Tetramorium lanuginosum Mayr, 1870

Sharaf, Mostafa R., Fisher, Brian L., Collingwood, Cedric A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2017, Ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen): zoogeography, distribution and description of a new species, Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 51 (5 - 6), pp. 317-378 : 354-357

Tetramorium lanuginosum Mayr, 1870

( Figure 21 (a–c))

Tetramorium lanuginosum Mayr, 1870: 976 (w.) Indonesia (Java). Indomalaya. Diagnosis

Worker. Head longer than broad with reticulate-rugose sculpture; anterior clypeal margin with small median impression; frontal carinae strongly developed; antennal scrobes well-developed with distinct margins; eyes of moderate size with 8–10 ommatidia in longest row; mesosoma convex in profile; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines long and sharp; petiolar node rounded in profile; gaster smooth and shiny. Body pilosity profuse and relatively long, bifid and simple hairs. Body colour variable from pale brown to dark brown, gaster darker than body.

Material examined

Yemen, Socotra Island, Qalansyia , 25 April 2014, 26 m, (M. R. Sharaf leg.), 12.68401°N, 53.49052°E (5 w, KSMA); Yemen, Socotra Island, W. Ayhift, 20 April 2014, 214 m, (M. R. Sharaf leg.), 12.60970°N, 53.97770°E (6 w, KSMA); Yemen, Socotra Island, Himihil Protectorate , 23 April 2014, 372 m, (M. R. Sharaf leg.), 12.57615°N, 54.30651°E (9 w, KSMA); Yemen, Socotra Island, W. Jo’ o, 21 April 2014, 196 m, (M. R. Sharaf leg.), 12.54038°N, 54.17186°E, (6 w, KSMA); Yemen, Socotra Island, W. Feriho (daitab), 21 April 2014, 93 m, (M. R. Sharaf leg.), 12.44103°N, 54.15576°E (13 w, KSMA) .

Geographic range

A cosmopolitan species widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Australia, Oceania ( Wetterer 2010; Hita Garcia and Fisher 2011), KSA ( Collingwood and Agosti 1996) and Socotra ( Collingwood et al. 2004).

Ecological and biological notes

Tetramorium lanuginosum is one of the most successful ants occurring on the main island and has varied nesting habitats. A nest was found under the trunk of a fallen, dead palm tree where the soil was moist and rich in decaying organic material. Individuals were collected from dry soil next to a date palm tree. Several specimens were observed foraging on the ground where the soil was moist. Other workers were found foraging on the ground near a small flowing stream where the soil was sandy and moist. This species seems likely to have been introduced to Socotra through commerce.

Figures

Figure 21. Tetramorium lanuginosum. (a) Body in profile. (b) Head in full-face view, CASENT0746619, AntWeb.org, (Zach Lieberman). (c) Distribution map, blue triangles from recent records, red circles from Collingwood et al. (2004).