Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium shiloense 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

NOTES:
 * Tetramorium rotundatum is known only from the queen caste.
 * Tetramorium pauper is keyed under this group due to its small eyes, although it belongs in the simillimum group

1

 * Dorsal surface of mesosoma without standing setae . . . . . 2
 * Dorsal surface of mesosoma with standing setae, which are longer than broad, usually numerous and simple . . . . . 3

2
return to couplet #1
 * Dorsum of head between fornal carinae with 3-5 very coarse rugae. Mesosoma profile as is figure. Squamate appresed setae on first gastral tergite short and broad, the pubescence between them sparse, short and inconspicuous ..... Tetramorium diomandei


 * Dorsum of head between fornal carinae with 9-12 fine rugae. Mesosoma profile as is figure. Squamate appresed setae on first gastral tergite elongate and narrow, the pubescence between them sparse, but long and distinct ..... Tetramorium somniculosum

3
return to couplet #1
 * Frontal carinae distinct, extending back well beyond the level of the eyes. Pronotal dorsum with rugose sculpture, either longitudinal or reticulate . . . . . 4
 * Frontal carinae short and feeble or absent. If the frontal carinae approach the level of the eyes then the pronotal lacks rugose sculpture . . . . . 7

4
return to couplet #3


 * Pilosity of dorsal mesosoma and first gastral tergite fine and abundant, forming a dense pelt on their surfaces. With the head in full face view the sides behind the eyes with numerous outstanding setae, always obviously >10, usually too numerous to count easily. Pubescence of scapes and hind tibiae not reclinate. Antennal scapes with SI 93-99 ..... Tetramorium intonsum


 * Pilosity of dorsal mesosoma and first gastral tergite elongate and quite stout, the setae spaced out and not forming a dense pelt on their surfaces. With the head in full face view the sides behind the eyes with few outstanding setae, 10 at most being present, usually less. Pubescence of scapes and hind tibiae reclinate, decumbent to appresed. Antennal scapes with SI 79-93 . . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * Pronotal dorsum quite regularly longitudinally rugose, with few or no cross meshes ..... Tetramorium shilohense


 * Pronotal dorsum with a rugoreticulum or very irregularly rugulose . . . . . 6

6
return to couplet #5
 * Sides of head above and behind the eyes predominantly reticulate-rugose. Area of head between frontal carinae with 3-4 strong rugae present in front of the level of the eyes, these rugae stronger than the remaining cephalic structure. CI<90, SI 86-93 ..... Tetramorium jugatum


 * Sides of head above and behind the eyes predominantly punctulate or granular, with only feeble sparse rugulae. Area of head between frontal carinae without 3-4 strong rugae stronger than the remaining cephalic structure. CI>90, SI 81-83 ..... Tetramorium termitobium

(Samples from Uganda reach SI=91 K.Gomez)

7
return to couplet #3
 * Eyes with 3 or more ommatidia ..... . . . . . 8
 * Eyes with only 1 or 2 facets or consisting only of a discoloured patch on side of head . . . . . 9

8
return to couplet #7
 * Anterior clypeal margin notched or impressed medially. Propodeum with a pair of triangular teeth. Eyes with 3-5 ommatidia. Larger species with HW 0.60-0.66 .....Tetramorium amaurum
 * Anterior clypeal margin entire. Propodeum with a pair of minute denticles. Eyes with more than 6 ommatidia. Smaller species with HW 0.48-0.52 .....Tetramorium pauper

9
return to couplet #7
 * Dorsal mesosoma sculptured, the promesonotum with distinct, predominantly longitudinal rugulation ..... Tetramorium dysderke


 * Dorsal mesosoma unsculptured, the promesonotum smooth and shining or at most with extremely faint vestiges of superficial punctuation in places . . . . . 10

10
return to couplet #9
 * Minute species HW <0.50, SL <0.35, scapes short, SI 68-71 . . . . . 11


 * Larger species HW >0.50, SL >0.40, scapes longer, SI 75-81 . . . . . 12

11
return to couplet #10
 * Eyes composed of a single distinct ommatidium. Lateral portions of clypeus strongly raised in front of antennal insertions, markedly convex above ..... Tetramorium warreni


 * Eyes merely a discoloured patch on side of the head. Lateral portions of clypeus low in front of antennal insertions, not convex above ..... Tetramorium typhlops

12
return to couplet #10
 * Eyes composed of a single distinct ommatidium. Mandibles feebly sculptured. Anterior clypeal margin with a strong median notch or impression ..... Tetramorium subcoecum


 * Eyes with two ommatidia. Mandibles strongly longitudinatelly striate. Anterior clypeal margin at most with a feeble median indentation, difficult to see ..... Tetramorium traegaordhi