Key to Afrotropical Syllophopsis hildebrandti group species

This worker key is based on: *Sharaf, M.R. & Aldawood, A.S. 2013. First occurrence of the Monomorium hildebrandti-Group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the Arabian Peninsula, with Description of a new species M. kondratieffi n. sp. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 115(1):75-84. doi:10.4289/0013-8797.115.1.75

Key to the Afrotropical species of the Syllophopsis hildebrandti-group including the Egyptian endemic species S. dentatum (modified after Bolton 1987, and Heterick 2006).

1

Metanotal groove in profile a weak simple indentation of the surface; propodeum in absolute profile with the dorsum and declivity meeting in a rounded or sharp angle, but without small teeth or projecting denticles at their junction . . . . . 2

Metanotal groove in profile a sharply impressed U- or V-shaped depression; propodeum in absolute profile with the dorsum and declivity meeting in a sharp angle which is usually equipped with a minute but conspicuous projecting denticle . . . . . 3

2

return to couplet #1

Larger species, TL 1.7–2.0; ML 0.44–0.52; HW 0.36–0.42; propodeal angle indistinct, so that there is no clear separation of the dorsum and declivity (Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa, Madagascar) . . . . . Syllophopsis modesta

Smaller species, TL 1.46–1.49; ML 0.42–0.44; HW 0.32–0.35; propodeal angle in absolute profile view rounded but very distinctly separating dorsum and declivity (Saudi Arabia) . . . . . Syllophopsis kondratieffi

3

return to couplet #1

Brown to blackish brown species . . . . . 4

Yellow species . . . . . 5

4

return to couplet #3

Lower half of mesopleuron sculptured; propodeum in dorsal view with a short transverse crest behind the metanotal groove, this crest appearing as a narrow acute peak in profile at the summit of the propodeum immediately behind the metanotal groove (Ivory Coast, Togo) . . . . . Syllophopsis malamixta

Lower half of mesopleuron smooth; propodeum in dorsal view without a transverse crest behind the metanotal groove, in profile the propodeal dorsum raised and narrowly rounded immediately behind the metanotal groove but this raised portion not surmounted by an acute peak (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroun, Gabon, Zaire, Madagascar) . . . . . Syllophopsis cryptobia (in part - also #7)

5

return to couplet #3

Lower half of mesopleuron sculptured . . . . . 6

Lower half of mesopleuron smooth . . . . . 7

6

return to couplet #5

Larger species, TL 2.0–2.2mm; HL 0.47– 0.52; HW 0.38–0.44; SL 0.36–0.42; metanotal groove a sharply defined V-shaped (Rwanda) . . . . . Syllophopsis sersalata

Smaller species, TL 1.63mm or less; HL 0.39–0.43; HW 0.33–0.36; SL 0.34–0.35; metanotal groove distinctly U-shaped (Egypt) . . . . . Syllophopsis dentata

7

return to couplet #5

Smaller species, HL 0.36–0.43, HW 0.28– 0.34, SL 0.26–0.31 (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroun, Gabon, Zaire, Madagascar) . . . . . Syllophopsis cryptobia (in part - also #4)

Larger species, HL 0.46–0.55, HW 0.38–0.43, SL 0.36–0.44 . . . . . 8

8

return to couplet #7

Antennal scapes relatively short, SI 91–95 (Kenya) . . . . . Syllophopsis elgonensis

Antennal scapes relatively long, SI 103–110 . . . . . 9

9

return to couplet #8

Pubescence of scapes and of sides of head behind eyes dense and erect to suberect; head relatively broad CI 80 or more; eye’s maximum diameter 0.07x HW; ML 0.56–0.60; HL 0.46–0.50 (Ivory Coast) . . . . . Syllophopsis thrascolepta

Pubescence of scapes and of sides of head behind eyes sparse and short, appressed; head relatively narrow CI 75 or less; eye’s maximum diameter 0.05x HW; ML 0.60–0.64; HL 0.54–0.55 (South Africa) . . . . . Syllophopsis arnoldi