Tetramorium peringueyi Arnold 1926

Tetramorium peringueyi Arnold, 1926

Figs 2B, 4C, E, G, 17, 24

Tetramorium peringueyi Arnold, 1926: 260.

Tetramorium peringueyi is morphologically similar to T. dichroum, T. margueriteae sp. nov. and T. brigitteae sp. nov. They all have numerous simple, erect hairs covering the body. This species is separated from T. dichroum and T. brigitteae sp. nov. by the presence of erect hairs on the leading edges of the antennal scapes (Fig. 4C), whereas the other two species only have a sub-erect pubescence (Fig. 4D). Tetramorium peringueyi and T. margueriteae sp. nov. can be distinguished based the characters listed under T. margueriteae sp. nov.

Syntypes

SOUTH AFRICA: 18 pinned workers, Northern Cape, Kimberley, 1916, Power leg. (SAMC: SAM- ENT-0011759, SAM-ENT-0011966; BMNH: CASENT0901179).

Other material

SOUTH AFRICA (23 pinned specimens): Northern Cape: Dreghorn, 26.85755° S, 20.78949° E, 862 m a.s.l., 17 Dec. 2009, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C019820); Dreghorn, 26.857705° S, 20.78656° E, 855 m a.s.l., 17 Dec. 2009, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM- HYM-C019822); Mokala National Park, Lilydale Lodge, 29.06377° S, 24.47202° E, 602 m a.s.l., 12 Jan. 2009, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C023308); 10 mi. from Grikwastad to Prieska, 22 Oct. 1963, J.J. Cillie leg. (SAM-HYM-C015261), Postmasburg, Oryx Game Farm site 5, 28.44786° S, 22.13321° E, 1107 m a.s.l., 26 Mar. 2011, pitfall trap, mixed savannah in Gordonia Duneveld, OGF-5-2, D. Pietersen leg. (BMNH: CASENT0250873). – Eastern Cape: Mountain Zebra National Park, 32.14S, 25.28E, 27 Oct. 1985, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C000057); Vosburg, Apr. 1954 (SAM-HYMC004121); Hopetown, 4 km E of Hopetown, Hopetown Municipal Farm, 15 Feb. 1997, B. Chambers leg. (SAM-HYM-C010850).

NAMIBIA (20 pinned specimens): SE of Windhoek, M’Bela Farm, on sand, C. Dickman leg. (SAM- HYM-C006261); SE of Windhoek, Christine Farm, on sand, C. Dickman leg. (SAM-HYM-C006264); Klein-Aus Vista, 26°39.198′ S, 16°14.542′ E, 1273 m a.s.l., nesting in rocky sandy soil almost in the middle of a riverbed, 3Apr. 2011, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C026797); Klein-Aus Vista, 26°39.198′ S, 16°14.542′ E, 1273 m a.s.l., nesting in river sand in the middle of a dry riverbed, nest with crater of soil around entrance, 3 Apr. 2011, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM- HYM-C026796); 72 km from Kamanjab on C40, dry riverbed near Grootberg Village, 19°46.997′ S, 14°17.357′ E, 1196 m a.s.l., nesting in soil, with crater of soil around entrance, 11 Apr. 2011, N. Mbanyana and H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C027109).

Measurements (worker N =17)

HL 0.993 –1.170 (1.096); HW 1.040 –1.2719 (1.138); SL 0.777 –0.885 (0.827); EL 0.216 –0.263 (0.238); PH 0.462 –0.639 (0.532); PW 0.649 –0.767 (0.724); WL 1.050 –1.249 (1.175); PSL 0.197 –0.285 (0.238); PTH 0.354 –0.433 (0.386); PTL 0.320 –0.393 (0.356); PTW 0.344 –0.460 (0.403); PPH 0.344 –0.472 (0.400); PPL 0.256 –0.393 (0.340); PPW 0.415 –0.587 (0.492); OI 19–23 (21); CI 99–109 (104); SI 69–75 (73); DMI 57–65 (62); LMI 38–56 (45); PSLI 17–26 (22); PeNI 51–60 (56); LPeI 83–108 (92); DPeI 102–122 (113); PpNI 63–77 (68); LPpI 68–103 (85); DPpI 131–156 (145); PPI 118–128 (122).

Tetramorium peringueyi is known to occur in South Africa (Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape) and Namibia. This species has been recorded from Drakensberg Montane Grasslands, Kalahari Xeric Savanna, Nama Karoo and Namibian Savanna Woodlands.

Tetramorium peringueyi has been found nesting in sandy soils and in deep dolerite reddish soils. The nests normally have more than one entrance. They occur in open areas at the basal parts of plants, often with a crater of soil around the entrance. This species feeds on seeds and stores them inside the nest; seed stores have been recorded within 8 cm of the soil surface. In one of the samples collected, the larvae and alates were found at about 22 cm down. Pitfall trapping, sugar baiting and hand collecting have been used to collect this species.