Key to Tapinoma of Hispaniola

Additional information about the ants of the island can be found here: Ants of Hispaniola

Key to Workers

1

• Head and mesosoma brown (in some specimens there may be some yellow coloration in the mesosoma), remainder of body yellow . . . . . Tapinoma melanocephalum

• Not colored as above . . . . . 2

2

return to couplet #1

• In profile propodeum slopes downward in even curve from anterior dorsum and continues without an angle for most of the length of propodeum margin, black/dark-brown body; tips of mandibles, tarsi, and mouth parts may be yellow . . . . . Tapinoma opacum

• In profile dorsum of propodeum much shorter than declivious face, distinct but not overly pronounced angle between the margin of dorsum and declivious face; body not concolorously dark brown or black . . . . . 3

3

return to couplet #2

• In full face view antennal scapes not reaching or just slightly surpassing the occiput; most workers entirely dull yellow to yellow-orange, possibly with some darker brown infuscation . . . . . Tapinoma litorale

• In full face view antennal scapes surpassing the occiput, in some workers by as much as the length of the first two funicular segments; most worker with a body that is a yellowish/light dirty brown with some variable darker brown infuscation (darker brown may be found on gaster, dorsum of head and/or mesosoma) . . . . . Tapinoma rasenum