Tetramorium insolens (Smith, 1861)

Material examined. Kranji Road, 1 Nov 2016, G.W. Yong leg., ZRC _ ENT00048415 ; alates and workers, National University of Singapore campus (Clementi/Kent Ridge, multiple sites), Apr-Aug 2015, M.S. Foo & W. Wang leg., malaise trap, ZRC _BDP (multiple); queen and workers, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, 14 Mar 2018, W. Wang & M.S. Foo leg., WW-SG18- Tetram 1, ZRC _ ENT00000907 .

Material not physically examined. Unknown.

Literature. Wang et al. (2018a) [as Tetramorium cf. insolens – ZRC material determined as T. insolens post publication].

Localities. Kranji Road; National University of Singapore campus (Clementi/Kent Ridge); Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Habitat/Ecology. Tetramorium insolens is associated with a wide variety of different habitats in Singapore, from mangrove back forest to urban cultivated patches, also disturbed secondary forest fragments in urban or semi-urban settings. In back mangroves, the ants have been found in a thin carton nest on the underside of a thick branch of a living tree.

Remarks. This species is considered a relatively widespread ‘pan-global’ tramp species originating from Indonesia and probably introduced elsewhere (Bolton 1977). It is morphologically similar to and often misidentified as T. bicarinatum, but may be differentiated by characters detailed in ‘Remarks’ under the latter species section above.