Tetramorium pauper Forel, 1907

(Figure 22 (a–c))

Tetramorium pauper Forel, 1907:14 (w.) Kenya. Afrotropical.

Diagnosis

Worker. Anterior clypeal margin lacking a median notch; frontal carinae very short, ending just behind frontal lobes; antennal scrobes absent; eyes distinctly small with four ommatidia in the longest row; propodeum armed with reduced acute tubercles; cephalic dorsum superficially sculptured; body pilosity short, stout and blunt. Colour uniform yellowish brown or pale brown.

Material examined

Yemen, Socotra Island, Dixam (W. Zereg), 24 April 2014, 279 m, (M. R. Sharaf leg.), 12.46868°N, 54.01091°E (3 w, KSMA); Yemen, Socotra Island, Dixam, 24 April 2014, 656 m, (M. R. Sharaf leg.), 12.49320°N, 53.99145°E (3 w, KSMA); Yemen, Socotra Island, Himihil Protectorate, 23 April 2014, 355 m, (M. R. Sharaf leg.), 12.58954°N, 54.30570°E (1 w, KSMA); Yemen, Socotra Island, Haydibo, Erheno, 19 April 2014, 33 m, (M. R. Sharaf leg.), 12.65023°N, 54.04016°E (20 w, KSMA) .

Geographic range

A species originally described from Kenya and recorded for the first time from Socotra Island.

Ecological and biological notes

Tetramorium pauper was found nesting inside a small decayed twig. The soil was moist due to irrigation of the date palm orchard. Several workers were nesting under a rock. A nest series was collected from a dry leaf litter next to a date palm tree using a sifting tray.