Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium solidum species group

This worker key is based on Mbayana et al (2018), with the addition of Tetramorium nama described by Hawkes (2020)

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

1

 * Body with branched pilosity (Fig. 2C) Tetramorium rothschildi
 * Body either lacking pilosity or with simple pilosity (Fig. 2A–B, D–I)

2

 * Dorsum of mesosoma in profile without any erect hairs, with appressed pubescence only (Fig. 2D–H)
 * Dorsum of mesosoma in profile with erect hairs (Fig. 2A–B, I)

3

 * Body with short, broad, blunt, much flattened and strongly appressed glittering silvery hairs (Fig. 2D–F)
 * Body without such hairs, only with sparse simple appressed pubescence (Fig. 2G–H)

4

 * Appressed pubescence long, dense and strap-like, hairs often overhanging one another (Fig. 2E) Tetramorium galoasanum
 * Appressed pubescence sparse and spaced out, not strap-like and not overlapping (Fig. 2D–E)

5

 * The base of the first gastral tergite in profile forming a thick, laterally projecting downcurved flange, which obscures the tergosternal suture basally and base of the sternite; reddishbrown or red species (Fig. 3A) Tetramorium setuliferum
 * The base of the first gasteral tergite in profile not projecting as above, the tergosternal suture and base of the sternite clearly visible; blackish brown to black species (Fig. 3B) Tetramorium clunum

6

 * In dorsal view both waist segments much broader than long and transverse, especially postpetiole extremely broadened with very well developed alar extensions making it approximately as broad as pronotum (Fig. 3C) Tetramorium grandinode
 * Waist segments, especially the postpetiole never shaped as above; if postpetiole with small alar extensions, then petiole not broadened (Fig. 3D–F)

7

 * Propodeum unarmed, lacking propodeal spines (Fig. 3G) Tetramorium jordani
 * Propodeum armed with a pair of spines (Fig. 3H–I)

8

 * Petiole node distinctly broader than long (DPeI 145–165)
 * Petiole node usually broader than long, but not distinctly so, sometimes slightly longer than broad (DPeI 90–135)

8a

 * Mesosoma and petiole dorsally finely reticulate, postpetiole dorsum smooth to finely reticulate, with scattered piligerous foveolae, postpetiole narrower (DPpI 162–179) Tetramorium lerouxi
 * Mesosoma dorsum longitudinally costulate, petiole dorsum with roughly concentric to irregularly transverse costulae, postpetiole transversely costulate, postpetiole broader (DPpI 184–201) Tetramorium nama

9

 * In full-face view head narrower in front of eyes than behind eyes (Fig. 3J) Tetramorium barbigerum
 * In full-face view head broader in front of eyes than behind the eyes, or same width (Fig. 3K–M)

10

 * In profile posterodorsal corner of petiolar node sharply angled and slightly projecting posteriorly (Fig. 3N) Tetramorium duncani


 * In profile posterodorsal corner of petiolar node rounded or rectangular but not sharply angled as above (Fig. 3O–P)

11

 * Head broader in front of eyes than behind eyes (Fig. 3K) Tetramorium pogonion
 * Head same width in front of eyes as behind eyes (Fig. 3L–M)

12

 * Dorsum of mesosoma completely longitudinally or irregularly rugulose/rugose (Fig. 4A) Tetramorium signatum
 * Dorsum of mesosoma either predominantly shiny with only superficial punctate sculpture, or densely reticulate punctate, often with few faint longitudinal costulae, median area of mesosoma usually very weakly sculptured (Fig. 4B)

13

 * Propodeal spines short, broad and acute apically (PSLI 4–8) (Fig. 3H) Tetramorium glabratum
 * Propodeal spines long and narrow (PSLI 16–23) (Fig. 3I) Tetramorium rufescens

14

 * Abundant erect hairs on all dorsal surfaces of head and body (Fig. 2D–E)
 * Only one to four pairs of hairs present on dorsum of mesosoma (Fig. 2L)

15

 * Antennal scapes with erect hairs (Fig. 4C)
 * Antennal scapes without erect hairs, only with flattened pubescence (Fig. 4D)

16

 * Dorsal surface of mesosoma with strongly developed irregular reticulate sculpture; colour orange (Fig. 4E, G) Tetramorium peringueyi


 * Dorsal surface of mesosoma with short longitudinal rugulae; ground sculpture mainly smooth and shiny with peripheral patches of fine, superficial reticulations; colour uniformly black (Fig. 4F, H) Tetramorium margueriteae

17

 * Propodeum armed with acute spines (PSLI 10–16); colour light brown, with gaster a little bit darker compared to mesosoma (Fig. 4I) Tetramorium dichroum


 * Propodeum with short propodeal teeth (PSLI 6); colour reddish brown, with gaster black (Fig. 4J) Tetramorium brigitteae

18

 * Propodeum with elongate and acute spines (PSLI 17–21) (Fig. 4K) Tetramorium solidum


 * Propodeum with short triangular teeth (PSLI 5–9) (Fig. 4L) Tetramorium aisha