Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium bicarinatum species group

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online

This worker key is based on Bolton (1980)[1]

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1

Tetramorium bicarinatum casent0005826 profile 1.jpg
Tetramorium bicarinatum casent0005826 dorsal 1.jpg
  • Mandibles smooth with scattered pits, not at all longitudinally striate or rugulose . . . . . 2

2

return to couplet #1

  • Head and mesosoma light yellow to bright orange in colour . . . . . 3
  • Head and mesosoma dull brown to black in colour . . . . . 6

3

return to couplet #2

  • Uniformly coloured species with head, mesosoma and gaster the same, or the gaster slightly lighter in shade than the head and mesosoma . . . . . 4
  • Bicoloured species with head and mesosoma yellow to orange but the gaster much darker, very dark brown to black . . . . . 5

4

return to couplet #3

  • Basigastral costulae feeble, not sharply defined. Head relatively narrower, CI 78-81. Small species with HW 0.56-0.70 (usually < 0.65). PW 0.50 or less ..... Tetramorium phasias
MCZ-ENT00512625 Tetramorium phasias hal 5.jpg
MCZ-ENT00512625 Tetramorium phasias had 5.jpg
  • Basigastral costulae distinct, sharply defined. Head relatively broader, CI 83-87. Larger species with HW 0.70-0.98 (usually > 0.80). PW 0.55 or more ..... Tetramorium notiale
Tetramorium notiale casent0066862 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium notiale casent0066862 d 1 high.jpg

5

return to couplet #3

Tetramorium cristatum casent0217222 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium cristatum casent0217222 d 1 high.jpg

Dorsum of postpetiole smooth or at most with 1-3 faint longitudinal rugulae..... Tetramorium peutli

Tetramorium peutli casent0280908 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium peutli casent0280908 d 1 high.jpg

6

return to couplet #2

  • Postpetiole smooth and shining or at most with faint superficial markings on disk, never reticulate-rugose or coarsely punctulate ..... Tetramorium pullulum
Tetramorium pullulum casent0178338 profile 1.jpg
Tetramorium pullulum casent0178338 dorsal 1.jpg
  • Postpctiole reticulate-rugose, coarsely reticulate-punctate, or both . . . . . 7

7

return to couplet #6

  • Propodeum armed with a pair of minute triangular teeth, much shorter than the metapleural lobes ..... Tetramorium emeryi
Tetramorium emeryi casent0280907 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium emeryi casent0280907 d 1 high.jpg
  • Propodeum armed with a pair of spines which are much longer than the metapleural lobes . . . . . 8

8

return to couplet #7

  • Dorsal alitrunk with a strongly raised unbroken sharp transverse crest at the junction of the pronotum and mesonotum. Large species. HW > 0.85 ..... Tetramorium gazense
Tetramorium gazense casent0217075 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium gazense casent0217075 d 1 high.jpg
  • Dorsal alitrunk either without such a crest or with a feeble, broken and meandering transverse ridge. If the latter then smaller species with HW < 0.70 . . . . . 9

9

return to couplet #8

  • Petiole in profile with the posterodorsal angle projecting and overhanging the posterior face, the node in dorsal view longer than broad. Smaller species with relatively long scapes HW < 0.70, SI > 80 ..... Tetramorium amentete
Tetramorium amentete casent0217221 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium amentete casent0217221 d 1 high.jpg
  • Petiole in profile with the posterodorsal angle not projecting, not overhanging the posterior face; the node in dorsal view broader than long. Larger species with relatively short scape HW > 0.80. SI < 80..... Tetramorium erectum
Tetramorium erectum casent0100793 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium erectum casent0100793 d 1 high.jpg

References

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