Taxonomic overview of the hyperdiverse ant genusTetramoriumMayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in India with descriptions and X-ray microtomography of two new species from the Andaman Islands

Abstract

With 600 described species, the ant genus Tetramorium represents one of the most species-rich ant radiations. However, much work remains to fully document the hyperdiversity of this remarkable group. Tetramorium, while globally distributed, is thought to have originated in the Afrotropics and is particularly diverse in the Old World. Here, we focus attention on the Tetramorium fauna of India, a region of high biodiversity value and interest for conservation. We overview Tetramorium diversity in India by providing a species list, accounts of all species groups present, an illustrated identification key to Indian Tetramorium species groups and notes on the Indian Tetramorium fauna. Further, we describe two new species, Tetramorium krishnani sp. n. and Tetramorium jarawa sp. n. from the Andaman Islands archipelago and embed them into currently recognized Tetramorium tonganum and Tetramorium inglebyi species groups. We also provide illustrated species level keys for these groups. Along with detailed species descriptions and high-resolution montage images of types, we provide 3D cybertypes of the new species derived from X-ray micro-computed tomography.

Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem Period

“…In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 40 genera of ants have been reported [31]. Although some zoological surveys were conducted in the islands in 1976 and in subsequent years [31][32][33][34][35][36], recent studies on the current status and distribution of insect species in this area are lacking, and Formicidae remain largely neglected [31].…”

Systematics of the ant genus Proceratium Roger (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Proceratiinae) in China – with descriptions of three new species based on micro-CT enhanced next-generation-morphology

“…We also give species accounts for all other valid species and add a locality record for Proceratium longigaster Karavaiev, 1935. Like in previous studies (Fischer et al 2016, Sarnat et al 2016, Agavekar et al 2017, Hita Garcia et al 2017a, 2017b), we continue using and exploring microtomography for ant taxonomy. In order to visually enhance the taxonomic descriptions, we provide still images and 3D videos based on surface volume renderings of micro-CT scans from all Chinese species (except for P. longmenense Xu, 2006).…”

“…In the last years, this situation is changing and micro-CT has become a powerful tool to visually enhance and support diagnostic species delimitations, from single species descriptions to revisions. While initially used for polychaetes (Faulwetter et al 2013), myriapods (Stoev et al 2013, Akkari et al 2015), spiders (Michalik and Ramírez 2013), earthworms (Fernández et al 2014), and flatworms (Carbayo and Lenihan 2016, Carbayo et al 2016), micro-CT has evolved into a cutting-edge tool increasingly applied for ant taxonomy (Csősz 2012, Fischer et al 2016, Sarnat et al 2016, Agavekar et al 2017, Hita Garcia et al 2017a, 2017b). A detailed and critical assessment of the technology and its applications for ant taxonomy was provided by Hita Garcia et al (2017b).…”

Japanese Tetramorium queens: identification key and species diagnoses (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

“…Most species are found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Madagascar and Asia (e.g. Bolton 1977 , 1980 ; Hita Garcia and Fisher 2012 ; Agavekar et al 2017 ), though one group, the T. caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758) complex, has developed into more than ten species in northern Eurasia (e.g. Steiner et al 2006 ).…”