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Hylaeus signatus male emerging from roost (Photo : Nigel Jones)

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2024-08-12-09.42.51 ZS retouched Mecanusa Mdi7.jpg

Image
Credits
P Attewell
Caption
Temnothorax interruptus worker showing the darkened antennal club, and the elongated, incurved spines
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0
Taxonomic hierarchy
Temnothorax interruptus
  • Read more about 2024-08-12-09.42.51 ZS retouched Mecanusa Mdi7.jpg

Tetramorium alpestre Steiner et al., 2010, a newly recognised ant species, has been added to the website.

Submitted by Mike Fox on Thu, 07/03/2025 - 14:22

Tetramorium alpestre Steiner et al., 2010, a newly recognised ant species, has been added to the website. A map will follow.

https://bwars.com/node/8101

  • Read more about Tetramorium alpestre Steiner et al., 2010, a newly recognised ant species, has been added to the website.
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IMG_5919 copy.jpeg

Image
Credits
A P Jarman
Caption
Tetramorium alpestre habitat
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0
Taxonomic hierarchy
Tetramorium alpestre
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IMG_5853 copy.jpeg

Image
Credits
A P Jarman
Caption
Tetramorium alpestre habitat
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0
Taxonomic hierarchy
Tetramorium alpestre
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IMG_5811 copy.jpeg

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Credits
A P Jarman
Caption
Tetramorium alpestre nest with brood
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0
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Tetramorium alpestre
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Tetramorium alpestre 2 copy.jpeg

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Credits
A P Jarman
Caption
Tetramorium alpestre nest with alates
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0
Taxonomic hierarchy
Tetramorium alpestre
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Tetramorium alpestre 1 copy.jpg

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Credits
A P Jarman
Caption
Tetramorium alpestre worker
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0
Taxonomic hierarchy
Tetramorium alpestre
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Tetramorium alpestre

Authority
Steiner et al., 2010

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.

Taxonomic hierarchy
Tetramorium alpestre
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.

Author of profile

A P Jarman

Year profile last updated

2025

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Gonatopus_species.jpg

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Gonatopus species
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Gonatopus striatus
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East Suffolk - Hylaeus communis male & female. by Alan Cornish.jpg

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Credits
Alan Cornish
Caption
Hylaeus communis male & female in East Suffolk
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Hylaeus communis
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