A taxonomic revision of seed harvester ants of the Tetramorium solidum group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Africa Mbanyana, Nokuthula Garcia, Francisco Hita Robertson, Hamish Gibson Roux, Johannes Jacobus Le European Journal of Taxonomy 2018 2018-08-07 454 1 59 CMV6J Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia 2018 [409,1080,1033,1060] Insecta Formicidae Tetramorium Animalia Hymenoptera 9 10 Arthropoda species aisha sp. nov.   urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8F4D69D1-F181-4B73-A11F-6F7476793CD6  Figs 4D, L, 5, 24    Diagnosis Morphologically,  T. aisha sp. nov.is similar to  T. solidumin that these are the only species in the group with sparse simple erect hairs that are restricted to the mesosoma and petiole only. They can be separated on the basis of the length of the propodeal spines: in  T. aisha sp. nov., the propodeum is only armed with very short propodeal teeth (PSLI 5–9) ( Fig. 4L), which are shorter than their basal width, whereas in  T. solidumthe propodeum is armed with elongate and acute spines (PSL 0.157 –0.197) ( Fig. 4K).    Etymology Named after Aisha Mayekiso, one of the collectors, who is a Collections Manager (Entomology) in the Natural History Collections Department of the Iziko Museums of South Africa.    Material examined    Holotype  SOUTH AFRICA: worker, Western Cape, Abrahamskraal, 32.92560° S, 22.01319° E,  516 ma.s.l., flood plain of dry river bed with  Salsola aphyllaand  Acacia karoo, in deep finely grained soils,  15 Apr. 2008, N. Mbanyana, A. Mayekisoand H.G. Robertsonleg. ( SAM-HYM-C020292).    Paratypes  SOUTH AFRICA: 12 pinned workers, same collection data as for holotype ( SAM-HYM-C020288to SAM-HYM-C020292, SAM-HYM-C020316, SAM-HYM-C020329).   Other material  SOUTH AFRICA(29 pinned specimens):  Northern Cape: Melton Wold, 31.46741° S, 22.72155° E,  1333 ma.s.l.,  7 Jan. 2009, N. Mbanyanaand H.G. Robertsonleg. ( SAM-HYM-C023306, SAM- HYM-C023313);  Sakrivier,  23 Apr. 1963, A.J. Prinsleg. ( SAM-HYM-C019290); Onder-downs,  24 Apr. 1963, A.J. Prinsleg. ( SAM-HYM-C019306);  Kortkop farm near Strydenburg, 30°09′ S, 23°44′ E, pitfall trap, Karoovegetation,  17 Jun. 1995, B. Chambersleg. (SAM-HYM-C008783);  Hopetown Municipal Farm,  4 kmE of Hopetown,  15 Feb. 1997, B. Chambersleg. (SAM-HYM-C010847);  Prieska,  2 mi.from Prieska to Canarvon,  23 Oct. 1963, A.J. Prinsleg. (SAM-HYM-C015044). –  Western Cape:  36 kmfrom Prince Albert on Leeu Gamkaroad, 32°54′ S, 21°59′ E,  10–19 Oct. 1996, T.E. Tshiguvholeg. (SAM-HYM-C009335);   21 kmfrom Prince Albert on Leeu Gamkaroad, 33°02′ S, 22°00′ E,  10–19 Oct. 1996, T.E. Tshiguvholeg. (SAM-HYM-C009336).   Fig. 5.  Tetramorium aishaMbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov.(CASENT0250969). A. Body in profile. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in full-face view.   NAMIBIA(3 pinned specimens): Klein-Aus Vista, 26°39.198′ S, 16°14.542′ E,  1273 ma.s.l.,  4 Apr. 2011, in rocky sandy soil in the middle of dry riverbed, nest entrance with crater of soil around, N. Mbanyanaand H.G. Robertsonleg. (SAM-HYM-C026799);  Erongo, Swakopmund, Central Namib Desert2010 site 20, 22.92214° S, 15.20903° E,  572 ma.s.l., hand collected,  26 Oct. 2010, P. Hawkes, J. Fisher, J. Irishand R. Scholtzleg. ( AFRC: CASENT0250969).   Measurements(workers N = 13) HL 0.993 –1.082(1.037); HW 1.023 –1.082(1.060) SL 0.718 –0.787(0.764); EL 0.236 –0.275(0.262); PH 0.393 –0.580(0.474); PW 0.639 –0.738(0.673); WL 1.013 –1.208(1.102); PSL 0.049 –0.089(0.070); PTH 0.305 –0.364(0.335); PTL 0.246 –0.328(0.277); PTW 0.305 –0.364(0.338); PPH 0.375 –0.384(0.356); PPL 0.256 –0.344(0.284); PPW 0.393 –0.482(0.436); OI 22–26 (25); CI 100–108 (102); SI 68–74 (72); DMI 56–68 (61); LMI 33–53 (43); PSLI 5–9 (7); PeNI 47–52 (50); LPeI 75–93 (83) DPeI 108–132 (122); PpNI 61–70 (65); LPpI 64–100 (80); DPpI 131–180 (154); PPI 126–133 (129).   Description   Holotype(worker) Mandibles with fine longitudinal striations. Anterior clypeal margin with extensive, semicircular indentation. Frontal carinae extending back from frontal lobes as fine ridges ending approximately at level of anterior eye margin. Propodeum armed with pair of short triangular teeth (PSLI 5–9). Metapleural lobes low and rounded. Peduncle with prominent keel-shaped subpetiolar process. Petiolar node in profile nodiform, with posterior face slightly more steeply angled than anterior face; anterior face also rounding into dorsum but with slightly angled corners as seen in dorsal view. Postpetiolar node low and rounded. Dorsal surfaces of head and mesosoma with finely reticulate ground sculpture overlain by longitudinal striations. Petiolar and postpetiolar nodes with fine reticulate sculpture overlain by irregular transverse striations. First gastral tergite with fine, superficial reticulate pattern. Numerous long hairs on clypeus. Ventral surface of head with prominent psammophore. Erect hairs distributed as follows elsewhere: dorsum of head with four pairs; dorsum of mesosoma with three pairs (two on humeri and one on mesonotum); one pair on petiolar node; and numerous hairs on first gastral sternite. Colour uniformly black.  Paratypesand other material examined similar to holotype, except for following differences: three to five pairs of long erect hairs on dorsum of mesosoma, arranged as follows; two to four pairs along anterior margin of pronotum and one pair on the mesonotum.    Distribution Known from South Africa( Western Capeand Northern Cape) and Namibia, where it occurs in Nama Karoo, Montane Fynbos, Renosterveld, Kalahari Xeric Savanna and Namib Desert. 2611461307 deep finely grained soils 2008-04-15 N. Mbanyana & A. Mayekiso & H. G. Robertson South Africa 516 -32.9256 Abrahamskraal 1 22.01319 Abrahamskraal 9 10 SAM-HYM-C020292 1 516 1 Western Cape holotype 2611461321 South Africa SOUTH AFRICA 9 10 SAM-HYM-C020288, SAM-HYM-C020292, SAM-HYM-C020316, SAM-HYM-C020329 1 1 paratype 4466527323 [234,422,1922,1948] 2009-01-07 SAM- HYM-C023313 N. Mbanyana & H. G. Robertson South Africa 1333 -31.46741 Melton Wold 1 22.72155 Melton Wold 9 10 SAM-HYM-C023306 1 Northern Cape 3899602474 [399,1135,267,294] 1963-04-23 A. J. Prins Sakrivier Sakrivier 11 12 SAM-HYM-C019290 1 3899602419 1963-04-24 A. J. Prins 11 12 SAM-HYM-C019306 1 3899602318 1995-06-17 B. Chambers -30.15 Karoo 1223 23.733334 Kortkop farm near Strydenburg 11 12 1 3899602360 1997-02-15 B. Chambers Hopetown Hopetown Municipal Farm 11 12 1 3899602558 1963-10-23 A. J. Prins Prieska to Canarvon Prieska 11 12 1 3899602535 1996-10-10 1996-10-19 1996-10-10 T. E. Tshiguvho -32.9 Prince Albert on Leeu Gamka 1208 21.983334 11 12 1 Western Cape 3899602564 1996-10-10 1996-10-19 1996-10-10 T. E. Tshiguvho -33.033333 Prince Albert on Leeu Gamka 1207 22.0 Prince Albert on Leeu Gamka 11 12 1 3899602371 2011-04-04 N. Mbanyana & H. G. Robertson Namibia 1273 -26.6533 Klein-Aus Vista 1 16.242367 11 12 1 3899602426 2010-10-26 AFRC P. Hawkes & J. Fisher & J. Irish & R. Scholtz 572 -22.92214 Central Namib Desert 1 15.20903 Swakopmund 11 12 CASENT0250969 1 Erongo