Abstract
Ants of the Tetramorium solidum group occur in Africa, with the vast majority of species endemic to the arid regions of southern Africa. The first revision of the genus was published more than 30 years ago and ant surveys have since considerably expanded the number of specimens available for study. The revision of this group reveals five new species, expanding the total number to 19. Almost all the species in this group occur in the southern parts of the Afrotropical region, with the exception of T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 and T. rothschildi (Forel, 1907). These two species have broad distributions within African grasslands and savannas, with T. setuliferum occurring in southern Africa and T. rothschildi in East Africa and the Sahel. Five new species are described in this revision: T. aisha sp. nov., T. brigitteae sp. nov., T. duncani sp. nov., T. lerouxi sp. nov. and T. margueriteae sp. nov. An illustrated key is presented and descriptions of new species are provided, supported by montage images and distribution maps.
Highlights
The genus Tetramorium Mayr, 1855 is one of the most diverse and species-rich ant genera, with approximately 580 described species (Hita Garcia & Fisher 2015; Bolton 2017). It is distributed throughout most zoogeographical regions of the world but its highest diversity lies in the Afrotropical region, with about 250 described species (Bolton 1976, 1980, 1985; Hita Garcia et al 2010a, 2010b, 2010c; Hita Garcia & Fisher 2013)
In this paper we provide an updated taxonomic revision of the Tetramorium solidum group, including the description of five new species
The following diagnosis, which is based on Bolton (1980), distinguishes the group from all other groups in the Afrotropical region: relatively large Tetramorium (HW 0.875–1.279 mm, WL 0.915–1.498 mm) with very well-developed, massively constructed heads (HW > 0.80 mm and in most cases exceeding 1.00 mm) equipped with strong mandibles; 12-segmented antennae; anterior clypeal margin with deep and wide median indentation, sometimes occupying half of the anterior clypeal margin, except for T. barbigerum Bolton, 1980, in which it is more shallowly impressed; large eyes (OI 24–26); frontal carinae absent or very short, if present ending before anterior eye level; frontal scrobes absent; ventral face of head with J-shaped ammocheate hairs; base of first gastral tergite always sculptured, even if weakly so
Summary
The genus Tetramorium Mayr, 1855 is one of the most diverse and species-rich ant genera, with approximately 580 described species (Hita Garcia & Fisher 2015; Bolton 2017). Bolton (1980) revised the group and listed 14 species Other than this revision, and the recording of particular species in various ant surveys (e.g., Robertson 2000; Parr et al 2002; Netshiliphala et al 2005), very little has been published on the Tetramorium solidum group, despite the group’s apparent ecological importance as seed harvesters in semi-arid habitats in southern Africa. In the 38 years since the revision of this group by Bolton (1980), ant surveys have considerably expanded the material available, which provides an opportunity for a fresh perspective on this group
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