Key to Australian Technomyrmex Species

The following key to Australian Technomyrmex is based on Bolton (2007^[1]).

1

Dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae with numerous projecting suberect setae that are very conspicuous. Scape also with conspicuous short projecting setae. (n. Queensland) => Technomyrmex shattucki
Dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae without projecting setae. Scape without projecting setae => 2

With the head in full-face view the dorsal longitudinal strip, from between the frontal carinae to the occipital margin, glassy smooth and highly polished, unsculptured except for pits from which setae arise; pubescence extremely sparse to absent, not at all masking the surface => 3
With the head in full-face view the dorsal longitudinal strip, from between the frontal carinae to the occipital margin, finely and densely shagreenate, microreticulate, or punctulate, may be dully shining but not glassy smooth and highly polished; greyish pubescence usually conspicuous, at least partially masking the surface => 4

Head, mesosoma and petiole yellow to light brownish yellow, gaster very dark brown to black, the two very strongly contrasting. In specimens with full adult colour funiculus segments 2–11 darker than the scape. (n. Queensland) => Technomyrmex quadricolor
Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster all more or less uniformly coloured dark brown to black, the gaster not strongly contrasting with the remainder. In specimens with full adult colour funiculus segments 2–11 the same colour as the scape or slightly lighter => 5

With head in profile the dorsum behind the level of the posterior margin of the eye without setae (i.e. setae on the dorsum of the head are restricted to the frontal carinae) => Technomyrmex albipes
With head in profile the dorsum behind the level of the posterior margin of the eye with at least one pair of setae present (i.e. setae on the dorsum of the head are not restricted to the frontal carinae) => 6

With head in profile the longest dorsal pair of setae behind the level of the eye, located less than the length of the maximum eye-diameter anterior to the occipital margin, is followed by other, shorter, setae before the occipital margin (i.e. the longest pair of setae is not the posteriormost pair). With head tilted slightly back from full-face view the occipital margin with short setae present. (Queensland) => Technomyrmex sophiae
With head in profile the longest dorsal pair of setae behind the level of the eye, located less than the length of the maximum eye-diameter anterior to the occipital margin, is not followed by other setae before the occipital margin (i.e. the longest pair of setae is the posteriormost pair). With head tilted slightly back from full-face view the occipital margin without short setae => 7

Eyes located relatively posteriorly on head, eye position index (distance below eye / distance above eye X 100) > 100. In full-face view the eyes are positioned behind the midlength of the sides of the head capsule; eyes tend to be relatively larger, ocular index (max. eye dia. / head width X 100) 29-35 => 8
Eyes located relatively anteriorly on head, eye position index (distance below eye / distance above eye X 100) < 100. In full-face view the eyes are positioned in front of, or nearly at, the midlength of the sides of the head capsule; eyes tend to be relatively smaller, ocular index (max. eye dia. / head width X 100) 25-29 => 9

Middle and hind coxae dark brown to black, the same colour as the mesosoma or very nearly so. Hind femur evenly darkly coloured throughout its length. Funiculus segment 1 the same colour as segments 2–5 => Technomyrmex furens
Middle and hind coxae dull yellow to bright yellow, contrasting strongly with the dark mesosoma. Hind femur much lighter in colour near the trochanter than in its distal half. Funiculus segment 1 lighter in colour than segments 2–5 => Technomyrmex nitens

Pronotum and mesonotum each with a single pair of setae; pair on pronotum much longer than those on mesonotum. Eyes relatively slightly larger, ocular index (max. eye dia. / head width X 100) 34–35 (n. Queensland) => Technomyrmex australops
Pronotum with setae present, mesonotum lacks setae. Eyes relatively slightly smaller, ocular index (max. eye dia. / head width X 100) 29-32 => 10

With head in profile the dorsum without a pair of setae at about the level of the posterior margin of the eye; dorsum posterior to this with only a single pair of setae before the occipital margin. (Tramp species: Northern Territory, Queensland, Islands of Torres Straight) => Technomyrmex difficilis
With head in profile the dorsum with a pair of setae at about the level of the posterior margin of the eye; dorsum posterior to this with at least 2 pairs of setae before the occipital margin => 11

Mesosoma in dorsal view dull yellow to brownish yellow; gaster much darker brown and strongly contrasting. (s.e. Queensland, n.e. New South Wales) => Technomyrmex antonii
Mesosoma and gaster uniformly dark brown. (s.e. Queensland, n.e. New South Wales) => Technomyrmex cedarensis

Posterior-most pair of setae on dorsum of head longer than the maximum diameter of the eye. Longest setae on first gastral tergite longer than the maximum diameter of the eye. (n. Queensland ; also in New Guinea) => Technomyrmex cheesmanae
Posterior-most pair of setae on dorsum of head shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye. Longest setae on first gastral tergite shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye. (s. West Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, s. Queensland, Lord Howe I., Norfolk I., Philip I., New Zealand; invades houses) => Technomyrmex jocosus

↑ Bolton, B. (2007) Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, 35, 1–150.