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 rufescens Stitz, 1923 Figs 2H , 3I, M, P , 20 , 24 Tetramorium solidum st. rufescens Stitz, 1923: 163 . Diagnosis The following character combination distinguishes T. rufescens from T. glabratum and T. signatum : dorsum of mesosoma with dense reticulate punctate sculpture and propodeal spines long and narrow (PSLI 16–23). Material examined Syntypes NAMIBIA : 3 pinned workers , Swakopmund , 12–19Apr. 1911 , W. Michaelsen leg. ( ZMHB : FOCOL 2082 to FOCOL 2084 ). Other material NAMIBIA (148 pinned specimens ): Spitzkoppe , 21°50′ S , 15°11′ E , 6–7 Mar. 1995 , pitfall traps, E.S. Ross and A.R. Stephen leg. ( CASC : CASENT-0217976 (compared with type)); 61.2 km S of Gobabis on C20, at intersection of C20 and D1790, 22°56.806′ S , 18°44.681′ E , 1353 m a.s.l., nesting in red sandy soil, 17 Apr. 2011 , N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C027008); Porcupine Camp Site , 2.8 km W of Kamanjab , 19°38.448′ S , 14°45.980′ E , 10 Apr. 2011 , nesting in loam soil, entrance in the open, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C026891); Spitzkopje , 50 mi. E of Hentiesbaai , 950 m a.s.l., 13 Oct. 1967 , pitfall traps, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C007990); Spitzkoppe , 21°50′ S , 15°11′ E , 6–7 Mar. 1995 , pitfall traps, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C007993); Otjozondju , Otjiamongo , 21.60° S , 16.94° E , 1495 m a.s.l., 8 May 2007 , C. Grohmann leg. ( SAM- HYM-C027188); Ongongo (= Warmquelle ), 19°10′ S , 13°49′ E , foraging on rocky ground, 10 Mar. 1995 , H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C008141); Epupa Falls , 17°00′ S , 13°15′ E , open rocky savanna, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C009147, SAM-HYM-C009089); Spitzkoppe , 21°50′ S , 15°11′ E , 6–7 Mar. 1995 , pitfall traps, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C007998); Gamsberg Pass , 23.16° S , 16.20° E , 7 Sep. 1987 , H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C000496); Naukluft PK, Mirabib , 12 Mar. 1988 , collected from nest, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C001039); Namib Nuakluft Park , Ganab Camp Site , 13 Mar. 1986 , collected from nest, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C001044); SE of Windhoek , M’Bela Farm , on sand, C. Dickman leg. (SAM-HYM-C006260, SAM-HYM-C006263, SAM-HYM-C006265); Hobatere , 15 Mar. 1995 , open mopane savanna on granite derived gravelly soils, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C009193); Hobatere ( 3 km from gate), Boomrivier , Luderitz District , 28°01′ S , 17°04′ E , 13–26 Nov. 1992 , pitfall traps, E. Marais leg. (SAM-HYM-C027181); Daberas , Diamond Area 1, 28°12′ S , 16°49′ E , pitfall trap, 14–29 Sep. 1994 , E. Marais leg. (SAM-HYM-C027184); miscellaneous foragers, Opuwo , 3 km from Opuwo Junction on C35, open savanna on red clay soils, pointed termite mounds, 14 Mar. 1995 , H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C009186); Klein-Aus Vista , rocky north-facing slope with low shrubs and grass, 26°39.221′ S , 16°14.532′ E , 1325 m a.s.l., soils shallow and gravelly, 5 Apr. 2011 (SAM-HYM-C027006); foragers, Ai-Ais , 27°55′ S , 17°30′ E , 19 Mar. 1995 , on gravel/bare ground outside bungalow, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C009267); Namib Desert , Skeleton Coast , 10 Aug. 1982 , collected from a gravel plain, desert, A.C. Marsh leg. ( CASC : CASENT0764595 , CASENT0764596 ); Karibib, Erongo ,Central Namib Desert 2010site33, 22.13598°S , 14.86326° E , 596 m a.s.l., hand collected, desert, Central Namib vegetation, 28 Oct. 2010 , P. Hawkes , J. Fisher , J. Irish and R. Scholtz leg. ( CASC : CASENT0250971 ). SOUTH AFRICA : Northern Cape : road from Klein Pella to Orange River , 28.98596° S , 18.99436° E , 615 m a.s.l., 15 Dec. 2007 , Eastern Gariep plain desert with deep soils and Euphorbia , found nesting at base of grass tuft, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C019958); Hopetown Municipal Farm , Hopetown District , 4 km E of Hopetown , 15 Feb. 1997 , B. Chambers leg. (SAM-HYM-C011115); Brandvlei , 23 Nov. 1963 (SAM-HYM-C017177); Postmasburg , Oryx Game Farm site 5, pitfall trap, 28.44786° S , 22.13321° E , 1107 m a.s.l., mixed savannah in Gordonia Duneveld , 26 Mar. 2011 , D. Pietersen leg. ( CASC : CASENT0250875 ); Postmasburg , SIO-site 4, 27.80767° S , 22.94291° E , 1170 m a.s.l., pitfall trap, ephemeral river bed and adjacent vegetation in Olifantshoek Plains Thornveld , 19 Feb. 2015 , P. Hawkes and J. Fisher leg. ( CASC : CASENT0250852 ). – Eastern Cape : Grahamstown , 19 Nov. 1965 , A.J. Prins leg. (SAM-HYM-C019173) . Fig. 20. Tetramorium rufescens Stitz, 1923 (CASENT0250852). A . Body in profile. B . Body in dorsal view. C . Head in full-face view. Measurements (worker N =13) HL 0.983 –1.200 (1.065); HW 0.954 –1.151 (1.021); SL 0.708 –0.856 (0.772); EL 0.266 –0.325 (0.291); PH 0.393 –0.570 (0.460); PW 0.610 –0.777 (0.678); WL 1.003 –1.141 (1.101); PSL 0.167 –0.236 (0.206); PTH 0.315 –0.403 (0.348); PTL 0.275 –0.325 (0.305); PTW 0.295 –0.425 (0.343); PPH 0.315 –0.418 (0.362); PPL 0.226 –0.291 (0.259); PPW 0.369 –0.521 (0.433); OI 27–30 (29); CI 91–100 (96); SI 73–81 (76); DMI 57–69 (62); LMI 36–50 (42); PSLI 16–23 (19); PeNI 46–61 (50); LPeI 78–100 (88) DPeI 97–127 (112); PpNI 59–75 (64); LPpI 59–77 (72); DPpI 154–188 (167); PPI 121–133 (127). Distribution Tetramorium rufescens is known from South Africa and Namibia . Remarks The description of this species matches that of Bolton (1980) , except for colour. We observed some variation in the specimens examined, ranging from red to light brown, in those collected at certain localities in South Africa (Klein Pella) and Namibia (Kamanjab, Luderitz District, Daberas, Hobatere, Epupa Falls). This species has been recorded from the Drakensberg Montane Grasslands, Kalahari Xeric Savanna, Nama Karoo, Namib Desert, Namibian Savanna Woodlands and Succulent Karoo.