The Ants of Africa
SUBFAMILY DOLICHODERINAE

Genus Technomyrmex Mayr
Technomyrmex Introduction

Key to workers of African species
Derived in part from that compiled by Wheeler (1922) for Engramma; with additions and amendments following Bolton (2007).

- BT KEY SPECIES Bolton 2007 status
1 {Technomyrmex pallipes}Head shape approximately rectangular or ovoid, where impressed posteriorly or anteriorly (the clypeal margin) the impression is no more than shallow (subgenus Technomyrmex) 13 .
-- {Technomyrmex andrei}Head shape cordiform, clypeus with distinct median notch (subgenus Engramma) 2
- (subgenus Engramma) - .
2 Notch on the clypeal margin more or less semi-circular with rounded lateral corners 3 .
-- Head shape cordiform, clypeus with distinct medial notch which has sharp corners 5
- . - .
3 {Technomyrmex arnoldinus}TL 3-3.2 mm CI 86-90 SI 91-100; pilosity of dark erect bristly hairs; brownish yellow; median notch of clypeus semi-circular or nearly so; separated by transverse fine rugulose sculpture on the propodeal declivity . in arnoldinus group
. {Technomyrmex arnoldinus} eastern & southern Africa -
arnoldinus
in arnoldinus group
-- Pilosity much reduced or absent
4 .
4 Promesonotum profile flattened with a slight impression at pronotum-mesonotum suture; clypeus with well-defined impression of anterior margin
4A .
--
Technomyrmex dzangaePromesonotum evenly convex in profile; anterior clypeal margin very widely and shallowly arcuately impressed; TL ca 3.3 mm CI 91 SI 89; head cordiform but with a near straight occiput; eyes set less than 2x own length from occiput; no visible ocelli; propodeal dorsum long with a sharp angle to the flat declivity; no setae at all on gaster segments; whole body with a quite dense covering of minute pubescence but with very little sculpturation so shiny; almost completely dark brown, including coxae, gaster segments with narrow pale border. Central African Republic -
dzangae n. sp.
new species here
4A {Technomyrmex andrei}TL 2-7-4.3 mm CI 82-95 SI 102-130; dorsal surfaces alitrunk finely and densely reticulo-punctate; overall colour dark-brown to black; mid- and hind-legs with coxae, trochanters and basal quarter to third of femora white to yellow West Africa & Congo Basin east to Kenya -
andrei
in bicolor group
-- {Technomyrmex parandrei}TL 3.5-3.7 mm CI 87 SI 118; apparently separable from andrei solely by having yellow parts where they are white in andrei; middle and hind coxae black, the hind femur wholly black; the variability of "andrei" suggests this is no more than weakly justified Gabon -
parandrei
Bolton n.sp. in bicolor group
-- {T. metandrei}TL 3.1-3.5 mm CI 88 SI 125; apparently separable from andrei solely on the basis of its pale colour Central African Republic -
metandrei
Bolton n.sp. in bicolor group
- Head shape cordiform, clypeus with distinct medial notch which has sharp corners - .
5 Long slender species with elongated head and alitrunk 6 .
-- Relatively short and without obvious elongation of head or alitrunk 8
6 Technomyrmex taylori Frontal carinae with a single seta; TL 3.2-3.3 mm CI 91-94 SI 96-100; uniformly medium to dark brown Mozambique -
taylori
as "taylori" in camerunensis group
-- Frontal carinae with 2-3 setae, the posteriormost close to the level of the rear of the eye 7
7 {Technomyrmex camerunensis}More or less uniformly dark brown to black; TL 3.0-4.2 mm CI 83-92 SI 125-148
. .
. {Technomyrmex camerunensis} Cameroun and Congo Basin east to Kenya -
camerunensis
new status in camerunensis group
-- {Technomyrmex schoedli}Larger, TL 4.5-5.1 CI 70-74 SI 173-189, and more elongated; eyes set further forward; lighter in colour Gabon -
schoedli
new species in camerunensis group
- . - .
8 Scapes surpassing the occiput 9 .
-- Scapes not surpassing the occiput 10 .
9 {Technomyrmex ilgi}Scapes surpassing the occiput by about one-fourth of their length; TL ca 3 mm CI 96-100 SI 82-87; colour dark, pubescence abundant; fine brownish hairs on alitrunk and gaster; clypeus with wider median notch than voeltzkowi . .
. {Technomyrmex ilgi} East Africa -
ilgi
in ilgi group
-- {Technomyrmex voeltzkowi}Scapes surpassing the occiput by one-third to two-fifth of their length; TL 2.5-3.0 mm (Bolton 2-7-3.7 mm CI 83-95 SI 92-116); clypeal notch narrow and deep; dorsum of head behind the clypeus entirely without erect setae; short inconspicuous pale pubescence all over; black, clypeus, femora and scapes brown, rest of appendages yellowish Eastern & southern Africa -
voeltzkowi
in textor group [dubious grouping as all others have the clypeal margin shallowly impressed]
- . - .
10 Head roughly triangular with curved sides; propodeum profile no more than weakly convex 11 new species in lasiops group
-- Head, without the mandibles, as broad as long, deeply excavated behind; propodeum profile with a distinct rise from the metanotal groove and a domed transition to the decilivity 12 .
11 {Technomyrmex lasiops}Dorsum of head behind the clypeus with 4 pairs of erect setae; TL 2.3-2.7 mm CI 87-91 SI 83-88; overall yellowish brown, gaster slightly darker . .
. {Technomyrmex lasiops}. Cameroun, Gabon, Congo -
lasiops
new species in lasiops group
-- {Technomyrmex lujae}Without erect hairs on the head or body; TL 2.8-3.3 mm CI 100-110 SI 67-76; antennal scapes slightly surpassing the occipital border; funicular joints 2 to 7 slightly longer than broad; base of propodeum nearly as long as the declivity, horizontal; pilosity well developed; colour anteriorly red-yellow, posteriorly dark brown; Zaïre, Cameroun & Gabon -
lujae
in lujae group
12 {Technomyrmex laurenti}Antennal scapes not reaching the occipital border; funicular joints 2 to 7 broader than long; base of propodeum much shorter than the declivity, sloping forward; TL 2.25 to 3 mm CI 100 SI 67; head strongly cordiform, deeply scalloped posteriorly; eyes large, flat, anterior of mid-point of head; erect hairs fairly numerous on all surfaces; brown, gaster blackish (congolensis much lighter) Congo Basin -
laurenti
in laurenti group
-- {Technomyrmex kohli}TL 1.8 to 2.2 mm CI 97 SI 74; dull yellow, with brown gaster; smaller, alitrunk with no more than two pairs of erect setae on the pronotum (abraded but insertions clearly marked); over with much less obvious and finer pubescence and generally much shinier; gaster in contrast with more abundant but finer and longer erect setae; brownish-yellow with a darker but still yellowish gaster Congo Basin -
kohli
j.syn. of laurenti in laurenti group
return to key subgenus Technomyrmex . albipes group
.
13 Dorsum of head behind the clypeus entirely without erect hairs (setae); clypeal margin with a shallow median impression less than semicircular 14 textor group; parviflavus complex
-- Dorsum of head behind the clypeus with erect hairs present 16
14 {Technomyrmex nsp Camroun um20}Decumbent but distinct hairs on all gastral tergites; TL 3.2 mm CI 89 SI 100
Cameroun -
nsp Cameroun fk um20
new species
-- At least gastral tergites 1 without hairs
14A .
14A {T. senex}TL 2.5-2.8 mm CI 82-88 SI 122-129; third gastral tergite with suberect hairs; uniformly dark brown, except for yellow trochanters and the middle and hind coxae (apparently not always lighter) . .
. {Technomyrmex senex} West Africa & Congo Basin -
senex
new species - textor group; parviflavus complex
-- With gaster distinctly darker than the head and alitrunk; gastral tergites 1-3 without setae 15 .
15 {T parviflavus}TL 1.9-2.9 mm CI 81-89 SI 110-126; overall dull yellow, head and gaster slightly darker; propodeal dorsum shorter than length of declivity to the spiracle . .
. {Technomyrmex parviflavus} West Africa & Congo Basin -
parviflavus
new species - textor group; parviflavus complex
-- {T.sycorax} TL 2.7-3.0 mm CI 81-83 SI 134-135; scapes longer and eyes slightly smaller than parviflavus, the propodeal profile shows the length of the dorsum to be greater than the length of the declivity to the spiracle Gabon -
sycorax
new species - textor group; parviflavus complex.
- . . .
16 {Technomyrmex rusticus}Gastral tergites 2-3 without setae; TL 3.4-3.6 mm CI 99 SI 85; head width and length approximately the same; with posterior wide and shallowly impressed; metanotal groove deep; propodeum declivity flat and sub-bordered; quite dense greyish pubescence not hiding fine dense puncturate sculpturation; black, appendages dark brown; shiny, with dense puncturation . .
. {Technomyrmex rusticus} Zaïre -
rusticus
in albipes group but in no named complex.
-- Gastral tergites 2-3 with setae, ranging from 1-2 pairs to many 17 .
17 Dorsal or outer surfaces of middle and hind tibiae with numerous suberect to erect setae 18 .
-- Dorsal or outer surfaces of middle and hind tibiae without any setae 19 .
18 Technomyrmex semiruberTL 2.75-3.25 mm CI 99 SI 97; shiny but muted by quite dense pubescence; erect hairs on all parts; rust-red with gaster black; West Africa - semiruber in albipes group
-- Technomyrmex pilipesQueen only known; TL 5.4 mm CI 96 SI 92, generally like schoutedeni but with prominent fine setae all over Cameroun - pilipes unchanged, in schoutedeni group
- . . .
19 Dorsal surfaces of pro- and mesonotum without setae 20 .
-- Dorsal surfaces of either pro- and mesonotum, or both, with at least one pair of erect setae 21
20 No image but very close to schoutedeni - TL 3.4-3.5 mm; clypeal notch broad and shallow, the median border without an impression; funicular joints shorter; colour yellowish red, gaster black, its segments narrowly bordered with yellow Tanzania & Zaïre - zimmeri in schoutedeni group
-- {Technomyrmex schoutedeni}TL 3.6-4.3 mm CI 91-97 SI 92-108; scape surpasses occiput by about 1/6 its own length; alitrunk weakly convex with a marked suture; mesonotum dorsum slightly long than wide, with raised spiracles; propodeum strongly domed but more convex than in semiruber, spiracles well raised tubercular with a strong hair; head and pronotum subopaque, partly matt, very densely puncturate, rest of alitrunk matt and densely reticulo-punctate; gaster shiny but finely reticulate; very few erect hairs, 2-3 yellowish on alitrunk; pubescence yellowish, very fine, quite distinct and abundant throughout; brown, mandibles dull red, gaster dull yellow or slightly brown.
Type worker image poor due to a covering of glue.
Zaïre - schoutedeni in schoutedeni group
. . . .
21 {Technomyrmex nigriventris}Head without erect setae behind the level of the posterior margin of the eye; gastral tergites 1-4 with numerous erect setae 22 .
-- Head with one or more pairs of erect setae behind the level of the posterior margin of the eye 25
22 {Technomyrmex Congo nsp}TL ca 2.4 mm,  CI 89, OI 26; SI 100; uniform yellow-brown Congo - new species Mayombe in albipes group
-- Bicoloured or darker brown to black 22A .
22A {Technomyrmex nigriventris}TL 2.2-2.7 mm CI 88-92 SI 100-108; bicoloured, head and alitrunk yellow (posterior head and alitrunk dorsum often darker, as example), gaster black Panafrican - nigriventris in albipes group
-- Darker brown to black 23
23 {Technomyrmex moerens}Lateral margins of propodeal declivity without erect setae; TL 2.4-2.5 mm CI 87-92 SI 104-120; head longer than wide, much narrower anteriorly; eyes longer than wide; colour brown, erect hairs quite long . .
. {Technomyrmex moerens} West Africa & Congo Basin - moerens .
-- Lateral margins of propodeal declivity with 1-3 pairs of erect setae 24
24 {Technomyrmex albipes}Dark species, with pale tarsi, mandibles, scapes and funiculi; TL 2.4-2.9 mm CI 87-95 SI 91-102; scapes not surpassing the occiput; gastral tergites 1-4 with numerous erect setae; propodeum dorsum and declivity with a rounded transition Tramp species - albipes in albipes group
-- {Technomyrmex vitiensis}Propodeum dorsum and declivity with a distinct angle at the transition; larger eyes than albipes; TL 2.4-3.1 mm CI 85-93 SI 104-115
tramp species, not known from Africa - vitiensis in albipes group
- . . .
25 Larger species, HL > 0.80, HW > 0.75, SL > 0.70; propodeal profile with a long curved dorsum 26 .
-- Smaller species 27
26 {T. hostilis} TL 3.5-3.6 mm CI 97 SI 97; gaster black, strongly contrasting with the head and alitrunk; more densely hairy . .
. {T. hostilis} Tanzania - hostilis in albipes group
-- {T. menozzii}TL 3.4-3.5 mm CI 92-94 SI 99-100; generally uniform blackish-brown to black; middle and hind tarsi yellow lighter than tibiae and femora . .
. {T. menozzii} Zimbabwe - menozzii in albipes group
27 {Technomyrmex pallipes}TL 2.2-2.5 mm 84-94 CI SI 92-106; variably coloured from generally uniform light brown to black; sometimes with the gaster darker; legs lighter than head and body . . .
. {Technomyrmex pallipes}. Pan-African & Tramp - pallipes in albipes group
-- {T. vapidus}TL 2.6-3.2 mm CI 90-97 SI 94-104; eyes smaller; more brightly coloured with head light orange-brown, alitrunk and petiole dull yellow, gaster slightly darker . new species in albipes group
. {T. vapidus} Kenya & Tanzania - vapidus new species in albipes group

Technomyrmex species (indet.) (1)

Described as widespread, 821 workers from fourteen sites, in Ghana semi-deciduous forest leaf litter by Belshaw & Bolton (1994b).


Technomyrmex species (indet.) (2)

Described as widespread, 168 workers from eleven sites, in Ghana semi-deciduous forest leaf litter by Belshaw & Bolton (1994b).


Technomyrmex species (indet.) (3)

Three workers found in secondary forest leaf litter at CRIG, Ghana, by Belshaw & Bolton (1994b) = nigriventris.


Technomyrmex species (indet.) (4)

In Ghana, three workers were found in primary forest (Mankrang Forest Reserve) and cocoa (Asiakwa) leaf litter by Belshaw & Bolton (1994b).


Technomyrmex species (indet.) (5)

Described as widespread, 530 workers from ten sites, in Ghana semi-deciduous forest leaf litter by Belshaw & Bolton (1994b).


From Bolton (2007) the three common species in Belshaw's findings can be deduced as T. andrei, T. moerens and T. parviflavus. The fourth remains enigmatic but T. andrei was sighted from Mankrang and T. parviflavus was sighted from Asiakwa.


Other unnamed forms

Technomyrmex species A

From Ghana at the Mampong Cemetery Farm on leaf litter and herbs under cocoa (Room, 1971); also on cocoa at Kade by Majer (1975). Also collected by Bigger (1981a) at CRIG, 6 workers by pkd from Amelonado cocoa canopy and 19 from the ground under the cocoa.


Technomyrmex species A/

From Ghana at the Mampong Cemetery Farm on leaf litter and nesting in dead wood under cocoa (Room, 1971).


Technomyrmex species B

Collected in Ghana by Bigger (1981a) at CRIG, 7 workers from the ground under Amelonado cocoa.


Technomyrmex species C

From Ghana at the Mampong Cemetery Farm on herbs under cocoa (Room, 1971).


Technomyrmex species D

From Ghana at the Mampong Cemetery Farm on leaf litter and nesting in dead wood under cocoa (Room, 1971).


Technomyrmex species 1

Found on Ghana cocoa at Kade by Majer (1975, 1976b), using pkd, with 14-20 workers per sample.


Technomyrmex species 6

From Ghana on cocoa mistletoe (Room, 1975).

Contents
© 2007. 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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