Tetramorium anatolicum Csoesz & Schulz

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

2. Tetramorium anatolicum Csoesz & Schulz , New species (figs 18-24)

Description of Worker (figs 21-24). Morphometric data of holotype worker: 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 size, CS 702 [635, 743]. Whole body and appendages light brown to brown. Head slightly longer than broad, CL/CW 1.02 [0.99, 1.05], with very feebly convex or straight sides and occipital margin, and rounded occipital corners. Eyes small, EYE 0.176 [0.167, 0.182]. Frons moderately narrow, FR/CS 0.37 [0.35, 0.39], frontal lobes usually wider, FL/FR 1.02 [1.0, 1.08]. Scape moderately long, SL/CS 0.78 [0.76, 0.81], without longitudinal dorsal carina basally, smooth and shiny. Promesonotal dorsum convex, metanotal groove shallow, but visible. Propodeal teeth moderately long, thin and acute. Petiolar node trapezoidal in profile, NOH/NOL 1.15 [1.0, 1.30], petiole relatively high, PEH/NOL 2.01 [1.74, 2.30]. General appearance finely rugose, or rugulose. Head dorsum longitudinally rugulose, ground surface feebly microreticulate, shiny. Alitrunk dorsum longitudinally rugulose and finely microreticulate. Mesopleuron usually feebly rugulose and microreticulate. Dorsum of petiolar node rugulosoreticulate and microreticulate, dorsum of postpetiole feebly rugulose and microreticulate. Polygonal striation usually continuous on 1st gastral tergite, sometimes slightly disrupted posteriorly (see fig. 8.). Ventral surface of head with several short and few moderately long, straight, or few C-shape setae posteriorly to buccal cavity (see fig. 5.).

Description of Gyne (figs 18-20). Medium to small size, CS 1012 [980, 1055]. Whole body and appendages dark brown to black. Head wider than long, CL/CW 0.93 [0.90, 0.98], with feebly convex sides, straight occipital margin and rounded occipital corners. Frons moderately narrow, FR/CS 0.37 [0.36, 0.40], frontal lobes as wide as frons, or slightly wider, FL/FR 1.01 [1.0, 1.03]. Scape moderately long, SL/CS 0.75 [0.71, 0.77], without longitudinal dorsal carina basally, smooth and shiny. Head wider than scutum, MW/CS 0.96 [0.92, 1.01]. Propodeal teeth moderately long. Dorsal crest of petiolar node in frontal view straight. Petiolar node dorsum steeply rounded backward. Petiole and postpetiole relatively narrow, WAIST 0.85 [0.83, 0.87]. General appearance rugulose, ground surface microreticulate, dull. Head dorsum, occiput and sides rugosoreticulate, ground surface microreticulate. Frons longitudinally rugulose and microreticulate. Scutum longitudinally rugose, anteriorly smooth, scutellum medially more or less smooth; laterally finely rugulose. Sides of alitrunk ruguloso-reticulate and microreticulate, katepisternum smooth and shiny ventrally. Dorsum of petiolar node and postpetiole reticulate, petiolar node smooth medially. Polygonal striation disrupted on 1st gastral tergite, sometimes continuous basally. Ventral surface of head with several short and few longer, straight or “C”-shape setae, arising posterior to buccal cavity.

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

Material examined: (6 nest series including 52 workers, 3 gynes and 1 male) HOLOTYPE [[worker]]: TURKEY - Erzurum, 5km SW Aydogdu 20km SW Goele , 1400 mH nr.1148 leg. Schulz 26.06.1993 (1[[worker]] / HNHM) ; PARATYPES: TURKEY - Digor 1650 mH 13.06.1991 leg. Lˆbl (4[[workers]] / HNHM, 4[[workers]], 1[[queen]] MHNG) ; Erzurum, 5km SW Aydogdu 20km SW Goele , 1400 mH nr.1148 leg. Schulz 26.06.1993 (5[[workers]], 1[[male]] / HNHM, 2[[workers]], 1[[queen]], PCAS) ; Van, 5km SE Dedeli 30km SE Patnos 1700mH, Hochsteppe 20.06.1993. nr.1104 . leg. Schulz (3[[workers]] PCAS) ; Van-5km Van, 5km SE Dedeli 30km SE Patnos 1700mH, Hochsteppe 20.06.1993. nr.1102 . leg. Schulz (9[[workers]] PCAS, 6[[workers]] SMNK) ; Van, 5km SE Dedeli, 30km SE Patnos, 1700 mH Hochsteppe nr. 1104 leg. Schulz 20.06.1993 (6[[workers]] / HNHM, 3[[workers]] / PCAS) ; Van, 5km SE Dedeli, 30km SE Patnos, 1700 mH Hochsteppe nr. 1106 leg. Schulz 20.06.1993 (3[[workers]], 1[[queen]] / HNHM, 6[[workers]] / PCAS, 3[[workers]] / SMNK) .

Morphometrics: (38 workers and 3 gynes measured).

Diagnosis. Workers of T. anatolicum n. sp. can be separated from related species by the lack of psammophore, relatively small eyes, (EYE, Table 1.), moderately long and smooth scape (SL/CS, Table 1.), without a dorsal carina basally, relatively fine and parallel body sculpture and trapezoidal petiolar node (NOH/NOL and PEH/NOL, Table 1.). Workers of T. anatolicum n. sp. are mostly similar to T. exile n. sp., but differs by its relatively shorter scape and somewhat wider frons (SL/CS and FR/CS, Table 1.). Discriminant D(2a) function proves the separation between T. anatolicum n. sp. and T. exile n. sp. (see differential diagnosis of T.exile n. sp.). Workers of T. anatolicum n. sp. may look similar to those of T. chefketi , but can be distinguished by their lighter colour and shape of petiolar node: in T. anatolicum n. sp. it is relatively high and short, trapezoidal, in profile, while in T. chefketi it is relatively low and longer, cubic in profile, (PEH/NOL and NOH/NOL, Table 1.). Discriminant D(3a) function proves the separation between T. anatolicum n. sp. and T. chefketi (see differential diagnosis of T.exile n. sp.).

Gynes of T. anatolicum n. sp. can be distinguished by the lack of psammophore, moderately long, smooth scape (SL/CS, Table 2.), without a dorsal carina basally, wide scutum (MW/CS, Table 2.), relatively narrow petiole and postpetiole (WAIST, Table 2.), and partly smooth katepisternum.

For further combination of morphometric characters see Table 1-2.

Distribution. It is known only from Turkey.

Etymology. This adjective [ anatolicum (neutrum)] refers to the known distribution of this species in Anatolian part of Turkey.