Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium squaminode species group

This worker key is based on Bolton (1980)

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 * Tetramorium
 * ''Afrotropical Tetramorium species groups
 *  Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium species groups
 * Tetramorium squaminode species group diagnosis

1

 * With the head in full-face view the eyes situated behind the midlength of the sides. Frontal carinae strongly divergent posteriorly, running in a nearly straight line to the occipital corners. Clypeus more or less flat, regularly sculptured. CI 97- 104 . . . . . 2 (repentinum) species complex
 * With the head in full-face view the eyes situated at or slightly in front of the midlength of the sides (Figs 35, 36). Frontal carinae distinctly sinuate. Clypeus convex, often irregularly sculptured. CI usually 86-95, rarely approaching 97 . . . . . 3 (squaminode) species complex

2
return to couplet #1
 * Dorsal alitrunk coarsely reticulate-rugose ..... Tetramorium sitefrum
 * Dorsal alitrunk finely and predominantly longitudinally rugose ..... Tetramorium repentinum

3
return to couplet #1
 * Promesonotal dorsum unsculptured. First gastral tergite without hairs ..... Tetramorium matopoense
 * Promesonotal dorsum sculptured. First gastral tergite with hairs . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * First gastral tergite with short but conspicuous basigastral costulae. Dorsum of head reticulate-rugose from posterior clypeal margin to occipital margin..... Tetramorium umtaliense
 * First gastral tergite smooth, without basigastral costulae. Dorsum of head predominantly or entirely longitudinally rugulose; rugoreticulum when present is confined to the area close to the occipital margin. . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * Hairs on first gastral tergite dense, long and very fine, acutely pointed apically ..... Tetramorium akermani
 * Hairs on first gastral tergite short and stout, generally sparse and most or all of them blunt or truncated apically. . . . . 6

6
return to couplet #5
 * Dorsal transverse crest of petiole scale very thin and sharp, knife-edged ..... Tetramorium squaminode
 * Dorsal transverse crest of petiole scale blunt or narrowly rounded, not at all knife-edged . . . . . 7

7
return to couplet #6
 * Postpetiole strongly antero-posteriorly compressed, almost as strongly squamate as petiole. In dorsal view the surface of the postpetiole narrow from front to back and very broad..... Tetramorium do
 * Postpetiole not or only slightly antero-posteriorly compressed, by no means as squamate as the petiole. In dorsal view the surface of the postpetiole broadly rounded from front to back . . . . . 8

8
return to couplet #7
 * Mandibles closely and coarsely longitudinally striate . . . . . 9
 * Mandibles smooth or at most with only vestigial sculpture . . . . . 11

9
return to couplet #8
 * Postpetiole weakly sculptured dorsally, more strongly so on the sides. Postpetiole very broad, its maximum width 0.45 in dorsal view, about 0.76 x PW..... Tetramorium platynode
 * Postpetiole unsculptured and much narrower, its maximum width about 0·36 in dorsal view, approximately 0.66-0.68 x PW . . . . . 10

10
return to couplet #1
 * Dorsum of head between eyes and posterior extension of frontal carinae longitudinally rugulose. Larger species, TL 3.2 or more..... Tetramorium nube
 * Dorsum of head between eyes and posterior extension of frontal carinae finely reticulate. Smaller species, TL 2.5..... Tetramorium dogieli

11
return to couplet #8
 * Eyes relatively small, maximum diameter 0..22- 0.24 x HW. Dorsum of head with sharply defined dense longitudinal rugulae ..... Tetramorium frigidum
 * Eyes relatively larger, maximum diameter 0.26-0.29 x HW. Dorsum of head with poorly defined scattered, irregular longitudinal rugulae . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * Frontal carinae closer together, their distance apart at level of midlength of eye 0.55-0.60 x HW. Node of postpetiole in profile low, broadly rounded and quite evenly convex. Uniform clear pale yellow species ..... Tetramorium jejunum
 * Frontal carinae wider apart, their distance apart at level of midlength of eye 0.64-0.70 x HW. Node of postpetiole somewhat compressed from front to back, in profile relatively high and narrowly rounded. Gaster dark brown to black, contrasting with yellow head and alitrunk..... Tetramorium flaviceps