Key to Temnothorax of India

This key to Indian workers of Temnothorax is based on Bharti et al. (2012) and Bharti et al. (2016) as modified by Yusupov et al. (2020).

1

Propodeum without any teeth or spines; pilosity very sparse; head and mesosoma shiny, very slightly longitudinally rugose, rest of the body smooth and shiny => Temnothorax inermis

Temnothorax inermis

Propodeum with variously developed teeth or spines; pilosity more dense; head and mesosoma smooth or with different surface sculpture but never with only slightly longitudinally rugose sculpture => 2

2

return to couplet #1

Dorsal outline of mesosoma in profile without any impression, mesometanotal groove absent => 3
Dorsal outline of mesosoma in profile more or less impressed at the mesometanotal groove or behind => 4

3

return to couplet #2

Mesosoma, the base of the first gastral segment, petiole, postpetiole, legs and antennae testaceous yellow to yellowish brown; head and rest of gaster brown; CI = 122–124; SI1 = 75–78.6; (length 2.2–2.9 mm) => Temnothorax desioi

Temnothorax desioi

The colour is uniformly brown; CI = 127–128; SI1 = 73–75; (length 2.4–3.0 mm) => Temnothorax desioi melanicus

4

return to couplet #2

Either head and mesosoma distinctly sculptured or the head is smooth and mesosoma distinctly sculptured => 5
Head and mesosoma smooth and shining with a few rugulae => 11

5

return to couplet #4

Head smooth, mesosoma distinctly sculptured; the species is bicoloured, with light to dark brown head and gaster and yellowish to reddish yellow mesosoma (length 2.5–3.3 mm) => Temnothorax kashmirensis

Temnothorax kashmirensis

Head and thorax distinctly sculptured; colour combination different but never as in above => 6

6

return to couplet #5

Whole body black; head distinctly longitudinally rugose; PSLI = 18–23; CI = 117–123; SI1 = 72–73; SI2 = 85–90 (length 2.8–3.2 mm) => 7
Whole body light yellow to dark brown, never black; head distinctly rugulose and microreticulated => 8

7

return to couplet #6

Propodeal spines short, strong widened and triangular; ESLI = 18–23; scape short, SI1 = 72–73; SI2 = 85–90 => Temnothorax schurri

Temnothorax schurri

Propodeal spines long, slightly widened and straight; ESLI = 29–35; scape long, SI1 = 77–82; SI2 = 94–101 => Temnothorax kipyatkovi

8

return to couplet #6

The colour of head distinctly brown => 9
The colour of head distinctly yellow => 10

9

return to couplet #8

Propodeal spines as long as is the interval between their bases; PSLI = 11–20; (length 2.5–3.9 mm) => Temnothorax rothneyi

Temnothorax rothneyi

Propodeal spines small, triangular, more or less dentate; PSLI = 9–10; (length 2.8–3.1 mm) => Temnothorax simlensis

Temnothorax simlensis

10

return to couplet #8

Scape reaches beyond the posterior margin of head by 1/6 of its total length; the colour of body is uniformly pale yellow; propodeal spines very long (Spine length PSL = 0.20–0.23 mm) => Temnothorax nordmeyeri

Temnothorax nordmeyeri

Scape somewhat short not reaching the posterior margin of head; gaster with a brown patch in the middle; propodeal spines short (Spine length PSL = 0.09–0.11 mm); (length 2.8–3.4 mm) => Temnothorax microreticulatus

Temnothorax microreticulatus

11

return to couplet #4

Propodeal spines very short, appearing as two small blunt denticles (tubercles) in dorsal view; node of petiole rounded in profile => Temnothorax wroughtonii

Temnothorax wroughtonii

Propodeal spines much longer, as long as 2/3 the range of their bases; node of petiole more or less angular in profile => 12

12

return to couplet #11

Head more or less chestnut brown; mesosoma, legs, antennae, petiole and postpetiole more or less yellowish brown; gaster dark brown; CI = 120–139; SI1 = 77–79; SI2 = 94–108; (length 2.4–3.1 mm) => Temnothorax fultonii

Temnothorax fultonii

Head light yellow to dark yellow with a brownish tinge; mesosoma light to dark yellow; gaster light yellow to dark yellow most often with a brownish patch dorsally in the middle; CI = 113–122; SI1 = 70–76; SI2 = 81–95; (length 2.35–2.79 mm) => Temnothorax himachalensis

Temnothorax himachalensis

References