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A P Jarman
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Tetramorium alpestre habitat
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A P Jarman
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Tetramorium alpestre nest with brood
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A P Jarman
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Tetramorium alpestre nest with alates
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A P Jarman
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Tetramorium alpestre worker
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Tetramorium alpestre
Very similar to T. caespitum in appearance and in many aspects of biology (q.v.). Forms dense populations of populous colonies very locally in favoured localities. Likely to be locally dominant and important ecologically, but it is quite unobtrusive and easily overlooked (in contrast to T. caespitum). British records only recognised as being distinct from T. caespitum in 2025. Previously T. alpestre was mainly known as a high mountain species in Central Europe (‘alpestre’ being Latin for ‘alpine’).
References
Distribution
Map will be here once available
Currently known from coastal south-east Scotland north to Montrose (Berwickshire, East Lothian, Midlothian, Fife, and Kincardineshire). A few historical records of T. caespitum from the west coast of Scotland might be attributable to this species. It remains to be seen whether other records of T. caespitum from the UK west coast refer to this species.
Status (in Britain only)
This species has as yet no conservation status.
Habitat
Largely coastal, but very strongly associated with base-rich, south-facing volcanic outcrops of various sorts. Usually with short-grazed grass (exposure to sun is important) that includes herbs such as common thyme, wood sage, common rockrose.
Identification
Workers cannot be separated visually from those of T. caespitum. Currently, identification should be based on examination of males, which show definitive differences in genital capsule morphology. Keys and images/diagrams for separating T. alpestre, caespitum and impurum in the UK are given in Jarman and Seifert (2025) and Jarman (2025).
Flight period
Winged males and females (alates) have been observed in nests from late June to mid-September.
Foraging behaviour
For food sources, probably relies strongly on tending root aphids and collecting/storing seeds. For such populous and dominant ants, relatively few workers are usually seen foraging above ground, with much foraging appearing to take place in tunnels just below the soil surface. This makes the species less noticeable than T. caespitum.
Nesting biology
Peaty to sandy soil associated with base-rich south-facing volcanic outcrops. If stones are available, they are often a favoured site. Queens rarely visible in colonies (a feature shared with T. caespitum), but is reported in continental Europe to be polygynous, unlike T. caespitum.
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Parasites
In continental Europe, T. alpestre is host for the workerless social parasitic ant, Tetramorium atratulum, and the degenerate slave-maker, Strongylognathus testaceus. Whilst both these species are hosted by T. caespitum populations in southern Britain, it seems unlikely (but remains possible) that the Scottish populations of T. alpestre are extensive enough to support them.
Year profile last updated
2025
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Gonatopus species
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East Suffolk - Hylaeus communis male & female. by Alan Cornish.jpg
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Alan Cornish
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Hylaeus communis male & female in East Suffolk
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East Suffolk - Hylaeus communis by Alan Cornish.jpg
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Alan Cornish
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Hylaeus communis in East Suffolk
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Temnothorax unifasciatus on Gueurnsey by Andy Marquis.jpg
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Andy Marquis
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Temnothorax unifasciatus on Gueurnsey
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Short-haired Bumblebees: Challenges & Lessons - online
Dr Jane Sears (RSPB)
Delve into a partnership project to restore the nationally extinct Short-haired Bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus) to the UK and to improve the diversity and abundance of rare bumblebees in South-east England. It will explore the challenges of restoring an extinct species to its native range and the various approaches that were trialled over a 12-year period from 2008-2020. Along the way, there were some surprising results and many lessons were learnt.
Display Date
Wed 30 Apr 2025
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