Tetramorium pilosum

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Bolton (1977) - This distinctive orange-brown species is very closely related to Tetramorium yerburyi, also of Sri Lanka, but the shape of the petiole is radically different in the two species. The other large species from Sri Lanka, Tetramorium tortuosum, has the node of the postpetiole quite unsculptured and the hairs on the dorsal surfaces of the head and body are much shorter, stout, and blunt apically.

Distribution
Reported from Zhejiang, China (Tang et al., 1985; Guenard & Dunn, 2012) but this is considered to be dubious by Agavekar et al. (2017) who treat this taxon as endemic to India (although it was described from Sri Lanka).

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

Nomenclature

 *  pilosum. Tetramorium (Xiphomyrmex) pilosum Emery, 1893f: 247 (w.) SRI LANKA. See also: Bolton, 1977: 82.

Worker
Bolton (1977) - TL 4.1-4.5, HL 0.94-0.98, HW 0.90-0.94, CI 94-96, SL 0.76-0.82, SI 81-86, PW 0.66-0.72, AL 1.20-1.30 (6 measured).

Antennae 11-segmented, the scrobe reduced to a short, shallow groove which runs a little beyond the posterior margin of the eye, although the frontal carinae themselves extend almost to the occipital margin. Petiole strongly nodiform in profile (Fig. 6) with the dorsal surface convex; in dorsal view the node is globular and almost as broad as long. Metapleural lobes rounded, not dentiform. Mandibles longitudinally finely striate-rugulose, dorsum of head longitudinally rugose with a rugoreticulum on the sides and close to the occipital margin. Dorsal alitrunk with an open, raised rugoreticulum which is repeated on the dorsum of the petiole node where the rugae are more closely packed. Postpetiole with fainter but still distinct longitudinal rugulae. Gaster smooth and shining. Dorsal surfaces of head, alitrunk, pedicel and gaster with abundant very long, fine, acute hairs, the longest of which are c. 0.30 in length.

Type Material
Bolton (1977) - Holotype worker, Sri Lanka: Kandy, 1892 (E. Simon) [examined].