Tetramorium rhodium Emery, 1922

Csösz S., Radchenko, A. & Schulz, A., 2007, Taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic Tetramorium chefketi species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 1405, pp. 1-38 : 1

7. Tetramorium rhodium Emery, 1922 Status revised (figs 50-53)

Tetramorium caespitum var. rhodia Emery, 1922: 277 ; first available use of Tetramorium caespitum ssp. caespitum var. rhodia Emery, 1915: 3 ([[worker]]); TYPE MATERIAL: SYNTYPE [[workers]], “ Rodes ” [ GREECE] [/] “ Kattabea ” [-] “ Tetr. caesp.” [/] “ var. rhodia Emery ” (2[[workers]] / MHNG, 2[[workers]] MSNG) ; Tetramorium caespitum rhodia : Emery 1925: 179; Raised to species rank hereby.

Redescription of worker (figs 50-53.). Medium to large size, CS 832 [720, 895]. Whole body and appendages black. Head square, CL/CW 0.99 [0.98, 1.02], with somewhat convex sides, slightly concave occipital margin and rounded occipital corners. Eyes small, EYE 0.173 [0.163, 0.184]. Frons moderately wide, FR/CS 0.38 [0.36, 0.40], frontal lobe as wide as frons, FL/FR 1.0 [1.00, 1.02]. Scape short, SL/CS 0.73 [0.71, 0.75], with short dorsal carina basally, well visible parallel costulae extending scape. Promesonotal dorsum convex, metanotal groove shallow, but distinct. Propodeal teeth moderately long. Petiolar node cubic in profile, NOH/ NOL 0.84 [0.76, 0.97], petiole relatively low, PEH/NOL 1.50 [1.38, 1.73]. General appearance coarsely rugose, ground surface coarsely microreticulate, dull. Head dorsum and occiput longitudinally rugose and coarsely microreticulate, its sides rugoso-reticulate and microreticulate. Alitrunk dorsum rugoso-reticulate and coarsely microreticulate, mesopleuron coarsely microreticulate. Dorsum of petiolar node rugoso-reticulate and microreticulate, dorsum of postpetiole longitudinally rugulose and microreticulate. Polygonal striation continuous on 1st gastral tergite, posteriorly disrupted. Basal part of first gastral tergite microreticulate (see fig. 7.), MRG 319.7 ±126.5 [50, 500]. Ventral surface of head with several short and moderately long, straight, or few C-shape setae arising posteriorly to buccal cavity (see fig. 5.).

Gynes and Males are unknown.

Material examined (3 nest series including 18 workers). CYPRUS - Platres 1km E Mandria, 900mH , Prov. Limassol, 30.03.1994. nr.13 . leg. Sanetra (3[[workers]]) ; TURKEY - Denizli, Yahsiler, 35 km SEE Karacasu, 30 km SW Denizli 800 mH Kiefernwald , 20.05.93. nr.886 , leg Schulz (6[[workers]] / HNHM) ; Izmir, 10km SE. Beydag, 50km NE. Aydin, 600mH, Bachlauf, Bewaldet , 20.05.1993. nr. 879 , leg. Schulz (1[[worker]] / MHNG, 8[[workers]] HNHM) .

Morphometerics: (22 workers were metrically investigated).

Diagnosis. Workers of T. rhodium differ from related species by the lack of psammophore, relatively small eyes, (EYE, Table 1.), very short and very feebly costulate scape (SL/CS, Table 1.), cubic petiolar node and moderately wide frons (FR/CS, Table 1.). Workers of T. rhodium mostly resemble those of, T. syriacum , T. sanetrai n. sp. and T. chefketi . Workers of T. rhodium well differ from those of T. syriacum by their narrower frons, FR/CS (Table 1.), from those of T. chefketi by their shorter scape SL/CS (Table 1.). Tetramorium rhodium and T. sanetrai n. sp. are very similar in both, general appearance and metric characters. For separation between T. rhodium and T. sanetrai n. sp. see differential diagnosis of T. sanetrai n. sp. below. For further combination of morphometric characters see Table 1-2.

Distribution. This species seems to be widespread over Asia Minor, Rhodes and Cyprus.