The Ants of Africa Genus Tetramorium species-groups - Part 5
Tetramorium Introduction

DIV3 QD2
Species groups
Part 5 - former Tetramorium (Tetramorium)
species with short antennal scapes, larger eyes and nodiform petioles

12-segmented antennae (Tetramorium)
Scape index < 100 (scape shorter than head width; usually does not reach occiput)
TD4 Eyes larger > 0.20 X HW, wider than maximum width of scape
Petiole not squamiform
SUB1 Lamellate appendage of sting spatulate or linear Otherwise next sub-division
grassii-group	-
Complex-1	Smooth mandibles; propodeal spines short; petiole node narrowed so no distinct dorsum
63	Propodeal node rounded in profile; pronotal dorsum mostly smooth; TL 3.6 mm; brownish rusty-red, head and gaster darker	Tetramorium titus	South Africa
63	Propodeal node sharp-edged in profile; pronotal dorsum rugulose; TL 3.7-4.3 mm; uniform dark brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium vexator	South Africa
Complex-2	Striate mandibles; propodeal spines relatively long; petiole node not narrowed dorsally
128	Erect hairs on dorsum of body plumose; TL 3.6-3.8 mm; uniform brown, appendages lighter	Tetramorium plumosum	Swaziland
130	Erect hairs on dorsum of body fine and acute apically; TL 3.0-4.1 mm; uniform brown, variable	.	.
.		Tetramorium grassii	southern Africa
130	Erect hairs on dorsum of body coarse, stout and blunt; TL 3.0-3.6 mm; uniform yellowish brown	Tetramorium regulare	South Africa

SUB2 Lamellate appendage of sting dentiform, triangular or pennant-shaped
SUB3 Frontal carinae short, ending ahead of posterior margin of eyes Otherwise sub-section
Propodeum with a pair of small teeth or denticles Otherwise next species group
ungrouped - former Atopula)	-
61	Elongated head, with short scapes; propodeum with transverse rugulae; TL 4.4-4.6 mm	Tetramorium nodiferum	Ghana
Anterior clypeal margin with median deep broad indentation or ventral head with ammochaete hairs or both; all but one with ammochaete hairs; all relatively large, TL > 3.7 mm Otherwise next species group
solidum-group	-
peringueyi-complex	With coat of abundant short erect hairs all over body and legs
94	Without ammochaete hairs; antennal scapes without erect hairs; TL 3.7-3.9 mm; brown but alitrunk more orange	.	.
.		Tetramorium dichroum	South Africa
94	Antennal scapes with erect hairs as on hind tibiae; TL 4.4-5.7 mm; orange-red to deep red	Tetramorium peringueyi	Botswana
setuliferum-complex	No erect hairs on dorsal surfaces of body but bizarre appressed pilosity
31	With dense long strap-like silvery hairs, overlapping on vertex and alitrunk; TL 5.1-6.0 mm; uniform red	Tetramorium galoasanum	Congo
-	Appressed hairs sparse and spaced out, not strap-like or overlapping
32	In profile gaster with anterior lower corner of first gastral tergite developed so as to overhang sternite; TL 4.4-6.0 mm; uniform dull red	.	.
.		Tetramorium setuliferum	East and southern Africa
32	Without lobe on first gastral tergite; silvery hairs quite sparse; TL 3.9-4.6 mm; dull blackish brown to black; appendages reddish-brown	Tetramorium clunum	South Africa
solidum-complex	No erect hairs on body (a few on the alitrunk in one species), well developed psammophore, finer sculpturation
115	With a few hairs on dorsal alitrunk; TL 4.1-5.1 mm; dark brown or blackish-brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium solidum	South Africa
-	No erect hairs on dorsum of alitrunk, pedicel or gaster
28	Without propodeal spines; TL 5.3-5.8 mm; black or blackish-brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium jordani	southern Africa
-	Propodeum with spines
33	Distinctive distorted pedicel segments; TL 5.0-5.3 mm; deep reddish-brown to blackish-brown	Tetramorium grandinode	South Africa
-	Petiole and postpetiole normal for group
-	Colour orange-red to darker red
35	Propodeal spines very short, broad triangles; TL 5.0-5.7 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium glabratum	southern Africa
35	Propodeal spines long, much longer than basal width; TL 4.0-5.1 mm	Tetramorium rufescens	Namibia
-	Colour brown or darker
36	Anterior clypeal margin with broad concave median emargination; TL 4.4-5.3 mm	Tetramorium signatum	southern Africa
37	Anterior clypeal margin with shallow concave median emargination; head narrowing anteriorly; TL 4.8-5.4 mm; blackish-brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium barbigerum	Namibia
37	Anterior clypeal margin with shallow concave median emargination; head parallel-sided; TL 3.8-4.1 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium pogonion	Namibia
Anterior clypeal margin entire and ventral head without ammochaete hairs
Hairs on dorsal alitrunk and/or first gastral tergite short, stout and blunt apically; frontal carinae at most feeble; TL range 2.0-2.8 mm Otherwise next species group
simillimum-group - poweri-complex	-
-	Wholly without frontal carinae or scrobes
108	Very small eyes; TL 2.2-2.2 mm; uniform yellowish-brown or light brown	Tetramorium pauper	Kenya
181	Eyes with 6-8 ommatidia in longest row; TL 2.6-2.8 mm; uniform dull yellowish-brown, gaster slightly darker	Tetramorium poweri	South Africa
-	Frontal carinae visible, basal one-third of first gastral tergite strongly sculptured
180	Side of head with two projecting hairs behind the eye; eye 7 ommatidia long; TL 2.2-2.3 mm; yellowish-brown	Tetramorium ghindanum	Ethiopia
180	Side of head with no projecting hairs behind the eye; eye 9 ommatidia long; TL 2.0-2.1 mm; pale yellow, gaster slightly darker	Tetramorium nefassitense	Ethiopia
-	Frontal carinae visible, basal one-third of first gastral tergite wholly smooth
-	Yellow to yellowish-brown
175 &183	Head with distinct but fine longitudinal rugulae, spaces between smooth; dorsal alitrunk with fine punctulate or or shagreened ground sculpture overlaid by some fine longitudinal rugulae; TL 2.1-2.4 mm; some may be darker to brown	Tetramorium mossamedense	south-eastern Africa
183	Head with weak longitudinal rugulae, spaces between finely punctate or granular; TL 2.1-2.4 mm; gaster usually darker	Tetramorium caldarium	Sahel savannah origin tramp species
.		Narrow headed Congo Basin & tramp form. Gaster uniformly dark	.
.		Broad-headed East African & Saudi Arabia form. Gaster with variable lighter areas	.
-	Rich dark brown to blackish-brown
184	Mandibles smooth & shining; erect hairs short and blunt; petiole and postpetiole almost smooth; TL 2.1-2.3 mm	Tetramorium pusillum	South Africa
185	Mandibles longitudinally striate; longer scapes (SI 84-91); propodeum with short triangular teeth; TL 2.6-2.7 mm	Tetramorium altivagans	Kenya & southern Sudan montane
185	Mandibles delicately striate; shorter scapes (SI 77); propodeum without teeth merely angled; smaller TL 1.9 mm	Tetramorium nigrum	Tanzania & southern Sudan montane
Hairs on dorsal alitrunk and/or first gastral tergite fine and acute apically or absent
caespitum-group	Mandibles striate
164	probable exotic, TL 2.6-2.7 mm (illustration is Tetramorium caespitum)	Tetramorium nautarum	Annobon I. (probable introduction)
convexum-group	Mandibles smooth
40	Only minute appressed hairs; TL 2.2-2.3 mm; uniform dull yellow	Tetramorium wadje	Ghana & Nigeria
158	With numerous fine hairs and no propodeal armament; TL 1.9-2.0 mm; head dark brown, remainder dull yellow	Tetramorium convexum	Ghana

© 2007, 2008 - Brian Taylor CBiol FIBiol FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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