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Formicidae
Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758)
EOL Text
Tetramorium caespitum workers are an intermediate host of the poultry tapeworms Raillietina tetragona and Raillietina chinobothrida.
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(Figs 37, 49)
Formica caespitum L. , 1758: 581. Holotype female, Europe (' in Europae tuberibus') (holotype not in Linnean Society collection, London). Tetramorium caespitum (L.) ; Mayr, 1855: 426. Tetramorium caespitum var. immigrans Santschi , 1927: 54. Syntype workers, Chile: Valparaiso (Miss Edwards) (probably in NM, Basle; not seen). Syn. n. Myrmica (Myrmica) brevinodis var. transversinodis Enzmann , 1946: 47, figs 1, 2. Holotype worker, _ U. S. A.: Massachusetts, Dedham (in private coll. J. Enzmann; not seen). [Synonymy by Brown, 1949: 47; also Creighton, 1950: 291.]
Worker. With the group characters given above; the head densely and finely longitudinally rugulose everywhere. Spaces between rugulae with feeble ground sculpture, mostly shining. Head without unsculptured patches, without reticular or rugoreticular sculpture. Dorsal alitrunk longitudinally rugulose but on the posterior portion of the propodeal dorsum the rugulae being replaced by fine reticulatepunctate sculpture. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole finely sculptured but each with a smooth median area or smooth median longitudinal strip. First gastral tergite unsculptured. Metanotal groove impressed in profile, the propodeal spines usually slightly longer than their basal width, but sometimes represented only by a pair of broadly triangular teeth. Pubescence of hind tibiae short and fine, decumbent to appressed.
During this study I have examined specimens from Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, all falling within the range given by Creighton (1950). The var. transversinodis of Enzmann, noted above, is accepted as an absolute synonym of caespitum without question for, although I have not seen the holotype, the figures and description fit the species very well.
The status of var. immigrans is a little more dubious. It was first recorded from Chile by Santschi (1922) as T. caespitum but later he described it as caespitum var. immigrans (1927), both records being based on the same specimens from Valparaiso. Snelling & Hunt (1975) in their review of the Chilean ant fauna note the 1922 record but state that they had seen no material in their survey. Under these circumstances I think it best to assume that the Chilean record represents a casual introduction and to refer immigrans to the synonymy of caespitum . Sporadic introductions of caespitum in the neotropics are probably uncommon but I have seen material originating in Belize and Mexico during the course of this investigation.
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Prefers grassland, especially steppe and rock steppe, also urban. Nests in soil, under rocks and in small loam hills.
Observation by J. Longino, 22 Mar 2012. This observation relates to whichever cryptic species of this complex inhabits Salt Lake City, Utah. The city has massive battles on the sidewalks. The first warm day of the season, above 15C, was on 15 Mar and I saw the first battle. Sometimes these battles seem to be a matter of grappling only, with very few casualties. But today was different. At 6:00pm I saw a mass of workers on the sidewalk. They were in a roughly circular patch over a sidewalk crack, a dense mass of grappling workers several ants deep, the circular mass around 20cm dia. A column of workers extended from the mass, about 1.5m long, through the grass at the side of the sidewalk to another crack. I returned at 7:30pm and found a triangular patch of more thinly spread workers, in an area of about 400 square cm. There was a low density of live workers, but most of the layer was dead workers, most of them dismembered. I counted the number of dead workers in a 2x2cm patch, got 60 workers, an estimated 6000 dead workers in the patch.
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Forel, A., 1890:
Variétés diverses jaunes et noires partout, très commun. Les petites variétés claires se rapportant à peu prèsàpunicum Smith et semilaeve André sont les plus fréquentes . Ce sont elles qui servent d'esclaves àl'espèce suivante:
Emery, C., 1893:
— Fuerteventura (31), , , ; Canana (22, 61, 78, 84), Tenerife (M. Noualhier).
La plupart des exemplaires que j'ai sous les yeux se rapportent a la race depressum , decrite recemment par M. A. Forel, dont la couleur varie beaucoup. D'autres font passage a semilaeve Andre La de depressum est tres foncee, presque noire et caractensee par la forme courte du 1 er segment du pedicule. Sa taille, ainsi que celle du , correspond a telle des exemplaires mediterraneens de semilaeve .
Quelques de Tenerife ne different pas sensiblement de semilaeve .
Deux , l'une de Lanzarote, l'autie de Canaria, ont le mesonotum en grande partie strie; elles paraissent se rapporter a une variete a sculpture plus forte.
T. caespitum est repandu dans toute la region palearctique et la race semilaeve est l'une des plus communes dans la region mediterraneenne.
Ward, P. S., 2005:
I [introduced species]
Güsten, R., 2006:
Cagniant (1997), treating this taxon as a subspecies of T. caespitum , cites records from diverse sites throughout Morocco. We have recently procured further samples, including the first known gyne ( Morocco , Middle Atlas, Reg. Meknes , in CAS ) , and regard it as a good species which may occur throughout the Maghreb. Some specimens from Tunisia (in NHMB ) are very similar , as are workers from the northeastern mountains of Teneriffa .
Species morphologically similar to T. caespitum (Linnaeus , 1758) are the dominant Tetramorium ants in temperate parts of Eurasia. Cammaerts et al. (1985) distinguished T. impurum (Foerster , 1850) from T. caespitum in central Europe based on male genitalic characters. It has recently become clear that the T. caespitum / impurum species complex constitutes in fact an assembly of cryptic species, which cannot yet be delimited clearly or assigned valid names (Steiner et al. 2002; Schlick-Steiner et al., 2006). More than one species is included within the current concepts of both T. caespitum and T. impurum . Throughout this paper we use the term “ T. caespitum s.l.” to denote species of the complex.
worker (Figs 15, 20): Spain , Prov. Huesca , Puerto de Monrepos
gyne (Fig. 9): Spain , Prov. Avila , 5 km swEl Tiemblo
Greece , Pref. Corinthia , Killini N-slope ; Germany , State Rheinland-Pfalz , Lorchhausen ; France , Dept. Gard , 15 km nnwLe Vigan ; Spain , Prov. Girona , 5 km sseCamprodon ; Spain , Prov. Granada , Puerto de la Ragua
Mayr, G., 1862:
Es duerfte interessant sein, zu erwaehnen, dass diese Art auch aus Hongkong von der Novara-Expedition mitgebracht wurde.
Forel, A., 1905:
- Kairouan.
- Kairouan.
- Kairouan. - - Faisant un peu passage a la var. semileve Andre.
Bolton, B., 1979:
(Figs 37, 49)
Formica caespitum L. , 1758: 581. Holotype female, Europe (' in Europae tuberibus') (holotype not in Linnean Society collection, London). Tetramorium caespitum (L.) ; Mayr, 1855: 426. Tetramorium caespitum var. immigrans Santschi , 1927: 54. Syntype workers, Chile: Valparaiso (Miss Edwards) (probably in NM, Basle; not seen). Syn. n. Myrmica (Myrmica) brevinodis var. transversinodis Enzmann , 1946: 47, figs 1, 2. Holotype worker, _ U. S. A.: Massachusetts, Dedham (in private coll. J. Enzmann; not seen). [Synonymy by Brown, 1949: 47; also Creighton, 1950: 291.]
Worker. With the group characters given above; the head densely and finely longitudinally rugulose everywhere. Spaces between rugulae with feeble ground sculpture, mostly shining. Head without unsculptured patches, without reticular or rugoreticular sculpture. Dorsal alitrunk longitudinally rugulose but on the posterior portion of the propodeal dorsum the rugulae being replaced by fine reticulatepunctate sculpture. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole finely sculptured but each with a smooth median area or smooth median longitudinal strip. First gastral tergite unsculptured. Metanotal groove impressed in profile, the propodeal spines usually slightly longer than their basal width, but sometimes represented only by a pair of broadly triangular teeth. Pubescence of hind tibiae short and fine, decumbent to appressed.
During this study I have examined specimens from Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, all falling within the range given by Creighton (1950). The var. transversinodis of Enzmann, noted above, is accepted as an absolute synonym of caespitum without question for, although I have not seen the holotype, the figures and description fit the species very well.
The status of var. immigrans is a little more dubious. It was first recorded from Chile by Santschi (1922) as T. caespitum but later he described it as caespitum var. immigrans (1927), both records being based on the same specimens from Valparaiso. Snelling & Hunt (1975) in their review of the Chilean ant fauna note the 1922 record but state that they had seen no material in their survey. Under these circumstances I think it best to assume that the Chilean record represents a casual introduction and to refer immigrans to the synonymy of caespitum . Sporadic introductions of caespitum in the neotropics are probably uncommon but I have seen material originating in Belize and Mexico during the course of this investigation.
Forel, A., 1910:
Jerusalem (Schmitz).
Forel, A., 1904:
Transcaucasie: Zakataly, Lagodechi, 1 , 2. X. 1896 (MlokoseviC!).
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Pavement ants use chemical signals in order to communicate with one another. When foraging for food, Tetramorium caespitum workers will leave a chemical trail by wiping their gasters on the ground as they walk. In this way, workers may follow trails to food, and also find their way back to the nest without getting lost. T. caespitum have been observed to not travel more than 30 meters from their nest, and therefore generally stay closer to home than many ant species. In addition to chemical signals (called pheromones), pavement ants use polarized light to navigate and guide their paths.
Communication Channels: visual ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: pheromones ; scent marks
Perception Channels: visual ; polarized light ; tactile ; vibrations ; chemical
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Tetramorium caespitum (L.) HNS
(Figs 37, 49)
Formica caespitum L. HNS , 1758: 581. Holotype female, Europe (' in Europae tuberibus') (holotype not in Linnean Society collection, London). Tetramorium caespitum (L.) HNS ; Mayr, 1855: 426. Tetramorium caespitum var. immigrans Santschi HNS , 1927: 54. Syntype workers, Chile: Valparaiso (Miss Edwards) (probably in NM, Basle; not seen). Syn. n. Myrmica (Myrmica) brevinodis var. transversinodis Enzmann HNS , 1946: 47, figs 1, 2. Holotype worker, _ U. S. A.: Massachusetts, Dedham (in private coll. J. Enzmann; not seen). [Synonymy by Brown, 1949: 47; also Creighton, 1950: 291.]
Worker. With the group characters given above; the head densely and finely longitudinally rugulose everywhere. Spaces between rugulae with feeble ground sculpture, mostly shining. Head without unsculptured patches, without reticular or rugoreticular sculpture. Dorsal alitrunk longitudinally rugulose but on the posterior portion of the propodeal dorsum the rugulae being replaced by fine reticulatepunctate sculpture. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole finely sculptured but each with a smooth median area or smooth median longitudinal strip. First gastral tergite unsculptured. Metanotal groove impressed in profile, the propodeal spines usually slightly longer than their basal width, but sometimes represented only by a pair of broadly triangular teeth. Pubescence of hind tibiae short and fine, decumbent to appressed.
During this study I have examined specimens from Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, all falling within the range given by Creighton (1950). The var. transversinodis HNS of Enzmann, noted above, is accepted as an absolute synonym of caespitum HNS without question for, although I have not seen the holotype, the figures and description fit the species very well.
The status of var. immigrans HNS is a little more dubious. It was first recorded from Chile by Santschi (1922) as T. caespitum HNS but later he described it as caespitum HNS var. immigrans HNS (1927), both records being based on the same specimens from Valparaiso. Snelling & Hunt (1975) in their review of the Chilean ant fauna note the 1922 record but state that they had seen no material in their survey. Under these circumstances I think it best to assume that the Chilean record represents a casual introduction and to refer immigrans HNS to the synonymy of caespitum HNS . Sporadic introductions of caespitum HNS in the neotropics are probably uncommon but I have seen material originating in Belize and Mexico during the course of this investigation.
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Rights holder/Author | No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation. |
Source | http://treatment.plazi.org/id/FA45F5CB65926EE0B85603E9B7A69455 |
Records
(Map 38): Bulgaria ( Emery 1914 , Agosti and Collingwood 1987a , Atanassov and Dlusskij 1992 ); Western Predbalkan: Rachene river valley ( Vassilev 1984 ); Central Predbalkan: Dermantsi vill. (Lukovit) ( Atanassov 1934 , 1936 ); Western Stara Planina Mts: Vrattsata loc., Milanovo vill. ( Atanassov 1934 ), Lakatnik station ( Atanassov 1936 ), Chepan Mt. (Dragoman) ( Borisova et al. 2005 ); Central Stara Planina Mts: Teteven ( Atanassov 1934 ), Tsarichina peak ( Atanassov 1936 ); Eastern Stara Planina Mts: Sliven ( Forel 1892 ); Zemen Gorge: Skakavitsa vill., Zemen ( Atanassov 1936 ), Zemen gorge ( Lapeva-Gjonova 2004b ); Sofia Basin: Boyana ( Atanassov 1934 ); Pancharevo vill. ( Atanassov 1936 ), Sofia ( Forel 1892 , Lapeva-Gjonova and Atanasova 2004 , Antonova 2005 , Antonova and Penev 2006 , 2008 ), surroundings of Sofia near Vladaya vill. ( Atanasov 1936 , Antonova and Penev 2006 , 2008 ); Lyulin Mt.:Mihaylovo district ( Atanassov 1936 ); Vitosha Mt. ( Atanassov 1952 ); Plana Mt.: Plana vill., Pasarel vill., Richov well loc. (Dolni okol vill.), Tsiganka peak (Pasarel vill.), Yovichina mogila peak (Popovyane vill.) ( Vagalinski and Lapeva-Gjonova in press ); Podbalkan Basins: Rose valley ( Atanassov et al. 1955 ); Lozenska Planina Mt. ( Vassilev and Evtimov 1973 ): German monastery ( Atanassov 1936 , Antonova and Penev 2008 ), north of Pasarel vill. ( Antonova and Penev 2008); Thracian Lowland: Pazardzhik ( Forel 1892 , Atanassov 1936 ), Krichim ( Atanassov 1936 ); Bakadzhik-Burgas district: Aytos ( Forel 1892 ); Strandzha Mt. ( Antonova et al. in press ); Ograzhden Mt. ( Atanassov 1964 ); Belasitsa Mt. ( Atanassov 1964 ); Krupnik-Sandanski-Petrich Valley: west of Petrich ( Atanassov 1964 ); Dupnitsa Basin: Dupnitsa; Rila Mt.: Rilska river valley ( Forel 1892 ), Kostenets, Borovets ( Atanassov 1936 ); Slavianka Mt. ( Atanassov 1936 ); Mesta Valley: Petrelik vill. (Gotse Delchev) ( Lapeva-Gjonova 2004b ); Western Rhodopi Mts: Asenovgrad ( Forel 1892 ), Peshtera ( Atanassov 1936 , Lapeva-Gjonova in press (a) ), Batak, Devin, Smolyan, Rakitovo, Velingrad, Dospat ( Lapeva-Gjonova in press (a) ); Eastern Rhodopi Mts: Dedets vill. (Zlatograd), Byal Izvor vill. (Arda), Beli Plast vill. (Kardzhali), Kokiche vill. (Kardzhali), Momchilgrad, Madzharovo, Malko Popovo vill. (Madzharovo), between Dabovetz and Kamilski dol vill. (Ivaylovgrad), between Odrintsi and Svirachi vill. (Ivaylovgrad), Svirachi vill. (Ivaylovgrad) ( Lapeva-Gjonova 2004a ); Southern Black Sea coast: Pomorie, Burgas, Sozopol, Veselie vill. ( Forel 1892 ), Maslen nos, Mandra lake ( Atanassov 1934 ), Nesebar ( Barrett 1970 ).
Notes:
According to Schlick-Steiner et al. (2006b) the Tetramorium caespitum/impurum complex comprises seven Palaearctic species. The taxonomy of the complex is not properly resolved and we assume that there are several cryptic species related to Tetramorium caespitum in Bulgaria.
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Source | http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.62.430 |
Tetramorium caespitum hatch from the egg as grub-like larvae, and pass through three larval instars (growth stages) before they undergo complete metamorphosis into adult physiology. T. caespitum queens (there may be more than one) lay all of the eggs in the colony, which are cared for by workers throughout the development process.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
- Brian, M. 1965. Social Insect Populations. Great Britain: W & J Mackay & Co..
- Werner, F., C. Olson. 1994. Insects of the Southwest. Tuscon, AZ: Fisher Books.
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11 Tetramorium caespitum L. HNS
— Fuerteventura (31), , , ; Canana (22, 61, 78, 84), Tenerife (M. Noualhier).
La plupart des exemplaires que j'ai sous les yeux se rapportent a la race depressum HNS , decrite recemment par M. A. Forel, dont la couleur varie beaucoup. D'autres font passage a semilaeve HNS Andre La de depressum HNS est tres foncee, presque noire et caractensee par la forme courte du 1 er segment du pedicule. Sa taille, ainsi que celle du , correspond a telle des exemplaires mediterraneens de semilaeve HNS .
Quelques de Tenerife ne different pas sensiblement de semilaeve HNS .
Deux , l'une de Lanzarote, l'autie de Canaria, ont le mesonotum en grande partie strie; elles paraissent se rapporter a une variete a sculpture plus forte.
T. caespitum HNS est repandu dans toute la region palearctique et la race semilaeve HNS est l'une des plus communes dans la region mediterraneenne.
License | Public Domain |
Rights holder/Author | No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation. |
Source | http://treatment.plazi.org/id/C68ABA07F4B8D2455F11D0C1D4250FF6 |
I [introduced species]
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Source | http://antbase.org/ants/publications/21008/21008.pdf |