A taxonomic revision of seed harvester ants of the Tetramorium solidum group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Africa Author Mbanyana, Nokuthula 157A51ED-7C85-4CA3-84E4-B7BD1E2A7E8F Iziko Museums of South Africa, P. O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000 South Africa. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919 - 1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan. Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X 1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa. nmbanyana@iziko.org.za Author Garcia, Francisco Hita B7ADF56F-935D-4BD8-ADB3-50E96F8BB463 fhitagarcia@gmail.com Author Robertson, Hamish Gibson 972FAB6C-C5FA-45EA-9A17-9F156845BE4F Iziko Museums of South Africa, P. O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000 South Africa. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919 - 1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan. Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X 1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa. hrobertson@iziko.org.za Author Roux, Johannes Jacobus Le 2995D443-01FA-4F65-BFEE-ECA07B73504A jleroux@sun.ac.za text European Journal of Taxonomy 2018 2018-08-07 454 1 59 journal article 22298 10.5852/ejt.2018.454 654c9653-fbef-4d0d-9e07-619084ac1162 3817358 07F6B28D-ECA4-4F14-8132-0A58DE156057 Tetramorium rothschildi ( Forel, 1907 ) Figs 2C , 19 , 24 Triglyphothrix rothschildi Forel, 1907: 134 (included in Bolton 1976: 334 ). Diagnosis Tetramorium rothschildi is the only species in the T. solidum group with branched hairs ( Fig. 2C , 19 ). Fig. 18. Tetramorium pogonion Bolton, 1980 (CASTYPE13390 – Antweb, photographer unknown). A . Body in profile. B . Body in dorsal view. C . Head in full-face view. Material examined Holotype ETHIOPIA : pinned worker , Harar , 1 Mar.1905 , Maurice de Rothschild leg . ( MNHN : CASENT0915429 ). Other material TANZANIA (27 pinned workers ): Mkomazi Game Reserve , Kisima pitfall site, 4°01′30″ S , 38°02′27″ E , lightly wooded on red laterite soil, dominant trees Acacia mellifera , A. reficiens, A. senegal and A . zanzibarica , 2–4 Jan. 1997 , G. McGavin leg. (SAM-HYM-C011140); Mkomazi Game Reserve , Ibaya , 3°58′ S , 37°48′ E , 18 Nov. 1994 , grassland, pitfall traps, A. Russell-Smith leg. (SAM-HYM-C009595); Mkomazi Game Reserve , on top of Kisima Mountain , 4°06′ S , 38°05′ E , 1 Dec. 1995 , nest entrance in the open (round with no crater of soil around), mountain top grassland with scattered trees and bushes, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C008700); Ibaya Game Reserve , 1 Nov. 1995 , H.G. Robertson leg. ( CASENT0248479 ). KENYA : foragers, Laikipia District , Mpala Research Centre , 0.29° N , 36.90° E , 1650 m a.s.l., 7 Oct. 1999 , Acacia woodland, on ground, R.R. Snelling leg. ( CASC : CASENT0217078 ); Narok , Rift Valley , Maasai Mara National Reserve , Mara River , riverbank close to Serena Lodge , 1.42478° S , 34.9099° E , 1493 m a.s.l., hand collected on the ground, savannah, FHG00030, 1 Jul. 2007 , F. Hita Garcia leg. ( BMNH : CASENT0764432 , CASENT0764433 , CASENT0764435 ). GHANA : Tumu , 25 Dec. 1969 , P. Room leg. ( BMNH : CASENT0764594 , CASENT0790132 ). Measurements (worker N =5) HL 1.033 –1.131 (1.068); HW 1.072 –1.259 (1.121); SL 0.698 –0.797 (0.745); EL 0.197 –0.226 (0.212); PH 0.541 –0.600 (0.570); PW 0.659 –0.757 (0.708); WL 0.934 –1.141 (1.060); PSL 0.216 –0.285 (0.252); PTH 0.325 –0.413 (0.378); PTL 0.315 –0.374 (0.342); PTW 0.354 –0.433 (0.384); PPH 0.354 –0.413 (0.385); PPL 0.285 –0.334 (0.299); PPW 0.393 –0.492 (0.444); OI 18–21 (19); CI 102–111 (105); SI 63–70 (67); DMI 64–72 (67); LMI 48–58 (54); PSLI 21–26 (24); PeNI 53–57 (54); LPeI 85–97 (91); DPeI 107–117 (112); PpNI 56–66 (63); LPpI 73–81 (78); DPpI 133–172 (149); PPI 105–122 (116). Distribution This species is known from Ethiopia , Tanzania , Kenya and Ghana . Remarks Tetramorium rothschildi was first placed in the genus Triglyphothrix because of its branched pilosity ( Bolton 1976 ). After Bolton (1985) revised the status of Triglyphothrix , he placed this species in the T. solidum group because of the deep indentation on the anterior clypeal margin. Despite Bolton’s decision and our current treatment of this species as a member of the T . solidum group, we are not at all convinced that this species is a genuine member of the group. It is possible that T. rothschildi represents a convergent evolutionary lineage and the similarities in morphology are based on a similar granivore lifestyle. However, at present, it is not possible to address this question without a molecular phylogenetic framework. This species has been recorded from Ethiopia , Uganda , Kenya , Ghana and Tanzania . Tetramorium rothschildi has been found nesting in red laterite soils; nests sometimes have grass husks around the entrance. Pitfall traps and hand collecting methods have been used to collect this species.