Tetramorium sanetrai

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Csösz, Radchenko and Schulz (2007) - Workers of T. sanetrai can be separated from related species by the absence of psammophore, relatively coarse body sculpture, cubic petiolar node and very short scape. Workers of T. sanetrai mostly resemble those of Tetramorium rhodium and Tetramorium alternans. Tetramorium alternans has microreticulate sculpture on dorsum of petiole and postpetiole with very feeble rugulae, and microreticulate, in contrast with T. sanetrai dorsum of petiolar node and postpetiole rugoso-reticulate and microreticulate. Differentiation between T. sanetrai and T. rhodium is based on microreticulation of the body including gaster and scape sculpture. Tetramorium rhodium has stronger microreticulation between the primary ornamentation, best visible on head, petiole and postpetiole dorsum, which is strongly and irregularly rugose with densely microreticulate ground surface. In T. sanetrai especially the dorsal surface of petiole is partially unsculptured and shining between the rugulae. The scape of T. rhodium is strongly sculptured, parallel costulae cover the whole surface of scape, in contrast to T. sanetrai the scape is smooth and shinning at least proximally, distal end sometimes very feebly costulate. First gastral tergite of T. rhodium is basally microreticulate, that of T. sanetrai is never microreticulate, but polygonally striate. Moreover, CS/PEW and CS/PPW give appropriate discrimination between T. sanetrai and T. rhodium.

For separation between T. sanetrai and T. rhodium the following Discriminant D(5) function is provided: 0.114 FR - 0.016 CS + 0.043 SL - 0.026 PEW - 0.086 PPW - 13.907 results of D(5) analysis: T. sanetrai D(5) = -2.448 ±0.833 [-3.977, -1.137] (n=15), T. sanetrai holotype D(5) = -1.257, p< 0.001. T. rhodium D(5) +2.425 ±1.155 [+4.643, +1.155] (n= 22), T. rhodium syntype series D(5) mean = +2.652 (n=4). The less complicate Discriminant D(3b) function gives separation: D(3b) = 0.118 MW - 0.121 PEH - 0.084 PPH - 4.585. T. sanetrai D(3b) = -2.643 ±0.901 [-4.022, -0.882] (n= 15), T. sanetrai holotype D(3b) = -1.302, p< 0.001. T. rhodium D(3b) = +2.643 ±1.449 [-0.619, +4.595] (n= 22), T. rhodium syntype series D(3b) mean +3.665 (n= 4). Petiole and frons characters give appropriate separation between T. sanetrai and T. alternans.

For separation between T. sanetrai and T. alternans the following Discriminant D(2b) function is provided below: T. sanetrai vs. T. alternans D(2b)= 0.093 FR - 0.148 NOL - 2.941 results of D(2b) analysis. T. sanetrai D(2b) = -2.647 ±0.866 [-4.206, - .982] (n= 15), T. sanetrai holotype D(2b) = -1.528, p< 0.001; T. alternans D(2b) +2.647 ±0.878 [+1.069, +4.647] (n= 34), T. alternans lectotype D(2b) = +1.969, p<0.001, T. kahenae lectotype D(2b) = +1.070, p =0.01.

Gynes of T. sanetrai can be distinguished by lacking of psammophores, smooth scape, wide scutum, relatively narrow petiole and postpetiole, and rugo-reticulate katepisternum. Gynes of T. sanetrai mostly resemble those of Tetramorium chefketi, but scape length gives discrimination between them.

Distribution
Endemic to South Italian mountains.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Italy.

Nomenclature

 *  sanetrai. Tetramorium sanetrai Schulz & Csösz, in Csösz, Radchenko & Schulz, 2007: 28, figs. 54-60 (w.q.m.) ITALY.

Worker
Figs 57–60. Holotype: CL: 720; CW: 695; FR: 245; FL: 265; SL: 550; ML: 770; MW: 430; PEW: 200; PEH: 240; NOH: 140; NOL: 115; PEL : 155; PPW: 250; PPL: 155; PPH: 220; SPL: 80; SPSP: 140; EL: 145; EH: 100; ED: 190;

Small to medium size, CS 740 [683, 783]. Whole body and appendages dark brown to black. Head nearly square, CL/CW 1.01 [0.98, 1.04], with very feebly convex sides, straight occipital margin and rounded occipital corners. Eyes small, EYE 0.172 [0.164, 0.185]. Frons moderately narrow, FR/CS 0.37 [0.36, 0.38], frontal lobes as wide as frons, FL/FR 1.0 [1.0, 1.02]. Scape short, SL/CS 0.74 [0.72, 0.75], without, or with very short dorsal carina basally, moderately shiny, or very feebly costulate distally. Pronotum with weakly marked humeri formed by stronger rugae. Promesonotal dorsum slightly convex, metanotal groove rather deep. Propodeal teeth rather long. Petiolar node cubic, robust, with broad, slightly convex node in profile, NOH/NOL 0.89 [0.83, 0.97], petiole relatively low and long, PEH/NOL 1.54 [1.47, 1.63]. General appearance coarsely rugose, ground surface microreticulate, dull. Head dorsum longitudinally rugulose and feebly microreticulate. Alitrunk dorsum rugoso-reticulate and microreticulate. Mesopleuron usually coarsely rugoso-reticulate and microreticulate. Dorsum of petiolar node and dorsum of postpetiole rugoso-reticulate and microreticulate. Polygonal striation continuous on 1st gastral tergite (see fig. 8.). Ventral surface of head with several short and few moderately long, straight, or few C-shape setae arising posterior to buccal cavity (see fig. 5.).

Queen
Figs 54–56. Small size, CS 986 [973, 995]. Whole body and appendages black. Head clearly wider than long, CL/CW 0.89 [0.86, 0.90], with feebly convex sides, straight occipital margin and rounded occipital corners. Frons moderately narrow, FR/CS 0.38 [0.37, 0.38], frontal lobes as wide as frons, FL/FR 1.0 [1.0, 1.0]. Scape very short, SL/CS 0.67 [0.66, 0.68], without dorsal carina basally, moderately smooth and shiny. Head wider than scutum, MW/CS 0.94 [0.94, 0.95]. Propodeal teeth long. Dorsal crest of petiolar node straight in frontal view; node with flattened dorsal plate in profile. Petiole and postpetiole relatively narrow, WAIST 0.98 [0.97, 0.99]. General appearance coarsely rugose, ground surface microreticulate, dull. Head dorsum, occiput and frons longitudinally rugose, ground surface feebly microreticulate. Scutum and scutellum usually longitudinally rugose, lateral and antero-medial surfaces of scutum smooth and shiny, scutellum more or less smooth medially. Sides of alitrunk, including anepisternum and katepisternum, rugoso-reticulate and microreticulate, ventral part of katepisternum always rugulose, or microreticulate. Dorsum of petiolar node coarsely reticulate and microreticulate, medially shiny, dorsum of postpetiole coarsely reticulate and microreticulate. Polygonal striation disrupted on 1st gastral tergite, superficially microreticulate basally. Ventral surface of head with several short and few longer, straight or “C”-shape setae, arising posterior to buccal cavity.

Male
Whole body and appendages brownish black. Head with convex sides, rounded occipital margin and widely rounded occipital corners. Scutum wider than head. Propodeal teeth very short, propodeum slightly angulate in profile. Dorsal crest of petiolar node with sharp, slightly emarginated, with transversal edge in frontal view. Head and waist rugulose to reticulate, ground surface microreticulate, dull. Scutum finely rugulose, antero-laterally smooth and shiny. Scutellum rugulose and microreticulate. Sides of alitrunk finely rugose and microreticulate. Ventral part of katepisternum smooth and shiny. Dorsum of petiolar node finely reticulate and microreticulate. Postpetiole finely striate, shiny. Polygonal striae hardly visible on 1st gastral tergite.

Type Material
Holotype /: ITALY—Calabria Prov. Catanzaro, 3 km NW Umbriatico, 350 mH, 19.05.1994, nr. 1305 leg. A. Schulz, R. Güsten, M. Sanetra (1 worker; ); Paratypes: ITALY—Catanzaro, 3 km NW Umbriatico, 350 mH, Calabria Prov. 19.05.1994, nr. 1305 leg. Schulz, Güsten, Sanetra (2 workers; HNHM); Catanzaro, 3km NW. Umbriatico, 350mH, Calabria, Prov. 19.05.1994, Nr. 1305 & 1309 leg. A. Schulz, R. Güsten, M. Sanetra (2 workers; HNHM, 3 workers, 1 queen, 1 male; PCAS, 3 workers, 1 queen; ); Cosenza, 1km NW. Frascineto, 500mH, Calabria, Prov. 21.05.1994, Nr. T350 & 1366 leg. A. Schulz, R. Güsten, M. Sanetra (2 workers, 2 queens, 1 male; HNHM, 2 workers, 1 queen, 1 male;, 1 worker, 1 queen, ; PCAS); Foggia, Gargano N. 528, ca. 2 km NE Abzweig n. Carpino, 700 mH Puglia Prov. 23.05.1994, nr. T353 leg. R. Güsten, M. Sanetra (3 workers; HNHM, 3 workers; MCSN, 3 workers; PCAS); Foggia, Gargano N. 528, ca. 2 km NE Abzweig n. Carpino, 700 mH Puglia Prov. 23.05.1994, nr. 383 leg. R. Güsten, M. Sanetra (3 workers, 2 queens, 3 males; HNHM, 6 workers, 2 queens, 3 males; PCAS, 3 workers, 1 queen, 2 males; )

Etymology
This species [sanetrai] is dedicated to Matthias Sanetra for his fundamental work with the genus Tetramorium.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.