Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913

Mbanyana, Nokuthula, Garcia, Francisco Hita, Robertson, Hamish Gibson & Roux, Johannes Jacobus Le, 2018, A taxonomic revision of seed harvester ants of the Tetramorium solidum group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Africa, European Journal of Taxonomy 454, pp. 1-59 : 26-29

Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913

Figs 3C , 13 , 24

Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913: 308 (included in Bolton 1980: 247).

Tetramorium grandinode var. hopensis Forel, 1914: 223 (included in Bolton 1980: 247).

Diagnosis

The remarkable lateral extensions of both petiolar and postpetiolar nodes ( Fig. 3C ) distinguish T. grandinode from all other species in the T. solidum group. This species has superficial similarities with T. duncani sp. nov. in that T. duncani sp. nov. also has a broader postpetiole, but to a much lesser extent (DPpI 104–123) compared to T. grandinode (DPpI 184–322). Moreover, T. grandinode has a much broader petiole node when viewed dorsally compared to T. duncani sp. nov. Additionally, these two species can be separated on the basis of the mesosoma sculpture: in T. grandinode , the dorsal surface has fine longitudinal rugulae and a glossy appearance in between, whereas in T. duncani sp. nov. it has a reticulate ground sculpture overlain by short fine longitudinal striations.

Material examined

Type material

SOUTH AFRICA: syntype of Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913 : worker, Western Cape, Cape Colony ( NHMB: CASENT0915017 ); syntype of Tetramorium grandinode var. hopensis Forel, 1914 , worker, Northern Cape, Orange River, Hope Town ( MNHG: CASENT0909135 ).

Other material

SOUTH AFRICA (98 pinned specimens): Northern Cape: Goegap Nature Reserve , Jul. 1986, U. Kruger leg. (SAM-HYM-C013306); Tankwa Karoo National Park , 32.17430° S, 19.97382′ E, 602 m a.s.l., 9 Jan. 2009, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C023302); Road between Karsten Farms and Goodhouse, Klein Pella , 29.02700° S, 18.99008° E, 621 m a.s.l., Plein Gariep desert, deep soils without gravel, Euphorbia present, 16 Dec. 2007, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. ( SAM- HYM-C019900). – Western Cape: Prince Albert, Farm Argentina, 33.165444° S, 22.2595° E, 745 m a.s.l., 3 Mar. 2007, Succulent Karoo, pitfall trap, Iimbovane Outreach Project , B. Braschler leg. ( SAM- HYM-C024969); Abrahamskraal, 32.93011° S, 22.00949° E, 522 m a.s.l., 12 Apr. 2008, rocky ridges, with sparsely distributed shrubs including Lycium , shallow soils, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020349); Vêrgenoeg, 33.24421° S, 21.47939, 10 Apr. 2008, Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo , N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020425); Vêrgenoeg, 33.24467° S, 21.47597° E, 10 Apr. 2008, Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo , east-facing rocky slope, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020434); Josephskraal, 33.04287° S, 20.71934° E, 900 m a.s.l., 16 Apr. 2008, Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo , Karoo plain slightly N-facing, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020482).

NAMIBIA (42 pinned specimens): Navachab 67, Karibib District , SE 2715 Ba , Mar.– 24 Apr. 1988, pitfall traps, S. Schubert leg.; Rotkop , Diamond Area 1, 26°42′ S, 15°23′ E, 12–26 Nov. 1993, pitfall trap, E. Marais leg.; Klein Aus 10, Luderitz District , 26°38′ S, 16°10′ E, 12–26 Nov. 1993, pitfall trap, E. Marais leg.; Khabus 146, Keetmanshoop District , 26°18′ S, 18°13′ E, sandy plain next to dry riverbed, 14 Mar.–14 Apr. 1983, N. and G. Olivier leg.; Wolwedans 144, Maltahöhe District , 25°06′ S, 15°59′ E, 12–18 Mar.1992, pitfall trap, chateau dune, E. Griffin leg.; White house , 11 km N of Grünau, 27°36.666′ S, 18°23.726′ E, 1241 m a.s.l., nest in rocky soil with crater of soil around the entrance, 2 Apr. 2011, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. ( SAM-HYM-C026796 ); Klein-Aus Vista , 26°39.143′ S, 16°14.546′ E, 1316 m a.s.l., nest in rocky sandy soil, two entrances at opposite sides of grass tuft, 4 Apr. 2011 ( SAM-HYM-C026794 ); 59 km from Mariental on M29, 24°50.592′ S, 18°17.173′ E, 18 Apr. 2011, nest in rocky soil with rounded pebbles and red sandy soil, found under rock and excavated to a depth of 20 cm ( SAM-HYM-C026793 ); Namib Desert, Ganab , G34, 25.1° S, 15.66° E, collected at the edge of sandy dry river bed, 18 May 1981, A.C. Marsh leg. ( BMNH: CASENT0764655 ); Luderitz , 1 Sep. 2003, A. Andersen leg. ( BMNH: CASENT0248477 ).

Measurements (worker N =26)

HL 1.003 –1.229 (1.122); HW 0.962 –1.229 (1.095); SL 0.757 –0.885 (0.816); EL 0.248 –0.354 (0.301); PH 0.462 –0.679 (0.528); PW 0.669 –0.856 (0.743); WL 0.915 –1.377 (1.189); PSL 0.197 –0.275 (0.240); PTH 0.374 –0.521 (0.431); PTL 0.246 –0.344 (0.297); PTW 0.384 –0.659 (0.523); PPH 0.384 –0.570 (0.450); PPL 0.207 –0.315 (0.255); PPW 0.482 –0.875 (0.652); OI 27–29 (27); CI 95–102 (98); SI 68– 180 (75); DMI 59–79 (63); LMI 39–54 (44); PSLI 19–24 (21); PeNI 56–83 (70); LPeI 58–85 (70); DPeI 130–212 (177); PpNI 68–110 (87); LPpI 45–73 (57); DPpI 184–322 (257); PPI 118–134 (124).

Distribution

Tetramorium grandinode is known to occur in South Africa (Northern Cape, Western Cape) and Namibia, where it has been collected in the Kalahari Xeric Savanna, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo, Namibian Savanna Woodlands and Namib Desert.

Remarks

This species has been recorded nesting in deep soil on a flood plain. Specimens of T. grandinode have been collected from pitfall traps, tuna baits, sugar baits and cookie bait.

Figures

Fig. 3. A–B. Waist segments and gaster oblique lateral view. A. T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 (MCZ_ ENT00512567). B. T. clunum Forel, 1913 (CASENT0764600). C–F. Waist segments in dorsal view. C. T. grandinode Santschi, 1913 (CASENT0764655). D. T. lerouxi Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (SAM-HYM-C023329). E. T. signatum Emery, 1895 (SAM-HYM-C020573). F. T. glabratum Stitz, 1923 (SAM-HYM-C024395). G–I. Mesosoma in profile. G. T. jordani Santschi, 1937 (CASENT0248475). H. T. glabratum (SAM-HYM-C024395). I. T. rufescens Stitz, 1923 (CASENT0250852). J–M. Head in full-face view. J. T. barbigerum Bolton, 1980 (CASENT0901181). K. T. pogonion Bolton, 1980 (CASTYPE13390 – Antweb, photographer unknown). L. T. glabratum (SAM-HYM-C024395). M. T. rufescens (CASENT0250852). N–P. Waist segments in profile. N. T. duncani Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov. (SAM-HYM-C027003). O. T. glabratum (SAM-HYM-C024395). P. T. rufescens (CASENT0250852).

Fig. 13. Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913 (CASENT0764655). A. Body in profile. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in full-face view.

Fig. 24. Map showing the distribution of species in the Tetramorium solidum group.