Tetramorium jordani Santschi, 1937

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 : 29-31

Tetramorium jordani Santschi, 1937

Figs 3G , 14 , 24

Tetramorium jordani Santschi, 1937: 62 .

Tetramorium aspinatum Prins, 1973: 12 (included in Bolton 1980: 248).

Diagnosis

Tetramorium jordani is the only species in the Tetramorium solidum group with the combination of no propodeal spines (the propodeum is only angulated with PSLI 1–3) and a hairless body ( Fig. 3G ). The only other species without propodeal spines is T. brigitteae sp. nov., which has erect hairs covering the entire body.

Material examined

Type material

NAMIBIA: 2 syntypes of Tetramorium jordan Santschi, 1937 : W of Maltahohe , 1500 m a.s.l., 12 Dec. 1933, K. Jordan leg. ( BMNH: CASENT0901180 ; NHMB: CASENT0915021 ).

SOUTH AFRICA: syntypes of Tetramorium aspinatum Prins, 1973 , 8 pinned workers, Northern Cape, Port Nolloth, 20 Apr. 1963, J.J. Cillie leg. (SAM-ENT0011753).

Other material

SOUTH AFRICA (112 pinned workers): Northern Cape: Rondabel 542 ( Farm ), 30°50′ S, 17°45′ E, 4 Sep. 1996, on vegetated red dunes, V.B. Whitehead leg. (SAM-HYM-C008958); Rietfontein bos, 23 Apr. 1963 (SAM-HYM-C019259); Calvinia , 24 Apr. 1963 (SAM-HYM-C019261); Springbok , 20 Apr. 1963, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019260); Van Rhynsdorp , 5 May 1959, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019262); Clanwilliam , 4 Jan. 1962, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019265); Nardou Pass , 4 Jan. 1960, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019266); Kamieskroon , 6 Oct. 1959, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019267). – Western Cape: Namakwa Sands, 31°15′54.2″ S, 17°55′50.8″ E, 31 Mar.– 4 Apr. 2003, pitfall trap, minespoil, Strandveld, N. Netshilaphala leg. (SAM-HYM-C018132); West Coast Fossil Park (4 km 270° W of Langebaanweg ), 32°58.444′ S, 18°06.731′ E, 4–11 Sep. 2002, pitfall trap, Sand Plain Fynbos dominated by Lebeckia , S. van Noort, D. Larsen and E. Bartnick leg. ( SAM- HYM-C018894); West Coast Fossil Park (5.5 km 290° E of Langebaanweg ), 32°57.51′ S, 18°06.728′ E, 4–11 Sep. 2002, pitfall trap, rehabilitated mine dump, S. van Noort, D. Larsen and E. Bartnick leg. ( SAM- HYM-C018895); West Coast Fossil Park (3 km 280° W of Langebaanweg ), 32°58.020′ S, 18°07.285′ E, 4–11 Sep. 2002, pitfall trap, rehabilitated mine dump, S. van Noort, D. Larsen and E. Bartnick leg. (SAM-HYM-C0188900); foragers, 16 mi. from Clanwilliam near Calvinia , 5 Jan. 1962, J.J. Cillie leg. (SAM-HYM-C015544); Petersfield, Citrusdal , 6 Mar. 1969, A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C018314); Clanwilliam , Farm Sawadee , 32.3388° S, 18.987817° E, 332 m a.s.l., Fynbos , pitfall trap, A. Botes leg. (SAM-HYM-C024971).

NAMIBIA: Namib Naukluft National Park, Big Slip Face , 23.39° S, 15.20° E, 11 Sep. 1987, collected from nest, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C000509); Namib Naukluft Khomabes , 23.33° S, 14.59° E, 11 Sep. 1987, collected from nest, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C000498); Fish River Canyon , 1 Sep. 1998, A. Chapman leg. ( BMNH: CASENT248475 ).

Measurements (worker N =13)

HL 0.974 –1.135 (1.071); HW 0.915 –1.121 (1.064); SL 0.777 –0.846 (0.795); EL 0.256 –0.295 (0.266); PH 0.364 –0.492 (0.453); PW 0.593 –0.734 (0.673); WL 1.072 –1.170 (1.158); PSL 0.010 –0.030 (0.017); PTH 0.305 –0.364 (0.340); PTL 0.285 –0.334 (0.306); PTW 0.305 –0.388 (0.342); PPH 0.452 –0.555 (0.490); PPL 0.256 –0.319 (0.289); PPW 0.416 –0.492 (0.460); OI 23–28 (25); CI 94–109 (99); SI 69–85 (75); DMI 47–65 (58); LMI 32–44 (39); PSLI 1–3 (2); PeNI 48–56 (51); LPeI 85–94 (90); DPeI 104– 123 (112); PpNI 62–75 (68); LPpI 55–63 (59); DPpI 136–177 (159); PPI 122–150 (135).

Distribution

This species has been recorded from arid regions of South Africa (Western Cape and Northern Cape) and Namibia in the following habitats: Succulent Karoo, Namib Desert, Lowland Fynbos and Renosterveld, Montane Fynbos and Renosterveld and Nama Karoo.

Remarks

Tetramorium jordani nests in sandy soils, with nests located either at the base of plants or with the entrance in the open, away from plants. The nest usually has a crater of soil around the entrance. In sand dunes of the Namib Desert, the tunnels inside the nest have crust-like walls to stop sand from falling in, and the entrance of one nest observed was funnel shaped due to the crust-like lining and the fact that the loose sand around the entrance was blown away by the wind. The species has been collected using yellow pan traps, pitfall traps and hand collecting. Tetramorium jordani feeds on seeds.

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. 14. Tetramorium jordani Santschi, 1937 (CASENT0248475). 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.