Global:
Bolton World Catalog
> Formicidae
> Myrmicinae
> Tetramorium
> Tetramorium (bicarinatum) bicarinatum 
See all Tetramorium (bicarinatum) bicarinatum in All Antweb
See all Tetramorium (bicarinatum) bicarinatum in All Antweb
Species: Tetramorium (bicarinatum) bicarinatum
Name Status:
Taxonomic Hierarchy:
Subfamily: Myrmicinae Genus: Tetramorium
Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)
Taxonomic history
| Forel, 1891c PDF: 151 (m., misidentified as Tetramorium guineense); Wheeler & Wheeler, 1954d PDF: 449 (l., misidentified as Tetramorium guineense); Wheeler, 1924d PDF: 136 (gynandromorph, misidentified as Tetramorium guineense). |
| Combination in Tetramorium: Mayr, 1862 PDF: 740; Bolton, 1977 PDF: 94. |
| Junior synonym of Formica guineensis Fabricius, 1793 PDF: 357 (now in Pheidole): Mayr, 1862 PDF: 740. |
| Revived from synonymy and senior synonym of Tetramorium cariniceps (and its junior synonym Tetramorium kollari), Tetramorium modesta Smith, Tetramorium reticulata: Bolton, 1977 PDF: 94. |
| [Note. The names Tetramorium cariniceps, Tetramorium kollari and Tetramorium reticulata had previously been incorrectly synonymised with Tetramorium guineensis Fabricius by Roger, 1862c PDF: 293; Tetramorium modesta Smith was wrongly synonymised with Tetramorium guineensis by Donisthorpe, 1932c PDF: 463.]. |
| See also: Bolton, 1979 PDF: 164; Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2011 PDF: 18. |
Distribution:
One record from Wallonia, only indoorsBiology:
urban areasComments:
Introduced species, although California is the type locality (leg. R. F. Sahlberg, in 1840) (Nylander (1846:1061).Notes:
first record in NZ; 1959 (Taylor 1961)Taxon Page Author History
Taxonomic Treatment (provided by Plazi)
Ward, P. S., 2005:
I [introduced species]
Bolton, B., 1979:
(Figs 39, 43, 47)
Myrmica bicarinata Nylander , 1846: 1061. Syntype workers, female, U. S. A.: California, 1840 (types lost). Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander) ; Mayr, 1862: 740. [For a full statement of the current synonymy of bicarinatum , application of the name and discussion of the species see Bolton, 1977: 94.]
Worker . TL 3.4 - 4.5, HL 0.80 - 1.00, HW 0.68 - 0.86, CI 80 - 87, SL 0.54 - 0.68, SI 75 - 84, PW 0.50 - 0.62, AL 0.94 - 1.20 (114 measured).
Mandibles very finely and densely longitudinally striate; extremely rarely the mandibles appearing finely shagreened. Anterior clypeal margin with a marked median notch or impression. Median portion of clypeus with three longitudinal carinae of about equal strength, a median and one on each side. Sometimes another carina present on each side of the median but these are very feeble by comparison and nearly always incomplete or broken. Frontal carinae strong, running back almost to the occiput and equipped above with a narrow, raised semitranslucent rim or flange. Eyes relatively large, maximum diameter c. 0.19 - 0.24 so that diameter of eye is 0.26 - 0.29 x HW. Pronotal angles sharp in dorsal view. Metanotal groove absent but some specimens with a shallow impression in the alitrunk outline at its approximate position. Propodeal spines in profile strong and acute, moderately long, varying from more or less straight to slightly upcurved along their length. Metapleural lobes elongate-triangular and upcurved. Petiole node in profile roughly rectangular, with parallel or almost parallel anterior and posterior faces and an evenly convex dorsum which meets each face in an angle. The anterodorsal and posterodorsal angles of the node in profile are on a level as the dorsum of the node does not slope upward posteriorly. Dorsum of head with scattered irregular longitudinal rugae with a few cross-meshes but behind the level of the eyes with a strong rugoreticulum (Fig. 47). Ground-sculpture between the rugae superficial and inconspicuous. Dorsum of alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole reticulate-rugose, the sides of the pedicel segments similarly sculptured. Gaster unsculptured for the most part but nearly always with some short, fine, basal costulae on the first tergite. These may be very faint but are only rarely completely absent. All dorsal surfaces with numerous erect or suberect hairs, those projecting from the dorsum of the frontal carinae between the antennal insertions and the occipital corner relatively short (by comparison with other species of the group), shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye. Head, alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole varying from light yellow-brown to bright orange-yellow, the gaster always much darker, deep brown or blackish brown.
T. bicarinatum is a highly successful tramp species which appears to have originated in SE Asia. It is now reasonably common throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of the world except for the Ethiopian region, from which it is unknown. In temperate zones bicarinatum is capable of establishing itself in hothouses, conservatories and other constantly heated buildings.
It is the only member of its group to be found in Madagascar, but in the New World two closely related species also occur as introductions. These are pacificum and insolens , both of which differ from bicarinatum in having the mandibles smooth and shining. In addition to this, the petiole node is very differently shaped in pacificum (compare Figs 43 and 44) and the ant is uniformly dark brown or black in colour. T. insolens also differs in colour from bicarinatum , having the gaster the same colour or lighter than the head and alitrunk, and in addition having relatively much longer hairs on the dorsum of the frontal carinae, which are distinctly longer than the maximum diameter of the eye (compare Figs 39 and 40).
For a full list of material previously examined see Bolton (1977: 96). In this study I have examined material of the Neotropical region from Mexico, Trinidad, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Antigua, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Haiti, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Guiana, Brazil and Peru, which indicates that bicarinatum is fairly well established in the neotropics. Material from North America has been seen from the Bahamas, Florida, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, Texas, W. Virginia, California. The majority of this material is deposited in USNM, Washington; MCZ, Cambridge; LACM, Los Angeles; BMNH.
I [introduced species]
Bolton, B., 1979:
(Figs 39, 43, 47)
Myrmica bicarinata Nylander , 1846: 1061. Syntype workers, female, U. S. A.: California, 1840 (types lost). Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander) ; Mayr, 1862: 740. [For a full statement of the current synonymy of bicarinatum , application of the name and discussion of the species see Bolton, 1977: 94.]
Worker . TL 3.4 - 4.5, HL 0.80 - 1.00, HW 0.68 - 0.86, CI 80 - 87, SL 0.54 - 0.68, SI 75 - 84, PW 0.50 - 0.62, AL 0.94 - 1.20 (114 measured).
Mandibles very finely and densely longitudinally striate; extremely rarely the mandibles appearing finely shagreened. Anterior clypeal margin with a marked median notch or impression. Median portion of clypeus with three longitudinal carinae of about equal strength, a median and one on each side. Sometimes another carina present on each side of the median but these are very feeble by comparison and nearly always incomplete or broken. Frontal carinae strong, running back almost to the occiput and equipped above with a narrow, raised semitranslucent rim or flange. Eyes relatively large, maximum diameter c. 0.19 - 0.24 so that diameter of eye is 0.26 - 0.29 x HW. Pronotal angles sharp in dorsal view. Metanotal groove absent but some specimens with a shallow impression in the alitrunk outline at its approximate position. Propodeal spines in profile strong and acute, moderately long, varying from more or less straight to slightly upcurved along their length. Metapleural lobes elongate-triangular and upcurved. Petiole node in profile roughly rectangular, with parallel or almost parallel anterior and posterior faces and an evenly convex dorsum which meets each face in an angle. The anterodorsal and posterodorsal angles of the node in profile are on a level as the dorsum of the node does not slope upward posteriorly. Dorsum of head with scattered irregular longitudinal rugae with a few cross-meshes but behind the level of the eyes with a strong rugoreticulum (Fig. 47). Ground-sculpture between the rugae superficial and inconspicuous. Dorsum of alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole reticulate-rugose, the sides of the pedicel segments similarly sculptured. Gaster unsculptured for the most part but nearly always with some short, fine, basal costulae on the first tergite. These may be very faint but are only rarely completely absent. All dorsal surfaces with numerous erect or suberect hairs, those projecting from the dorsum of the frontal carinae between the antennal insertions and the occipital corner relatively short (by comparison with other species of the group), shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye. Head, alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole varying from light yellow-brown to bright orange-yellow, the gaster always much darker, deep brown or blackish brown.
T. bicarinatum is a highly successful tramp species which appears to have originated in SE Asia. It is now reasonably common throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of the world except for the Ethiopian region, from which it is unknown. In temperate zones bicarinatum is capable of establishing itself in hothouses, conservatories and other constantly heated buildings.
It is the only member of its group to be found in Madagascar, but in the New World two closely related species also occur as introductions. These are pacificum and insolens , both of which differ from bicarinatum in having the mandibles smooth and shining. In addition to this, the petiole node is very differently shaped in pacificum (compare Figs 43 and 44) and the ant is uniformly dark brown or black in colour. T. insolens also differs in colour from bicarinatum , having the gaster the same colour or lighter than the head and alitrunk, and in addition having relatively much longer hairs on the dorsum of the frontal carinae, which are distinctly longer than the maximum diameter of the eye (compare Figs 39 and 40).
For a full list of material previously examined see Bolton (1977: 96). In this study I have examined material of the Neotropical region from Mexico, Trinidad, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Antigua, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Haiti, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Guiana, Brazil and Peru, which indicates that bicarinatum is fairly well established in the neotropics. Material from North America has been seen from the Bahamas, Florida, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, Texas, W. Virginia, California. The majority of this material is deposited in USNM, Washington; MCZ, Cambridge; LACM, Los Angeles; BMNH.
Specimen Data Summary
Found most commonly in these habitats: 24 times found in coastal scrub, 32 times found in disturbed forest, 34 times found in 2º lowland rainforest, 29 times found in urban/garden, 13 times found in rainforest, 17 times found in secondary forest, 13 times found in dry forest, 11 times found in roadside, 10 times found in urban garden, 13 times found in mangrove forest, ...
Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 35 times miniWinkler, 9 times hand collection, 16 times aspirating; PB bait, 10 times Malaise, 7 times beating low vegetation, 10 times Malaise trap, 10 times aspirating; PB & maple syrup bait, 6 times search, 7 times at light, 7 times maxiWinkler, 3 times aspirating, ...
Elevations: collected from 1 - 1582 meters, 202 meters average
30 Specimens Imaged | View All 559 Specimens for this species
CASENT0005826
CASENT0055694
CASENT0059100
CASENT0060334
CASENT0064305
CASENT0064306
CASENT0101480
CASENT0102404
CASENT0102530
CASENT0102736
CASENT0102737
CASENT0125127
CASENT0135255
CASENT0171032
CASENT0171033
CASENT0173283
CASENT0173284
CASENT0173285
CASENT0178426
CASENT0178427
CASENT0235199
CASENT0235200
CASENT0235201
CASENT0235209
CASENT0235210
CASENT0246153
CASENT0246154
CASENT0901076
CASENT0901374
CSIRONC0054
Enlarge Map
TOOLS:
View:
- Browse
Specimens for this species
(559
examples)
- No Map Specimens within this species (too many - 559)
- View Tetramorium (bicarinatum) bicarinatum in Google Earth
Comparison Tool:
- Compare images of the Specimens within this speciesCatalog:
- See Hymenoptera Name ServerDownload:
Copyright © 2002-2013.
Use of this web site and information available from it is subject to our Attribution-Share Alike Creative Commons License. We encourage non-commercial use of ant web images. Each image must be attributed to its photographer and to www.antweb.org.
Antweb is funded from private donations and from grants from the National Science Foundation, DEB-0344731 and EF-0431330.
Use of this web site and information available from it is subject to our Attribution-Share Alike Creative Commons License. We encourage non-commercial use of ant web images. Each image must be attributed to its photographer and to www.antweb.org.
Antweb is funded from private donations and from grants from the National Science Foundation, DEB-0344731 and EF-0431330.
AntWeb is hosted by The California Academy of Sciences.