Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium squaminode species group

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

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1

  • With the head in full-face view the eyes situated behind the midlength of the sides. Frontal carinae strongly divergent posteriorly, running in a nearly straight line to the occipital corners. Clypeus more or less flat, regularly sculptured. CI 97- 104 . . . . . 2 (repentinum) species complex
  • With the head in full-face view the eyes situated at or slightly in front of the midlength of the sides (Figs 35, 36). Frontal carinae distinctly sinuate. Clypeus convex, often irregularly sculptured. CI usually 86-95, rarely approaching 97 . . . . . 3 (squaminode) species complex

2

return to couplet #1

Tetramorium sitefrum casent0901119 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium sitefrum casent0901119 d 1 high.jpg
[[|thumb|220px|Tetramorium repentinum]] [[|thumb|255px]] [[|thumb|255px]]

3

return to couplet #1

Tetramorium repentinum casent0901118 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium repentinum casent0901118 d 1 high.jpg
  • Promesonotal dorsum sculptured. First gastral tergite with hairs . . . . . 4

4

return to couplet #3

  • First gastral tergite with short but conspicuous basigastral costulae. Dorsum of head reticulate-rugose from posterior clypeal margin to occipital margin..... Tetramorium umtaliense
Tetramorium umtaliense casent0249004 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium umtaliense casent0249004 d 1 high.jpg
  • First gastral tergite smooth, without basigastral costulae. Dorsum of head predominantly or entirely longitudinally rugulose; rugoreticulum when present is confined to the area close to the occipital margin. . . . . 5

5

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  • Hairs on first gastral tergite dense, long and very fine, acutely pointed apically ..... Tetramorium akermani
Tetramorium akermani P casent0100792.jpg
Tetramorium akermani D casent0100792.jpg
  • Hairs on first gastral tergite short and stout, generally sparse and most or all of them blunt or truncated apically. . . . . 6

6

return to couplet #5

Tetramorium squaminode casent0100789 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium squaminode casent0100789 d 1 high.jpg
  • Dorsal transverse crest of petiole scale blunt or narrowly rounded, not at all knife-edged . . . . . 7

7

return to couplet #6

  • Postpetiole strongly antero-posteriorly compressed, almost as strongly squamate as petiole. In dorsal view the surface of the postpetiole narrow from front to back and very broad..... Tetramorium do
MCZ-ENT00512610 Tetramorium do hal 5.jpg
MCZ-ENT00512610 Tetramorium do had 5.jpg
  • Postpetiole not or only slightly antero-posteriorly compressed, by no means as squamate as the petiole. In dorsal view the surface of the postpetiole broadly rounded from front to back . . . . . 8

8

return to couplet #7

  • Mandibles closely and coarsely longitudinally striate . . . . . 9
  • Mandibles smooth or at most with only vestigial sculpture . . . . . 11

9

return to couplet #8

  • Postpetiole weakly sculptured dorsally, more strongly so on the sides. Postpetiole very broad, its maximum width 0.45 in dorsal view, about 0.76 x PW..... Tetramorium platynode
Tetramorium platynode casent0901117 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium platynode casent0901117 d 1 high.jpg
  • Postpetiole unsculptured and much narrower, its maximum width about 0·36 in dorsal view, approximately 0.66-0.68 x PW . . . . . 10

10

return to couplet #1

  • Dorsum of head between eyes and posterior extension of frontal carinae longitudinally rugulose. Larger species, TL 3.2 or more..... Tetramorium nube
Tetramorium nube casent0901120 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium nube casent0901120 d 1 high.jpg
  • Dorsum of head between eyes and posterior extension of frontal carinae finely reticulate. Smaller species, TL 2.5..... Tetramorium dogieli

11

return to couplet #8

  • Eyes relatively small, maximum diameter 0..22- 0.24 x HW. Dorsum of head with sharply defined dense longitudinal rugulae ..... Tetramorium frigidum
Tetramorium frigidum casent0100801 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium frigidum casent0100801 d 1 high.jpg
  • Eyes relatively larger, maximum diameter 0.26-0.29 x HW. Dorsum of head with poorly defined scattered, irregular longitudinal rugulae . . . . . 12

12

return to couplet #11

  • Frontal carinae closer together, their distance apart at level of midlength of eye 0.55-0.60 x HW. Node of postpetiole in profile low, broadly rounded and quite evenly convex. Uniform clear pale yellow species ..... Tetramorium jejunum
Tetramorium jejunum casent0901123 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium jejunum casent0901123 d 1 high.jpg
  • Frontal carinae wider apart, their distance apart at level of midlength of eye 0.64-0.70 x HW. Node of postpetiole somewhat compressed from front to back, in profile relatively high and narrowly rounded. Gaster dark brown to black, contrasting with yellow head and alitrunk..... Tetramorium flaviceps
Tetramorium flaviceps casent0901128 p 1 high.jpg
Tetramorium flaviceps casent0901128 d 1 high.jpg

References

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