Tetramorium andohahela Hita, 2012

Hita Garcia, F. & B. L. Fisher, 2012, The ant genus Tetramorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Malagasy region - taxonomic revision of the T. kelleri and T. tortuosum species groups., Zootaxa 3592, pp. 1-85 : 23-24

Tetramorium andohahela Hita Garcia & Fisher sp. n.

(Figs. 50, 78, 79, 80, 141)

Holotype worker, MADAGASCAR, Toliara, Parc National d'Andohahela, Col du Sedro, 3.8 km 113° ESE Mahamavo, 37.6 km 341° NNW Tolagnaro, 24.76389 S, 46.75167 E, 900 m, montane rainforest, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), collection code BLF05010, 21.-25.I.2002 (B.L. Fisher, C. Griswold, et al.) (CASC: CASENT0454449). Paratypes, 25 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH: CASENT0484441; CASC: CASENT0454555; CASENT0484356; CASENT0484390; CASENT0484395; CASENT0484407; CASENT0484417; CASENT0484430; CASENT0484433; CASENT0484434; CASENT0484435; CASENT0484472; CASENT0484482; CASENT0484487; CASENT0484488; CASENT0484489; CASENT0484494; CASENT0484499; CASENT0484508; CASENT0484520; CASENT0484524; MCZ: CASENT0484469; MHNG: CASENT0484510; NHMB: CASENT0484555).

Diagnosis

Tetramorium andohahela can be straightforwardly identified within the T. andrei species complex due to the very characteristic petiolar node shape with the posterodorsal corner strongly protruding posteriorly.

Description

HL 0.94-1.10 (1.02); HW 0.95-1.15 (1.05); SL 0.75-0.90 (0.83); EL 0.20-0.25 (0.22); PH 0.49-0.60 (0.53); PW 0.71-0.85 (0.78); WL 1.28-1.53 (1.40); PSL 0.44-0.58 (0.50); PTL 0.36-0.46 (0.42); PTH 0.37-0.48 (0.43); PTW 0.28-0.35 (0.32); PPL 0.32-0.36 (0.34); PPH 0.37-0.48 (0.43); PPW 0.40-0.48 (0.44); CI 101-106 (103); SI 76-82 (79); OI 20-22 (21); DMI 54-58 (56); LMI 37-40 (38); PSLI 45-53 (49); PeNI 38-43 (41); LPeI 93-105 (99); DPeI 73-80 (76); PpNI 55-59 (56); LPpI 76-88 (80); DPpI 121-137 (129); PPI 133-145 (139) (14 measured).

Head weakly to distinctly wider than long (CI 101-106); posterior head margin concave. Anterior clypeal margin medially impressed. Frontal carinae strongly developed, diverging posteriorly, and ending at corners of posterior head margin. Antennal scrobes weakly developed, shallow, narrow, and without defined posterior and ventral margins. Antennal scapes short to moderate, not reaching posterior head margin (SI 76-82). Eyes of moderate size (OI 20-22). Mesosomal outline in profile flat to weakly convex, moderately marginate from lateral to dorsal mesosoma; promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent; mesosoma comparatively stout and high (LMI 37-40). Propodeal spines very long to extremely long, spinose and acute (PSLI 45-53); propodeal lobes well-developed, elongate-triangular, and acute. Petiolar node in profile rectangular nodiform with well-defined angles, weakly higher than long to weakly higher than long (LPeI 93-105), anterior and posterior faces almost parallel, anterior face much lower than posterior face, posterodorsal margin situated much higher than anterodorsal, posterior face weakly concave, posterodorsal corner strongly protruding posteriorly; node in dorsal view between 1.2 to 1.4 times longer than wide (DPeI 73-80). Postpetiole in profile subglobular, approximately 1.1 to 1.3 times higher than long (LPpI 76-88); in dorsal view around 1.2 to 1.4 times wider than long (DPpI 121-137). Postpetiole in profile appearing less voluminous than petiolar node, in dorsal view approximately 1.3 to 1.5 times wider than petiolar node (PPI 133-145). Mandibles distinctly longitudinally rugose; clypeus longitudinally rugose/rugulose, with four to seven rugae/rugulae, median ruga/rugula often developed and conspicuous, remaining rugae/rugulae often short or irregularly arranged; cephalic dorsum between frontal carinae with eight to ten longitudinal rugae, most rugae running unbroken from posterior head margin to anterior clypeus, few rugae interrupted or with cross-meshes; lateral and ventral head mainly reticulate-rugose, less longitudinally rugose. Mesosoma laterally and dorsally distinctly longitudinally rugose. Forecoxae usually unsculptured, smooth, and shining, rarely with superficial, weak sculpture. Waist segments mainly longitudinally rugose. Gaster completely unsculptured, smooth, and shining. Ground sculpture generally faint to absent everywhere on body. Body with numerous long, fine, standing hairs. Anterior edges of antennal scapes with suberect to erect hairs. Head, mesosoma, waist segments, and gaster brown to dark brown, mandibles, antennae, and legs of much lighter colour, usually yellow.

Notes

Tetramorium andohahela is only found in a strip of localities in southern-eastern Madagascar that ranges from the southernmost locality, Andohahela, north to Ranomafana. All localities are rainforests or montane rainforests located at elevations of 800 to 1250 m. Also, the species was mostly collected from leaf litter.

The petiolar node is somewhat variable in its length since it ranges from longer than wide to wider than long (LPeI 93-105). This is not of much diagnostic importance, however, since the node always retains its characteristic shape with the posterodorsal corner protruding strongly posteriorly. This extraordinary node shape is absent in the remainder of the T. andrei complex and the whole T. tortuosum group in Madagascar, making T. andohahela straightforwardly recognisable.

Etymology

The new species is named after the type locality, the Andohahela National Park, which harbours an extraordinary variety of landscapes and habitats, and is of special importance for the conservation of biodiversity in Madagascar. The species epithet is a noun in apposition, and thus invariant.

Material examined

MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa, 2 km W Andrambovato, along river Tatamaly, 21.51167 S, 47.41 E, 1075 m, montane rainforest, 3.-5.VI.2005 (B.L. Fisher et al.); Fianarantsoa, Rés. Andringitra, 43 km S Ambalavao, 22.23333 S, 47 E, 825 m, rainforest, 4.X.1993 (B.L. Fisher); Fianarantsoa, Parc National Befotaka-Midongy, Papango 27.7 km S Midongy-Sud, Mount Papango,23.83517 S, 46.96367 E, 940 m, rainforest, 13.-15.XI.2006 (B.L. Fisher et al.); Fianarantsoa, Parc National Befotaka-Midongy, Papango 28.5 km S Midongy-Sud, Mount Papango, 23.84083 S, 46.9575 E, 1250 m, montane rainforest, 17.XI.2006 (B.L. Fisher et al.); Fianarantsoa, R.S. Ivohibe, 7.5 km ENE Ivohibe, 22.47 S, 46.96 E, 900 m, rainforest, 7.-12.X.1997 (B.L. Fisher); Fianarantsoa, 9.0 km NE Ivohibe, 22.42667 S, 46.93833 E, 900 m, rainforest, 12.-17.X.1997 (B.L. Fisher); Fianarantsoa, Parc Nationale Ranomafana, Talatakely, 21.24833 S, 47.42667 E, in guava forest, 9.-26.IV.1998 (C. Griswold et al.); Fianarantsoa, Parc National de Ranomafana, Vatoharanana River, 4.1 km 231° SW Ranomafana, 21.29 S, 47.43333 E, 1100 m, montane rainforest, 27.-31.III.2003 (B.L. Fisher, C. Griswold, et al.); Toliara, Rés. Andohahela, 11 km NW Enakara, 24.56667 S, 46.83333 E, 800 m, rainforest, 16.XI.1992 (B.L. Fisher); Toliara,13 km NW Enakara, Rés. Andohahela, 24.55 S, 46.8 E, 1250 m, montane rainforest, 30.XI.1992 (B.L. Fisher); Toliara, Parc National d'Andohahela, Col du Sedro, 3.8 km 113° ESE Mahamavo, 37.6 km 341° NNW Tolagnaro, 24.76389 S, 46.75167 E, 900 m, montane rainforest, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), collection code BLF05010, 21.-25.I.2002 (B.L. Fisher, C. Griswold, et al.).