Tetramorium margueriteae Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6E9371F8-EEC3-4487-8333-BB6CCEE01932

Figs 4F, H, 16, 24

Diagnosis

Morphologically, T. margueriteae sp. nov. is similar to T. peringueyi, T. dichroum and T. brigitteae sp. nov. in that, these are the only species in the solidum group with erect simple hairs covering the entire body. This species can be separated from T. peringueyi on the basis of colour and the pattern of the sculpture on the mesosoma. Tetramorium margueriteae sp. nov. is black in colour, whereas T. peringueyi is orange to light brown. In T. peringueyi, the dorsal surface of the mesosoma has a strongly developed irregular reticulate sculpture (Fig. 4E), whereas in T. margueriteae sp. nov. the dorsum of the mesosoma has short longitudinal rugulae, and the ground sculpture is mainly smooth and shiny, with peripheral patches of fine, superficial reticulations (Fig. 4F). Tetramorium margueriteae sp. nov. is separated from both T. dichroum and T. brigitteae sp. nov. by the presence of erect hairs on the antennal scapes.

Etymology

Named after Marguerite Blignaut who helped with molecular lab work on the T. solidum group.

Material examined

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: worker, Klein Pella, road between Karsten Farms and Goodhouse, Kokerboom site, 29.06211° S, 18.97985° E, 832 m a.s.l., Gariep Rocky Desert with Kokerboom and Euphorbia, 16 Dec. 2007, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C019829).

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: 24 pinned workers, same collection data as for holotype (SAM- HYM-C019827, SAM-HYM-C019836, SAM-HYM-C019838, SAM-HYM-C019839).

Other material

SOUTH AFRICA (37 pinned workers): Western Cape: Tierberg, near Prince Albert, 33°10′ S, 22°16′ E, 14 Feb. 1995, H. Adie leg. (SAM-HYM-C008443); 6 km from Prince Albert on Leeu Gamka Road, 33°09′ S, 22°02′ E, 10–19 Oct. 1996, T.E. Tshiguvho leg. (SAM-HYM-C009333); 27 km from Prince Albert on Leeu Gamka Road, 33°09′ S, 22°02′ E, 10–19 Oct. 1996, T.E. Tshiguvho leg. (SAM- HYM-C009334). – Eastern Cape: Kudu Reserve at Great Fish River, 33°07′42″ S, 26°41′32″ E, 25–30 Apr. 2005, grassland, T. Jordan leg. (SAM-HYM-C018977). – Northern Cape: Kortkop farm, Strydenburg, 30°09′ S, 23°44′ E, 17 Jun. 1995, pitfall traps, on Karoo vegetation, B. Chambers leg. (SAM-HYM-C008768); same collection data as for holotype (SAM-HYM-C019825); Klein Pella, road between Karsten Farms and Goodhouse, Kokerboom site, 29.035271° S, 18.97662° E, 678 m a.s.l., East Gariep with large Euphorbia, 16 Dec. 2007, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM- HYM-C019831); Rietfontein oos, 23 Apr. 1963 (SAM-HYM-C019198).

Measurements (worker N =6)

HL 1.059 –1.163 (1.107); HW 1.137 –1.279 (1.199); SL 0.775 –0.930 (0.840); EL 0.245 –0.258 (0.256); PH 0.472 –0.610 (0.528); PW 0.710 –0.827 (0.764); WL 1.201 –1.356 (1.281); PSL 0.167 –0.207 (0.183); PTH 0.369 –0.423 (0.392); PTL 0.388 –0.413 (0.405); PTW 0.388 –0.452 (0.415); PPH 0.439 –0.594 (0.499); PPL 0.362 –0.388 (0.377); PPW 0.478 –0.530 (0.502); OI 20–23 (21); CI 107–110 (108); SI 66–74 (70); DMI 58–61 (60); LMI 39–45 (41); PSLI 14–19 (17); PeNI 52–56 (54); LPeI 98–109 (103); DPeI 100–106 (103); PpNI 62–68 (66); LPpI 65–82 (76); DPpI 127–141 (133); PPI 116–124 (121).

Description

Holotype (worker)

Mandibles with longitudinal striations. Anterior clypeal margin with extensive, semicircular indentation. Frontal carinae extending back from frontal lobes as fine ridges and ending at about level of anterior eye margin. Eyes with 16 ommatidia in longest row. Propodeum armed with pair of medium length propodeal spines, longer than basal width (PSLI 14–19). Metapleural lobes low with angled corner. Peduncle with prominent keel-shaped subpetiolar process. Petiolar node in profile nodiform, with posterior face slightly more steeply angled than anterior face; anterior face rounding onto dorsum but with slightly angled corners as seen in dorsal view. Postpetiolar node low and rounded. Dorsal surfaces of head with longitudinal striations, spaces between them with superficial reticulate ground sculpture. Dorsum of mesosoma with short longitudinal striations, with superficial ground sculpture in between them. Petiolar and postpetiolar nodes with fine reticulate sculpture overlain by irregular striations. Gastral tergite with fine, superficial reticulate pattern. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with abundant fine, erect, and short hairs. The tibia of middle and hind legs with numerous short, stout, erect hairs. Ventral surface of head with strongly developed psammophore. Colour uniformly black.

Distribution

Known from South Africa (Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape), where it occurs in Nama Karoo and Drakensberg Montane Grasslands.