Tetramorium caldarium [(Roger, 1857) ]

Taxonomic Treatment:

Espadaler, X., 2007:
(*) (37, w; 41, w). This tramp ant was collected only from two urban sites.
Bolton, B., 1979:
(Figs 28, 42)
Tetrogmus caldarius Roger , 1857: 12. Syntype worker, Germany: Prussia, Ananashause in Rauden' (BMNH) [examined] (previously treated as a synonym of simillimum , see note below). Tetramorium pusillum var. hemisi Wheeler , 1922: 193. Syntype workers, Zaire: Niangara, stomach of frog (Hemisus marmoratum) (H. O. Lang) (MCZ, Cambridge) [examined]. Syn. n. Tetramorium antipodum Wheeler , 1927: 143. Syntype workers, Norfolk I.: 1915 (A. M. Lea) (MCZ, Cambridge) [examined]. Syn. n. Tetramorium minutum Donisthorpe , 1942: 30. Holotype female, Egypt: Siwa, 17. vii. 1935 (J. OmerCooper) (BMNH) [examined]. Syn. n.
Worker. Basically similar to simillimum and agreeing with the description of that species in most particulars, but differing as follows.
1. Frontal carinae less strongly developed. Generally the frontal carinae of caldarium are feeble throughout their length and usually weakly or not sinuate. They are best developed to the level of the midlength of the eye, behind which they become weak or broken, or fade out posteriorly, becoming indistinguishable from the cephalic rugulae in many cases. The low, raised flange or rim, which runs almost the length of the carinae in simillimum , is much weaker in caldarium and only developed to a level about equal to the midlength of the eye, behind which it quickly disappears.
2. Antennal scrobes feeble. In simillimum the antennal scrobes are shallow but are long and broad and distinctly concave, the effect being enhanced by the strong frontal carinae which delimit their dorsal and posterior margins. In caldarium the scrobes are much more weakly developed, very little concave and not bordered posteriorly. Also, the poor development of the frontal carinae makes the scrobes look very nondescript. Compare Figs 41 and 42.
3 . Cephalic ground sculpture weak. In caldarium the strong reticulate-punctulation or granulation seen in simillimum is replaced by a much weaker granular or punctulate ground-sculpture between the rugulae, so that the head appears by no means as matt and rough.
4. Head differently shaped. In simillimum the head in full-face view tends to become broader from front to back, the sides diverging behind the level of the eyes, whereas in caldarium the width of the head does not noticeably increase posteriorly, compare Figs 41 and 42.
These characters in combination will differentiate the two species in the New World. The species will be treated in more detail in the part of this study dealing with the fauna of the Ethiopian region, as both have a number of closely related forms in that zoogeographical region.
Apart from the New World references given below, caldarium is widely distributed in Africa from Egypt to Kenya and occurs sporadically on islands such as the Cape Verde group, Mauritius, Madeira and St Helena. Occasionally it is introduced in Europe as the types from Germany and a series from Kew Gardens, London go to show, but it is hard to assess how often it is introduced or how successful the species is as no doubt many of the past identifications of simillimum in Europe should in fact have been referred to this species. T. caldarium is not known from Australia and seems to be uncommon throughout the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions. Three series are known from India but apart from this the only records of caldarium are the series from Norfolk Island which make up the types of the synonymous antipodum and three workers from New Caledonia.
In part two of this survey (Bolton, 1977: 131) I gave antipodum as a provisional synonym of simillimum as at that time I had not been able to locate any members of the type-series. Since then a number of specimens referable to the type-series of antipodum have been found in the collections of MCZ, Cambridge and these show the species to be a straight synonym of caldarium .
Material examined (New World)
U. S. A.: Florida, St Augustine (W. L. Brown). Mexico: Rio Metlac, Veracruz Canyon (A. Newton); Nogales; Guerrero, Chilpancingo (N. L. H. Krauss). Puerto Rico: Mayaguez (M. R. Smith); Tres Hermanos (M. R. Smith); Coamo Springs (W. M. Wheeler). Haiti: Furcy (W. M. Mann). Dominican Republic: series on logs ex Dominica, intercepted at New York. Colombia: series on orchids ex Colombia, intercepted at New York (S. D. Whittock). Brazil: SP., Paracicaba (C. A. Triplehorn). Peru: Chaclacayo, E. Lima (H. Crozier).

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(*) (37, w; 41, w). This tramp ant was collected only from two urban sites.

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(Figs 28, 42)

Tetrogmus caldarius Roger , 1857: 12. Syntype worker, Germany: Prussia, Ananashause in Rauden' (BMNH) [examined] (previously treated as a synonym of simillimum , see note below). Tetramorium pusillum var. hemisi Wheeler , 1922: 193. Syntype workers, Zaire: Niangara, stomach of frog (Hemisus marmoratum) (H. O. Lang) (MCZ, Cambridge) [examined]. Syn. n. Tetramorium antipodum Wheeler , 1927: 143. Syntype workers, Norfolk I.: 1915 (A. M. Lea) (MCZ, Cambridge) [examined]. Syn. n. Tetramorium minutum Donisthorpe , 1942: 30. Holotype female, Egypt: Siwa, 17. vii. 1935 (J. OmerCooper) (BMNH) [examined]. Syn. n.

Worker. Basically similar to simillimum and agreeing with the description of that species in most particulars, but differing as follows.

1. Frontal carinae less strongly developed. Generally the frontal carinae of caldarium are feeble throughout their length and usually weakly or not sinuate. They are best developed to the level of the midlength of the eye, behind which they become weak or broken, or fade out posteriorly, becoming indistinguishable from the cephalic rugulae in many cases. The low, raised flange or rim, which runs almost the length of the carinae in simillimum , is much weaker in caldarium and only developed to a level about equal to the midlength of the eye, behind which it quickly disappears.

2. Antennal scrobes feeble. In simillimum the antennal scrobes are shallow but are long and broad and distinctly concave, the effect being enhanced by the strong frontal carinae which delimit their dorsal and posterior margins. In caldarium the scrobes are much more weakly developed, very little concave and not bordered posteriorly. Also, the poor development of the frontal carinae makes the scrobes look very nondescript. Compare Figs 41 and 42.

3 . Cephalic ground sculpture weak. In caldarium the strong reticulate-punctulation or granulation seen in simillimum is replaced by a much weaker granular or punctulate ground-sculpture between the rugulae, so that the head appears by no means as matt and rough.

4. Head differently shaped. In simillimum the head in full-face view tends to become broader from front to back, the sides diverging behind the level of the eyes, whereas in caldarium the width of the head does not noticeably increase posteriorly, compare Figs 41 and 42.

These characters in combination will differentiate the two species in the New World. The species will be treated in more detail in the part of this study dealing with the fauna of the Ethiopian region, as both have a number of closely related forms in that zoogeographical region.

Apart from the New World references given below, caldarium is widely distributed in Africa from Egypt to Kenya and occurs sporadically on islands such as the Cape Verde group, Mauritius, Madeira and St Helena. Occasionally it is introduced in Europe as the types from Germany and a series from Kew Gardens, London go to show, but it is hard to assess how often it is introduced or how successful the species is as no doubt many of the past identifications of simillimum in Europe should in fact have been referred to this species. T. caldarium is not known from Australia and seems to be uncommon throughout the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions. Three series are known from India but apart from this the only records of caldarium are the series from Norfolk Island which make up the types of the synonymous antipodum and three workers from New Caledonia.

In part two of this survey (Bolton, 1977: 131) I gave antipodum as a provisional synonym of simillimum as at that time I had not been able to locate any members of the type-series. Since then a number of specimens referable to the type-series of antipodum have been found in the collections of MCZ, Cambridge and these show the species to be a straight synonym of caldarium .

Material examined (New World)

U. S. A.: Florida, St Augustine (W. L. Brown). Mexico: Rio Metlac, Veracruz Canyon (A. Newton); Nogales; Guerrero, Chilpancingo (N. L. H. Krauss). Puerto Rico: Mayaguez (M. R. Smith); Tres Hermanos (M. R. Smith); Coamo Springs (W. M. Wheeler). Haiti: Furcy (W. M. Mann). Dominican Republic: series on logs ex Dominica, intercepted at New York. Colombia: series on orchids ex Colombia, intercepted at New York (S. D. Whittock). Brazil: SP., Paracicaba (C. A. Triplehorn). Peru: Chaclacayo, E. Lima (H. Crozier).

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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Tetramorium caldarium:

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 16
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Rights holder/Author	Sujeevan Ratnasingham, Paul D.N. Hebert, Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)
Source	http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=175181

Tetramorium caldarium (Roger) ^HNSstat. rev.

(Figs 28, 42)

Tetrogmus caldarius Roger ^HNS , 1857: 12. Syntype worker, Germany: Prussia, Ananashause in Rauden' (BMNH) [examined] (previously treated as a synonym of simillimum ^HNS , see note below). Tetramorium pusillum var. hemisi Wheeler ^HNS , 1922: 193. Syntype workers, Zaire: Niangara, stomach of frog (Hemisus marmoratum) (H. O. Lang) (MCZ, Cambridge) [examined]. Syn. n. Tetramorium antipodum Wheeler ^HNS , 1927: 143. Syntype workers, Norfolk I.: 1915 (A. M. Lea) (MCZ, Cambridge) [examined]. Syn. n. Tetramorium minutum Donisthorpe ^HNS , 1942: 30. Holotype female, Egypt: Siwa, 17. vii. 1935 (J. OmerCooper) (BMNH) [examined]. Syn. n.

Note. Roger (1862: 297) synonymized his species Tetrogmus caldarius ^HNS with Tetramorium simillimum ^HNS , the latter being the senior name. His genus Tetrogmus ^HNS rightly disappeared into the synonymy of Tetramorium ^HNS but since then the name of the species which he described has consistently been referred to the synonymy of simillimum ^HNS , where I left it in the second part of this study (Bolton, 1977). Since then the taxonomy of the simillimum-group has been studied in greater detail and it has become apparent that caldarium ^HNS is a valid species, close to simillimum ^HNS but consistently differing from it in the structure of the frontal carinae and in other details. From this finding T. caldarium ^HNS is henceforth removed from the synonymy of simillimum ^HNS and stands as a good species.

Worker. Basically similar to simillimum ^HNS and agreeing with the description of that species in most particulars, but differing as follows.

1. Frontal carinae less strongly developed. Generally the frontal carinae of caldarium ^HNS are feeble throughout their length and usually weakly or not sinuate. They are best developed to the level of the midlength of the eye, behind which they become weak or broken, or fade out posteriorly, becoming indistinguishable from the cephalic rugulae in many cases. The low, raised flange or rim, which runs almost the length of the carinae in simillimum ^HNS , is much weaker in caldarium ^HNS and only developed to a level about equal to the midlength of the eye, behind which it quickly disappears.

2. Antennal scrobes feeble. In simillimum ^HNS the antennal scrobes are shallow but are long and broad and distinctly concave, the effect being enhanced by the strong frontal carinae which delimit their dorsal and posterior margins. In caldarium ^HNS the scrobes are much more weakly developed, very little concave and not bordered posteriorly. Also, the poor development of the frontal carinae makes the scrobes look very nondescript. Compare Figs 41 and 42.

3 . Cephalic ground sculpture weak. In caldarium ^HNS the strong reticulate-punctulation or granulation seen in simillimum ^HNS is replaced by a much weaker granular or punctulate ground-sculpture between the rugulae, so that the head appears by no means as matt and rough.

4. Head differently shaped. In simillimum ^HNS the head in full-face view tends to become broader from front to back, the sides diverging behind the level of the eyes, whereas in caldarium ^HNS the width of the head does not noticeably increase posteriorly, compare Figs 41 and 42.

Apart from the New World references given below, caldarium ^HNS is widely distributed in Africa from Egypt to Kenya and occurs sporadically on islands such as the Cape Verde group, Mauritius, Madeira and St Helena. Occasionally it is introduced in Europe as the types from Germany and a series from Kew Gardens, London go to show, but it is hard to assess how often it is introduced or how successful the species is as no doubt many of the past identifications of simillimum ^HNS in Europe should in fact have been referred to this species. T. caldarium ^HNS is not known from Australia and seems to be uncommon throughout the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions. Three series are known from India but apart from this the only records of caldarium ^HNS are the series from Norfolk Island which make up the types of the synonymous antipodum ^HNS and three workers from New Caledonia.

In part two of this survey (Bolton, 1977: 131) I gave antipodum ^HNS as a provisional synonym of simillimum ^HNS as at that time I had not been able to locate any members of the type-series. Since then a number of specimens referable to the type-series of antipodum ^HNS have been found in the collections of MCZ, Cambridge and these show the species to be a straight synonym of caldarium ^HNS .

Material examined (New World)

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14. Tetramorium caldarium (Roger) ^HNS

(*) (37, w; 41, w). This tramp ant was collected only from two urban sites.

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/0B32F5F1C74A2A9A21CC5E8D45C4D32F

Tetramorium caldarium is a small reddish ant. This species has a monomorphic worker caste with 12-segmented antennae, three-segmented antennal club, antennal scrobes, short antennal scapes that do not surpass the posterior margin of the head, a gradually sloped mesosoma, and small propodeal spines. Like all myrmicines, T. caldarium has two waist segments and a gaster armed with a stinger. Tetramorium caldarium is believed to be native to Africa and is now widely distributed across the Pacific and other tropical regions. The effect this species has on native biodiversity is not well known.

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Rights holder/Author	Eli Sarnat, Antkey
Source	http://antkey.org/content/tetramorium-caldarium-1

Diagnosis of worker among Antkey species. Worker caste monomorphic. Head shape roughly subrectangular. Antenna 12-segmented. Antennal club 3-segmented. Antennal scapes not conspicuously short; easily extended beyond eye level; do not extend beyond posterior margin of head. Antennal scrobe present but weakly impressed with the frontal carinae usually becoming indistinct at its posterior apex. Antennal insertion surrounded by a raised sharp-edged ridge. Posterior margin of head weakly concave medially. Posterolateral corners of head unarmed, without spines. Eyes medium to large (greater than 5 facets); distinctly less than half length."" class=""lexicon-term"">head length. Frontal lobes do not obscure face outline between mandible and eye; relatively far apart so that the posteromedian portion of the clypeus, where it projects between the frontal lobes, is much broader than one of the lobes. Anterior margin of clypeus lacking median notch. Mandibles triangular. Cephalic dorsum with short lateral rugae intersecting longer longitudinal rugae. Mesosoma with erect hairs. Pronotal spines absent. Propodeum armed with small but distinct triangular spines. Slope of mesosoma gradual. Waist 2-segmented. Petiole with a square-shaped node; pedunculate; lacking large "" class=""lexicon-term"">subpetiolar process postpetiole attached to lower surface of gaster. Postpetiole not swollen; in dorsal view not distinctly broader than long or distinctly wider than petiole. Erect hairs sparsely distributed; short and thick. Specimen vary between uniformly yellowish brown to yellowish brown with a distinctly darker brown to black gaster.

Tetramorium caldarium, together with T. simillimum, look very much like Wasmannia auropunctata in general size and shape. The Tetramorium species can be separated on closer examination by the 3-segmented (versus 2-segmented) antennal club, the much shorter propodeal teeth, and the difference in petiole shape. All Tetramorium can be separated from other genera with introduced or commonly intercepted species by the raised sharp-edged ridge surrounding the antennal insertions.

Tetramorium caldarium is distinguished from its fellow congeners that are introduced in the United States by the following combination of characters: (1) petiolar node square-shaped (versus evenly rounded for T. lanuginosum and T. tonganum; versus wave-shaped for T. insolens and T. pacificum); (2) erect hairs sparse, short and thick (versus moderately to very abundant, long and thin for T. bicarinatum, T. nr. caespitum, T. caldarium, T. lanuginosum, T. simillimum and T. tsushimae; versus wave-shaped for T. insolens and T. pacificum); (3) cephalic dorsum with short lateral rugae intersecting longer longitudinal rugae (versus primarily subparallel, non-intersecting longitudinal rugae for T. nr. caespitum and T. tsushimae); and (4) propodeum armed with small triangular teeth (versus long and robust spines in T. bicarinatum, T. insolens and T. pacificum). It is very difficult to separate T. caldarium from T. simillimum. The antennal scrobe of T. caldarium is more weakly impressed than that of T. simillimum, and the frontal carina becomes indistinct at its posterior apex. It also appears that T. caldarium may have a more narrow petiolar peduncle and node in profile, and a more convex posterior head margin, but these characters require additional analysis.

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Source	http://antkey.org/content/tetramorium-caldarium-1

Tetramorium simillimum, Wasmannia auropunctata

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Rights holder/Author	Eli Sarnat, Antkey
Source	http://antkey.org/node/32690

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Rights holder/Author	Eli Sarnat, Antkey
Source	http://antkey.org/node/32690

Antkey

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Tetramorium caldarium (Roger, 1857)

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