Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium sericeiventre 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
 * Group diagnosis

1

 * Antennal scapes and tibiae of the middle and hind legs with numerous short, standing hairs . . . . . 2 (bequaerti complex)
 * With the mesosoma in profile, dorsum with standing hairs that are longer than broad . . . . . 5 (sericeiventre complex)

2
return to couplet #1
 * All dorsal surfaces of head and body, antenna) scapes and all surfaces of legs with a very dense pelt of short soft hairs of approximately uniform length, the whole ant with a furry appearance ..... Tetramorium xuthum
 * All dorsal surfaces of head and body with scattered stout hairs of varying length. Antennal scapes and surfaces of legs with spaced out short stout hairs . . . . . 3

3
return to couplet #2
 * Head in side view with the lower occipital angle prolonged into a prominent lug or lobe, truncated apically. Hairs on dorsal alitrunk short, the longest of them shorter than the maximum width of the hind tibia..... Tetramorium bequaerti
 * Head in side view with the lower occipital angle rounded and inconspicuous. Hairs on dorsal alitrunk long, the longest of them exceeding the maximum width of the hind tibia . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * Dorsum of head behind level of eyes feebly sculptured to smooth, at most with a few very faint longitudinal rugulae, the surfaces shining and to a great extent smooth..... Tetramorium bulawayense
 * Dorsum of head behind level of eyes strongly longitudinally rugulose and rough, the surfaces extensively punctulate and quite dull..... Tetramorium hortorum

5
return to couplet #1
 * Mesosoma without erect hairs of any kind. Clypeus very broad ..... Tetramorium longicorne
 * Mesosoma with erect hairs. Clypeus as usual . . . . . 6

6
return to couplet #5
 * Propodeal dorsum in profile with one or more pairs of hairs arising from the surface between the metanotal impression and the base of the spines . . . . . 7
 * Propodeal dorsum in profile without hairs, the posteriormost pair occurring at or before the metanotal impression . . . . . 10

7
return to couplet #6
 * With the head in full-face view the sides behind the eyes with numerous (usually > 10 on each side) short stout freely projecting hairs which break the outline of the sides . . . . . 8
 * With the head in full-face view the sides behind the eyes either without projecting hairs or at most with 1- 3 long fine hairs on each side . . . . . 9

8
return to couplet #7


 * Pronotum smooth dorsally or at most with widely scattered vestigial rugulae. Median strip of petiole dorsum unsculptured ..... Tetramorium petersi
 * Pronotum very coarsely longitudinally rugose dorsally. Median strip of petiole dorsum strongly rugulose with densely punctulate spaces ..... Tetramorium asetyum

9
return to couplet #7
 * Propodeal dorsum with only a single pair of hairs, situated on the dorsum above the spiracle. Hairs on first gastral tergite generally blunt apically ..... Tetramorium khyarum
 * Propodeal dorsum with several pairs of hairs. Hairs on first gastral tergite slender, generally acute apically ..... Tetramorium sepositum

10
return to couplet #6
 * Dorsal alitrunk covered with very coarse, sharply raised rugose sculpture, the spaces between the rugae shining, without dense reticulate-punctate sculpture ..... Tetramorium gladstonei
 * Dorsal alitrunk without coarse rugose sculpture but often with fine rugulae. If the latter then the spaces between the rugulae are densely reticulate-punctate, generally matt and dull ..... Tetramorium sericeiventre