Key to Temnothorax tricarinatus species group workers

This worker key is based on: Mackay, W. P. 2000. A review of the New World ants of the subgenus Myrafant, (genus Leptothorax) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology. 36:265-444.

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• Top of pronotum smooth and glossy; dorsum of head smooth and glossy . . . . . 2

• Top of pronotum partially or completely sculptured; dorsum of head usually sculptured . . . . . 4

2

return to couplet #1

• Carina present on pronotum, which forms transverse ridge across anterior border . . . . . Temnothorax schmittii

• Carina not forming transverse ridge across pronotum . . . . . 3

3

return to couplet #2

• Propodeal armature of worker represented only as bumps; propodeal spines of female with blunt tips; node of petiole of male low and weakly concave posteriorly . . . . . Temnothorax brevispinosus

• Propodeal armature of worker poorly developed angles; propodeal spines of female with acute tips; node of petiole of male higher and somewhat concave posteriorly . . . . . Temnothorax mexicanus

4

return to couplet #1

• Propodeal armature consisting of small angles which are less than 1/3 distance between bases . . . . . 5

• Propodeal armature consisting of definite spines, that are usually at least 1/3 as long as distance between bases . . . . . 16

5

return to couplet #4

• Eyes relatively small, greatest length less than distance from anterior border of eye to base of mandible; dorsum of head with rugae, or densely punctate . . . . . 6

• Eyes larger, maximum diameter nearly equal to distance between eye and insertion of antenna; dorsum of head with fine striae, or partly smooth and polished . . . . . 9

6

return to couplet #5

• Head densely and evenly punctate . . . . . Temnothorax coleenae

• Head with rugae . . . . . 7

7

return to couplet #6

• Postpetiole widened, about 1.5 X or more width of petiole . . . . . 8

• Postpetiole not noticeably widened as seen from above, about 1.25 X width of petiole . . . . . Temnothorax stenotyle

8

return to couplet #7

• Rugae on dorsum of head coarse; propodeal spines small, but developed; distributed in much of USA south into northern Mexico . . . . . Temnothorax tricarinatus

• Sculpture of head fine, consisting of rugulae; propodeal armature consisting of small angles; Hidalgo . . . . . Temnothorax rugithorax

9

return to couplet #5

• Much of dorsum of head, especially posterior half, smooth and glossy . . . . . 10

• Entire head, except for central area, covered with fine striae . . . . . 12

10

return to couplet #9

• Propodeal armature consisting of blunt angles; pale brown or yellow, or dark brown; New Mexico, Texas, and Chihuahua . . . . . 11

• Propodeal spines small, but developed and acute; dark brown; central Mexico . . . . . Temnothorax punctithorax

11

return to couplet #10

• Pale brown or yellow; subpetiolar process large . . . . . Temnothorax cokendolpheri

• Dark brown; subpetiolar process small . . . . . Temnothorax adustus

12

return to couplet #9

• Hairs on scape raised above surface, may be semierect . . . . . 13

• Hairs on scape appressed . . . . . 15

13

return to couplet #12

• Node of petiole with relatively sharp apex; California . . . . . Temnothorax chandleri

• Node of petiole blunt and rounded as seen in profile; southwestern United States and Mexico . . . . . 14

14

return to couplet #13

• Node of petiole relatively high, height above posterior peduncle nearly equal to thickness of petiole at same point; southwestern US and northern Mexico (Chihuahua) . . . . . Temnothorax carinatus

• Node of petiole lower, height above posterior peduncle about half thickness of petiole at same point; Michoacan . . . . . Temnothorax rugulosus

15

return to couplet #12

• Pale brown or yellow; subpeduncular process well developed; central Colorado and Wyoming . . . . . Temnothorax furunculus

• Dark brown; subpeduncular process consisting of small bump southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas . . . . . Temnothorax neomexicanus

16

return to couplet #4

• Eye elongate, kidney-shaped; first gastral tergum finely punctate . . . . . Temnothorax obliquicanthus

• Eye not kidney shaped; first gastral tergum smooth and shining . . . . . 17

17

return to couplet #16

• Dorsum of postpetiole covered with coarse rugae . . . . . Temnothorax texanus

• Dorsum of postpetiole covered with punctures, if any rugae are present, they are fine and form reticulations with punctures . . . . . 18

18

return to couplet #17

• Postpetiole wide, at least half width of gaster; eastern USA . . . . . Temnothorax davisi = Temnothorax texanus

• Postpetiole not greatly widened, much narrower than half width of gaster; western USA . . . . . 19

19

return to couplet #18

• At least part of head smooth and shining . . . . . Temnothorax neomexicanus

• Entire head punctate or striolate, very weakly shining . . . . . 20

20

return to couplet #19

• Propodeal spines straight; nests in soil . . . . . Temnothorax nevadensis

• Propodeal spines slightly bend downwards; nests in plant cavities . . . . . Temnothorax gallae