Tetramorium ubangense

Two collections of this species are known, a specimen from Uganda and the type from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Identification
Bolton (1980) - Tetramorium ubangense is the largest of the dark-coloured members of this complex which is known, and it has the most massively developed petiole and most strongly sculptured pedicel segments. It separates well from its closest relatives as Tetramorium hapale has a longer, narrower head (compare CI measurements) with strong sculpture between the rugulae, and the propodeal spines are not curved along their length. In Tetramorium camerunense the postpetiole is completely smooth and highly polished, and in Tetramorium ictidum the alitrunk is more coarsely and irregularly rugulose, reticulate in places, and the petiole is much smaller, the maximum width in dorsal view being c. 0.18 as opposed to 0.25 in T. ubangense.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda.

Nomenclature

 *  ubangense. Tetramorium camerunense var. ubangense Santschi, 1937g: 82 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Raised to species: Bolton, 1980: 343.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 3.5, HL 0.85, HW 0.78, CI 92, SL 0.58, SI 74, PW 0.52, AL 0.92. Mandibles smooth and shining, with scattered small pits. Anterior clypeal margin notched or impressed medially. Median clypeal carina complete and distinct. Frontal carinae distinct though not strongly developed and tending to become confused with the cephalic sculpture about midway between the level of the posterior ocular margin and the occiput. Occiput concave in full-face view, the sides of the head shallowly but more or less evenly convex. Eyes moderate, their maximum diameter c. 0.17, about 0.22 x HW and distinctly greater than the maximum width of the scape. Outline shape of alitrunk and pedicel as in figure, the propodeal spines feebly downcurved along their length. Node of petiole in dorsal view broader than long, slightly broader behind than in front. Dorsum of head weakly longitudinally tugulose, the spaces between the rugulae with punctulate or punctulate-granular ground-sculpture. Promesonotal dorsum finely, weakly and quite irregularly longitudinally rugulose, the spaces between them more feebly superficially sculptured than on the head. Dorsal surfaces of both petiole and postpetiole with faint punctulate sculpture, more strongly developed on the former than the latter; both nodes with vestiges of rugulose sculpture on the sides, again stronger on petiole than postpetiole. Gaster unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous short, standing hairs but the tibiae and scapes only with fine decumbent to appressed pubescence. Colour uniform dark brown but with the mandibles, antennae and legs lighter, yellow-brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Holotype worker, Zaire: Banziville (Augustin) [examined].