Key to Afrotropical Temnothorax workers

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online

This key to the workers of Afrotropical Temnothorax is based on Prebus (2015)[1].

1

  • Compound eyes large: OI > 30. Head elongate CI < 85 => 2

2

  • In full-face view antennal scapes short, distinctly failing to reach posterior margin of head (Fig. 2a); SI < 80. In dorsal view postpetiole trapezoidal, widestvat the anterior 1/4 of the segment (Fig. 2c) => 3
  • In full face view antennal scapes long, surpassing posterior margin of head by at least the length of the first funicular segment (Fig. 2b); SI > 80. In dorsal view, postpetiole widest at the anterior 1/3 of the segment (Fig. 2d) => 4

3

  • Metanotal groove present (Fig. 3a); posterior margin of head shallowly but distinctly impressed (Fig. 3c) => Temnothorax megalops
  • Metanotal groove absent (Fig. 3b), barely visible as an indistinct break in the sculpture dorsally in some specimens; posterior margin of head flat (Fig. 3d) => Temnothorax mpala
Lacment323183 p 1 high.jpg

4

Casent0712603 p 1 high.jpg
  • Propodeal spines moderately long and acute: PSLI > 23 (Fig. 4b) => 5

5

  • Antennal scapes long; surpassing the posterior margin of the head by the length of the first two funicular segments when fully retracted: SI 94–97 (Fig. 4c) => Temnothorax rufus
Casent0712675 p 1 high.jpg
  • Antennal scapes shorter; surpassing the posterior margin of the head by the length of the first funicular segment when fully retracted: SI 84 (Fig. 4d) => Temnothorax cenatus
Temnothorax cenatus P casent0900308.jpg

References

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