Tetramorium grandinode Santschi 1913
Creators: name: Mbanyana, Nokuthula
name: Garcia, Francisco Hita
name: Robertson, Hamish Gibson
name: Roux, Johannes Jacobus Le
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Tetramorium
Tetramorium grandinode

description: Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913
Figs 3C, 13, 24
Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913: 308 (included in Bolton 1980: 247).
Tetramorium grandinode var. hopensis Forel, 1914: 223 (included in Bolton 1980: 247).
Diagnosis
The remarkable lateral extensions of both petiolar and postpetiolar nodes (Fig. 3C) distinguish T. grandinode from all other species in the T. solidum group. This species has superficial similarities with T. duncani sp. nov. in that T. duncani sp. nov. also has a broader postpetiole, but to a much lesser extent (DPpI 104–123) compared to T. grandinode (DPpI 184–322). Moreover, T. grandinode has a much broader petiole node when viewed dorsally compared to T. duncani sp. nov. Additionally, these two species can be separated on the basis of the mesosoma sculpture: in T. grandinode, the dorsal surface has fine longitudinal rugulae and a glossy appearance in between, whereas in T. duncani sp. nov. it has a reticulate ground sculpture overlain by short fine longitudinal striations.
Material examined
Type material
SOUTH AFRICA: syntype of Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913: worker, Western Cape, Cape Colony (NHMB: CASENT0915017); syntype of Tetramorium grandinode var. hopensis Forel, 1914, worker, Northern Cape, Orange River, Hope Town (MNHG: CASENT0909135).
Other material
SOUTH AFRICA (98 pinned specimens): Northern Cape: Goegap Nature Reserve, Jul. 1986, U. Kruger leg. (SAM-HYM-C013306); Tankwa Karoo National Park, 32.17430° S, 19.97382′ E, 602 m a.s.l., 9 Jan. 2009, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C023302); Road between Karsten Farms and Goodhouse, Klein Pella, 29.02700° S, 18.99008° E, 621 m a.s.l., Plein Gariep desert, deep soils without gravel, Euphorbia present, 16 Dec. 2007, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM- HYM-C019900). – Western Cape: Prince Albert, Farm Argentina, 33.165444° S, 22.2595° E, 745 m a.s.l., 3 Mar. 2007, Succulent Karoo, pitfall trap, Iimbovane Outreach Project, B. Braschler leg. (SAM- HYM-C024969); Abrahamskraal, 32.93011° S, 22.00949° E, 522 m a.s.l., 12 Apr. 2008, rocky ridges, with sparsely distributed shrubs including Lycium, shallow soils, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020349); Vêrgenoeg, 33.24421° S, 21.47939, 10 Apr. 2008, Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020425); Vêrgenoeg, 33.24467° S, 21.47597° E, 10 Apr. 2008, Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo, east-facing rocky slope, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020434); Josephskraal, 33.04287° S, 20.71934° E, 900 m a.s.l., 16 Apr. 2008, Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo, Karoo plain slightly N-facing, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C020482).
NAMIBIA (42 pinned specimens): Navachab 67, Karibib District, SE 2715 Ba, Mar.– 24 Apr. 1988, pitfall traps, S. Schubert leg.; Rotkop, Diamond Area 1, 26°42′ S, 15°23′ E, 12–26 Nov. 1993, pitfall trap, E. Marais leg.; Klein Aus 10, Luderitz District, 26°38′ S, 16°10′ E, 12–26 Nov. 1993, pitfall trap, E. Marais leg.; Khabus 146, Keetmanshoop District, 26°18′ S, 18°13′ E, sandy plain next to dry riverbed, 14 Mar.–14 Apr. 1983, N. and G. Olivier leg.; Wolwedans 144, Maltahöhe District, 25°06′ S, 15°59′ E, 12–18 Mar.1992, pitfall trap, chateau dune, E. Griffin leg.; White house, 11 km N of Grünau, 27°36.666′ S, 18°23.726′ E, 1241 m a.s.l., nest in rocky soil with crater of soil around the entrance, 2 Apr. 2011, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C026796); Klein-Aus Vista, 26°39.143′ S, 16°14.546′ E, 1316 m a.s.l., nest in rocky sandy soil, two entrances at opposite sides of grass tuft, 4 Apr. 2011 (SAM-HYM-C026794); 59 km from Mariental on M29, 24°50.592′ S, 18°17.173′ E, 18 Apr. 2011, nest in rocky soil with rounded pebbles and red sandy soil, found under rock and excavated to a depth of 20 cm (SAM-HYM-C026793); Namib Desert, Ganab, G34, 25.1° S, 15.66° E, collected at the edge of sandy dry river bed, 18 May 1981, A.C. Marsh leg. (BMNH: CASENT0764655); Luderitz, 1 Sep. 2003, A. Andersen leg. (BMNH: CASENT0248477).
Measurements (worker N =26)
HL 1.003 –1.229 (1.122); HW 0.962 –1.229 (1.095); SL 0.757 –0.885 (0.816); EL 0.248 –0.354 (0.301); PH 0.462 –0.679 (0.528); PW 0.669 –0.856 (0.743); WL 0.915 –1.377 (1.189); PSL 0.197 –0.275 (0.240); PTH 0.374 –0.521 (0.431); PTL 0.246 –0.344 (0.297); PTW 0.384 –0.659 (0.523); PPH 0.384 –0.570 (0.450); PPL 0.207 –0.315 (0.255); PPW 0.482 –0.875 (0.652); OI 27–29 (27); CI 95–102 (98); SI 68– 180 (75); DMI 59–79 (63); LMI 39–54 (44); PSLI 19–24 (21); PeNI 56–83 (70); LPeI 58–85 (70); DPeI 130–212 (177); PpNI 68–110 (87); LPpI 45–73 (57); DPpI 184–322 (257); PPI 118–134 (124).
Distribution
Tetramorium grandinode is known to occur in South Africa (Northern Cape, Western Cape) and Namibia, where it has been collected in the Kalahari Xeric Savanna, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo, Namibian Savanna Woodlands and Namib Desert.
Remarks
This species has been recorded nesting in deep soil on a flood plain. Specimens of T. grandinode have been collected from pitfall traps, tuna baits, sugar baits and cookie bait.
description: Published as part of 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, pp. 1-59 in European Journal of Taxonomy 454 on pages 26-29, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2018.454, http://zenodo.org/record/3817358