Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium sericeiventre species group
This worker key is based on Bolton (1980)[1]
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- Tetramorium
- Afrotropical Tetramorium species groups
- Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium species groups
- Tetramorium sericeiventre species group diagnosis
1
- Antennal scapes and tibiae of the middle and hind legs with numerous short, standing hairs . . . . . 2 (bequaerti complex)
- With the mesosoma in profile, dorsum with standing hairs that are longer than broad . . . . . 5 (sericeiventre complex)
2
return to couplet #1
- All dorsal surfaces of head and body, antenna) scapes and all surfaces of legs with a very dense pelt of short soft hairs of approximately uniform length, the whole ant with a furry appearance ..... Tetramorium xuthum
- All dorsal surfaces of head and body with scattered stout hairs of varying length. Antennal scapes and surfaces of legs with spaced out short stout hairs . . . . . 3
3
return to couplet #2
- Head in side view with the lower occipital angle prolonged into a prominent lug or lobe, truncated apically. Hairs on dorsal alitrunk short, the longest of them shorter than the maximum width of the hind tibia..... Tetramorium bequaerti
- Head in side view with the lower occipital angle rounded and inconspicuous. Hairs on dorsal alitrunk long, the longest of them exceeding the maximum width of the hind tibia . . . . . 4
4
return to couplet #3
- Dorsum of head behind level of eyes feebly sculptured to smooth, at most with a few very faint longitudinal rugulae, the surfaces shining and to a great extent smooth..... Tetramorium bulawayense
- Dorsum of head behind level of eyes strongly longitudinally rugulose and rough, the surfaces extensively punctulate and quite dull..... Tetramorium hortorum
5
return to couplet #1
- Mesosoma without erect hairs of any kind. Clypeus very broad ..... Tetramorium longicorne
- Mesosoma with erect hairs. Clypeus as usual . . . . . 6
6
return to couplet #5
- Propodeal dorsum in profile with one or more pairs of hairs arising from the surface between the metanotal impression and the base of the spines . . . . . 7
- Propodeal dorsum in profile without hairs, the posteriormost pair occurring at or before the metanotal impression . . . . . 10
7
return to couplet #6
- With the head in full-face view the sides behind the eyes with numerous (usually > 10 on each side) short stout freely projecting hairs which break the outline of the sides . . . . . 8
- With the head in full-face view the sides behind the eyes either without projecting hairs or at most with 1- 3 long fine hairs on each side . . . . . 9
8
return to couplet #7
- Pronotum smooth dorsally or at most with widely scattered vestigial rugulae. Median strip of petiole dorsum unsculptured ..... Tetramorium petersi
- Pronotum very coarsely longitudinally rugose dorsally. Median strip of petiole dorsum strongly rugulose with densely punctulate spaces ..... Tetramorium asetyum
9
return to couplet #7
- Propodeal dorsum with only a single pair of hairs, situated on the dorsum above the spiracle. Hairs on first gastral tergite generally blunt apically ..... Tetramorium khyarum
- Propodeal dorsum with several pairs of hairs. Hairs on first gastral tergite slender, generally acute apically ..... Tetramorium sepositum
10
return to couplet #6
- Dorsal alitrunk covered with very coarse, sharply raised rugose sculpture, the spaces between the rugae shining, without dense reticulate-punctate sculpture ..... Tetramorium gladstonei
- Dorsal alitrunk without coarse rugose sculpture but often with fine rugulae. If the latter then the spaces between the rugulae are densely reticulate-punctate, generally matt and dull ..... Tetramorium sericeiventre