Key to Arabian Technomyrmex

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This worker key is based on: Sharaf, M. R., Al Dhafer, H. M. and A. S. Aldawood. 2018. Review of the ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr, 1872 in the Arabian Peninsula (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 780: 35–59. doi:10.3897/zookeys.780.26272

They note: We include T. vexatus in the key of the Arabian Technomyrmex as it is the only other West Palaearctic species of its group and may well be discovered in other areas, beside Morocco and Gibraltar where it now is known.

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1

Sharaf et al. 2019. Figure 1.
Sharaf et al. 2019. Figure 2.
  • Head in profile with the dorsal surface of the frontal carina entirely without setae (Fig. 1a); mesosoma without setae (Fig. 1b); gibbosus-group . . . . . 2
  • Head in profile with the dorsal surface of the frontal carina with setae present (Fig. 1c); at least one seta present, or more usually with a row of 2–4; mesosoma with setae (Fig. 1d); albipes-group . . . . . 3

2

return to couplet #1

  • Larger relatively shining brown species (TL 3.0–3.4, HL 0.72–0.78, HW 0.68–0.76, PW 0.44–0.48, WL 0.90–0.96); dorsal outline of mesonotum distinctly convex in profile, with a descending face sloping abruptly back to a deep metanotal groove (Fig. 1e); propodeal dorsum approx. half length of propodeal declivity (Fig. 1e) (Spain, Morocco, and Yemen) . . . . . Technomyrmex vexatus
Technomyrmex vexatus casent0249804 h 1 high.jpg
Technomyrmex vexatus casent0249804 p 1 high.jpg
  • Smaller dull yellow species (TL 2.2–2.9, HL 0.60–0.62, HW 0.57–0.60, PW 0.37–0.38, WL 0.65–0.80); dorsal outline of mesonotum feebly convex in profile, with a descending face sloping evenly back to a shallow metanotal groove (Fig. 1f ); propodeal dorsum approximately one-third length of propodeal declivity (Fig. 1f ) (Oman) . . . . . Technomyrmex montaseri
Technomyrmex-montaseri-Fig3hef.jpg
Technomyrmex-montaseri-Fig3hal.jpg

3

return to couplet #1

  • First gastral tergite usually without setae or rarely with one pair (Fig. 2a) (Saudi Arabia) . . . . . Technomyrmex briani
Technomyrmex briani casent0906400 h 1 high.jpg
Technomyrmex briani casent0906400 p 1 high.jpg
  • First gastral tergite usually with at least seven pairs of setae (Fig. 2b) . . . . . 4

4

return to couplet #3

  • Bicolored species, head and gaster brown, mesosoma yellow-brown lighter than head and gaster; setae on first gastral tergite longer with maximum length 0.18 mm (KSA, Oman, Yemen) ) . . . . . Technomyrmex setosus
Technomyrmex setosus casent0906357 h 1 high.jpg
Technomyrmex setosus casent0906357 p 1 high.jpg


  • Uniform black-brown to black species; setae on first gastral tergite distinctly shorter with maximum length less than 0.10 mm . . . . . 5

5

return to couplet #4

  • Cephalic dorsum behind level of posterior margin of eyes without setae (Fig. 2c); eyes in full-face view fail to break sides of head (Fig. 2d); promesonotum relatively short (DTI 110–124) (Introduced species T. albipes (F. Smith) . . . . . Technomyrmex albipes
Technomyrmex albipes casent0055965 head 1.jpg
Technomyrmex albipes casent0055965 profile 1.jpg
  • Cephalic dorsum behind level of posterior margin of eyes with one or more pairs of setae (Fig. 2e); eyes in full-face view break sides of head (Fig. 2f ); promesonotum relatively longer and slender (DTI 127–135) (Introduced species) . . . . . Technomyrmex difficilis
Technomyrmex difficilis casent0003318 head 1.jpg
Technomyrmex difficilis casent0003318 profile 1.jpg