ДИСКУССИЯ

Как уже было выше замечено, от двух известных видов новый Tetramorium tabarum может быть легко опознан по нескольким признакам. It differs significantly from Tetramorium capillosum in eye size (OI 27 - 31 vs. OI 24 - 25), propodeal spine length (PSLI 22 - 25 vs. PSLI 31 - 43), and sculpture on mandibles and postpetiole, which is present and conspicuous in Tetramorium capillosum while absent in Tetramorium tabarum. The latter is also much smaller (WL 0.75 - 0.82) and bicoloured with a dark brown to black gaster contrasting with the remaining yellowish to orange body, which contrasts with the larger size (WL 1.02 - 1.19) and the uniformly very dark brown to black colouration of Tetramorium capillosum. Despite being often also bicoloured and within the same morphometric range, Tetramorium hecate is unlikely to be confused with Tetramorium tabarum. The antennal scapes are significantly longer in Tetramorium tabarum (SI 84 - 86) than in Tetramorium hecate (SI 73 - 77). More importantly, the petiolar node of Tetramorium tabarum has relatively rounded anterodorsal and posterodorsal margins with the posterodorsal margin situated higher than the anterodorsal, and the dorsum is convex, whereas in Tetramorium hecate the anterodorsal and posterodorsal margins are sharply defined and at about the same height. The varying development of the antennal scrobes is another difference. Tetramorium hecate possesses very well-developed scrobes with margins all around while the scrobes of Tetramorium tabarum are shallow without clear posterior and ventral margins.