Key to Temnothorax andrei species group workers

This worker key is based on: Mackay, W. P. 2000. A review of the New World ants of the subgenus Myrafant, (genus Leptothorax) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology. 36:265-444.

Some of the members of the tricarinatus-complex may be confused with members of the andrei-complex (T. bestelmeyeri, T. brevispinosus, T. furunculus, T. mexicanus, T. neomexicanus, and T. punctithorax) and are included in the key.

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• Key to New World Temnothorax species groups

l

• Dorsum of head nearly completely smooth and shining, if sculpture is present, it is usually fine . . . . . 2

• Dorsum of head nearly completely sculptured, sculpture usually consisting of punctures, if striate present, surface usually dull, central region may be smooth and shining . . . . . 6

2

return to couplet #1

• Dorsum of pronotum mostly smooth and shining . . . . . 3

• Dorsum of pronotum with rugae or striate or punctae . . . . . 4

3

return to couplet #2

• Propodeal armature of worker represented only as bumps; propodeal spines of female with blunt tips; node of petiole of male low and weakly concave posteriorly . . . . . Temnothorax brevispinosus*

• Propodeal armature of worker poorly developed angles; propodeal spines of female with acute tips; node of petiole of male higher and somewhat concave posteriorly . . . . . Temnothorax mexicanus *

4

return to couplet #2

• Side of pronotum punctate, and only weakly shining . . . . . Temnothorax punctithorax *

• Side of pronotum partly smooth and strongly shining . . . . . 5

5

return to couplet #4

• Mesopleuron with rugae . . . . . Temnothorax manni

• Mesopleuron predominantly punctate . . . . . Temnothorax bristoli

6

return to couplet #1

• Dark brown in color . . . . . Temnothorax neomexicanus *

• Pale brown or yellow . . . . . 7

7

return to couplet #6

• Eyes large (Fig. 88), maximum diameter much greater than distance between anterior border of eye and insertion of mandibles . . . . . Temnothorax bestelmeyeri *

• Eyes relatively small, maximum diameter less than (or equal to) distance to insertions of mandible . . . . . 8

8

return to couplet #7

• Entire dorsum of head covered with dense punctures, entire surface dull . . . . . Temnothorax terrigena

• Dorsum of head with fine striae, weakly shining . . . . . 9

9

return to couplet #8

• Clypeus with 4 to 6 well differentiated carinae on each side of medial carina, with the medial carina being most developed; known only from Colorado and Wyoming . . . . . Temnothorax furunculus *

• Clypeus with many poorly defined carinae, impossible to count, medial carina not more developed than others; widely distributed in southwestern USA and northern Mexico; not reported from Colorado . . . . . Temnothorax andrei

+ member of andersoni species complex