Key to Temnothorax andrei 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.

Some of the members of the tricarinatus-complex may be confused with members of the andrei-complex (T. bestelmeyeri, T. brevispinosus, T. furunculus, T. mexicanus, T. neomexicanus, and T. punctithorax) and are included in the key.

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 * Temnothorax
 * New World Temnothorax species groups
 * Temnothorax andrei species group synopsis

l

 * Dorsum of head nearly completely smooth and shining, if sculpture is present, it is usually fine . . . . . 2


 * Dorsum of head nearly completely sculptured, sculpture usually consisting of punctures, if striate present, surface usually dull, central region may be smooth and shining . . . . . 6

2
return to couplet #1
 * Dorsum of pronotum mostly smooth and shining . . . . . 3


 * Dorsum of pronotum with rugae or striate or punctae . . . . . 4

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 #2
 * Side of pronotum punctate, and only weakly shining . . . . . Temnothorax punctithorax *


 * Side of pronotum partly smooth and strongly shining . . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * Mesopleuron with rugae . . . . . Temnothorax manni


 * Mesopleuron predominantly punctate . . . . . Temnothorax bristoli

6
return to couplet #1
 * Dark brown in color . . . . . Temnothorax neomexicanus *


 * Pale brown or yellow . . . . . 7

7
return to couplet #6
 * Eyes large (Fig. 88), maximum diameter much greater than distance between anterior border of eye and insertion of mandibles . . . . . Temnothorax bestelmeyeri *


 * Eyes relatively small, maximum diameter less than (or equal to) distance to insertions of mandible . . . . . 8

8
return to couplet #7
 * Entire dorsum of head covered with dense punctures, entire surface dull . . . . . Temnothorax terrigena


 * Dorsum of head with fine striae, weakly shining . . . . . 9

9
return to couplet #8
 * Clypeus with 4 to 6 well differentiated carinae on each side of medial carina, with the medial carina being most developed; known only from Colorado and Wyoming . . . . . Temnothorax furunculus *


 * Clypeus with many poorly defined carinae, impossible to count, medial carina not more developed than others; widely distributed in southwestern USA and northern Mexico; not reported from Colorado . . . . . Temnothorax andrei

+ member of andersoni species complex