measured): TL 3.4-3.6, HL 0.80-0.84, HW 0.73-0.76, CI 88-93, SL 0.60-0.64, SI 82-87, PW 0.48-0.52, AL 0.92-0.98. Maximum diameter of eye 0.18-0.19, about 0.24-0.25 x HW.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin entire, without a median notch. Median clypeal carina strongly developed, much more conspicuous than the remaining clypeal sculpture. Frontal carinae running back well beyond the level of the eyes, fading out occipitally, but only weakly developed throughout their length as a pair of narrow and feebly raised lines. Antennal scrobes vestigial, represented — only by a broad and very shallow impression in the sides of the head below the frontal carinae. Eyes moderate, maximum diameter 0.18, about 0.24 x HW. Propodeum armed with a pair of broad elongate spines which are distinctly longer than the broadly triangular metapleural lobes. Petiole node in profile roughly rectangular in shape, the dorsum feebly convex and the dorsal length slightly greater than the height of the tergal portion. In dorsal view the petiole node distinctly longer than broad. All surfaces of head, alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole blanketed by a fine, dense and very conspicuous reticulate puncturation. Rugulose sculpture minimal and everywhere secondary to the punctation. A few fine, feebl longitudinal rugulae are present on the dorsum of the head but the scrobal area (below the frontal carinae and above the eyes) entirely punctulate. Dorsal alitrunk with a few scattered vestigial rugulae, especially on the pronotum. Base of first gastral tergite finely punctulate or shagreened, more feebly sculptured than the postpetiole. Pilosity bizarre and highly characteristic. Standing hairs absent from all surfaces of head and body except for clypeus and gastral apex, the head and alitrunk dorsally having instead a scattering of short, flattened hairs which are reclinate, appressed to the surface from which they arise. On the petiole, postpetiole and gaster similar flattened appressed hairs are present but they are longer, more numerous and more conspicuous than on the head and alitrunk. In profile both the petiole and postpetiole with 2-3 of these hairs projecting beyond the posterior margin on each side. Tibiae of middle and hind legs only with minute appressed pubescence. Colour dull red, the gaster dark brown.

Paratypes: As holotype but mostly with the propodeal spines slightly downcurved along their length.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Nigeria: Gambari, 10.vi.1969, leaf litter (B. Bolton). Paratypes. 3 workers with same data as holotype; 2 workers from same locality but 16.x.1975, nest in ground, W17, black pod project (B. Taylor) (BMNH; ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.
 * Taylor B., N. Agoinon, A. Sinzogan, A. Adandonon, Y. N'Da Kouagou, S. Bello, R. Wargui, F. Anato, I. Ouagoussounon, H. Houngbo, S. Tchibozo, R. Todjhounde, and J. F. Vayssieres. 2018. Records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Republic of Benin, with particular reference to the mango farm ecosystem. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 8(1): 006–029.