The Ants of Africa Genus Tetramorium species-groups - Part 6
Tetramorium Introduction

DIV3 QD2 SUB4

Species groups
Part 6 - former Tetramorium (Tetramorium)
species with short antennal scapes, larger eyes and nodiform petioles

(SUB4) Frontal carinae long, extending beyond posterior margin of eyes, often to occipital margin
SUB5 Anterior clypeal margin with a distinct median notch or impression Otherwise sub-section
	Note the anterior notch is much reduced in some T. lucayanum but that (and the related versiculum) has the petiole seen from above as distinctively trapezoidal widening from front to back
Occipitum rugo-reticulate Otherwise next species group
bicarinatum-group	-
88	Sculptured mandibles but only very finely striate; TL 3.4-4.5 mm; head and alitrunk light yellow-brown to bright orange-yellow, gaster always much darker to blackish-brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium bicarinatum	Exotic complex pan-tropical tramp found once in South Africa
-	Mandibles smooth with scattered small pits
African complex-1	Large size HW > 0.80, petiole bluntly nodiform
70	Propodeum with minute teeth; TL 4.5-5.0 mm; uniform dark brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium emeryi	South Africa
72	Long propodeal spines; TL 4.2-5.0 mm; uniform dark brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium erectum	South Africa
African complex-2	Fairly large HW 0.70-0.80; petiole node roughly rectangular in profile
68	Bicoloured, orange-brown, gaster much darker; TL 4.1-5.1 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium cristatum	sub-sahelian forests
71	Uniform dark brown; TL 4.1-4.9 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium gazense	eastern Congo Basin into Tanzania
67	Uniform bright orange-brown; TL 3.5-5.0 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium notiale	eastern southern Africa
African complex-3	Smaller HW < 0.70; petiole node long & low
67	Uniform pale yellow to light brownish yellow; TL 2.9-3.6 mm	Tetramorium phasias	eastern southern Africa
68	Head & alitrunk orange, gaster near black; TL 2.9-3.5 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium peutli	western forests Ivory Coast round to Angola
69	Uniform blackish-brown or black; pedicel smooth; TL 3.2-4.0 mm	Tetramorium pullulum	Congo Basin
72	Black, appendages dark brown; pedicel sculptured, coarsely rugose; TL 3.1-3.6 mm	.	.
,		Tetramorium amentete	Ivory Coast & Ghana
Occipitum with little sculpturation
Propodeum with a pair of small teeth or denticles and rugo-reticulate Otherwise next species group
dumezi-group jauresi-complex	-
39 & 160	First gastral tergite reticulate-punctate or shagreened, as is dorsal alitrunk TL 3.6-4.4 mm; uniform medium to dark brown		.
.		Tetramorium jauresi	eastern southern Africa
39	First gastral tergite completely smooth, as is dorsal alitrunk; TL 3.4-4.7 mm; uniform mid-brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium qualarum	Ghana
Propodeum with a pair of spines
Dorsum of petiole and postpetiole unsculptured or only slightly marked Otherwise next species group
camerunense-group camerunense-complex	-
-	Entirely yellow or yellowish-brown
129	Mandibles striate; TL 2.8-3.1 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium luteipes	Congo
-	Mandibles smooth with scattered pits
76	Alitrunk dorsum irregularly rugulose; petiole node with tranverse crest at anterior of dorsum; TL 2.4-2.6 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium gegaimi	Zaïre
-	Alitrunk dorsum longitudinally rugulose; petiole node without tranverse crest at anterior of dorsum
77	Dorsal alitrunk with elongate, fine, acute erect hairs; distinctive colouration, the head and alitrunk being glossy dull yellow and the gaster brown; TL 2.6-2.9 mm	Tetramorium browni	Ghana
77	Dorsal alitrunk with short, quite stout, blunt erect hairs; TL 3.1 mm	Tetramorium miserabile	Kenya
-	Dark brown or black
78	Head with sharply developed, well defined rugulae, spaces between shiny; TL 2.7-3.1 mm	Tetramorium camerunense	Ghana, Cameroun & CAR
-	Head and dorsal alitrunk with highly reduced sculpturation
NA	Larger species TL 3.5 mm HL 0.70-0.77 HW 0.63-0.71 CI 90-92 SL 0.53-0.58 SI 82-84; petiole node broader than long in dorsal view; pedicel segments unsculptured	Tetramorium boehmei	Kenya
-	Head with blunt, poorly defined rugulae, spaces between densely punctate or granular
78	Larger species TL 3.5 mm HL 0.85 HW 0.78 CI 92 SL 0.58 SI 74; petiole node broader than long in dorsal view; massively developed petiole and pedicel segments moderately sculptured	.	.
.		Tetramorium ubangense	Zaïre
-	Smaller, TL max 3.0 mm, HW max 0.66
80	Head long & narrow CI 85; scapes relatively long SI 84;	Tetramorium hapale	Ivory Coast
80	Head broader CI 88-92; scapes shorter SI 78-80	Tetramorium ictidum	Cameroun
Dorsum of petiole and/or postpetiole distinctly sculptured
camerunense-group lucayanum-complex	Node of petiole longer than broad in dorsal view
88	With suberect fairly long pubescence on hind tibiae; TL 3.6 mm; uniform dark brown	Tetramorium tychadion	Tanzania
-	With decumbent to appressed short pubescence on hind tibiae
81 & 134	Dorsum of head with fine regular longitudinal rugulae, spaces between polished; postpetiole hardly sculptured; TL 2.8-3.3 mm; uniform mid-brown to black	.	.
.	apparent type form (Wheeler, 1905b) - head quadrangular, anterior border of clypeus transverse, erect hairs long and sparse on the body	.	.
.	form as illustrated by Bolton (1979) - head with more convex sides, smaller eyes and more abundant erect hairs	Tetramorium lucayanum	West Africa & Congo Basin
81 & 133	Dorsum of head with dense coarse irregular longitudinal rugulae, spaces between narrow and with strong ground-sculpture; postpetiole longitudinally rugulose; TL 3.1-3.3 mm; blackish-brown to black	Tetramorium versiculum	Ivory Coast, Ghana & Benin
capense-group	Node of petiole broader than longer in dorsal view
-	With long frontal carinae
134	Erect hairs long and acute; postpetiole strongly rugulose; TL 3.6-4.1 mm; uniform mid-brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium amatongae	Mozambique
135	Erect hairs short & blunt; postpetiole reticulate-punctate; TL 3.3-3.6 mm; uniform glossy mid-brown, gaster darker	.	.
.		Tetramorium lobulicorne	Zimbabwe
-	With widely separated and relatively short frontal carinae
102 & 160	Small species with minute eyes; very short frontal carinae; long scapes SI 85-91; alitrunk dorsum with abundant short hairs and very dense reticulo-puncturation; TL 2.3-2.9 mm; yellowish-brown to mid-brown	Tetramorium semireticulatum	Zimbabwe
-	Medium-sized with small eyes; frontal carinae reach about posterior of eyes
131	Alitrunk dorsum with distinctive very short stout blunt hairs; TL 3.9 mm; light yellowish-brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium dominum	South Africa
135	Alitrunk dorsum reticulate-punctate, with longish erect hairs; TL 3.8-4.3 mm; yellowish-red sometimes darker, gaster brownish	.	.
.		Tetramorium capense	South Africa

SUB6 Anterior clypeal margin entire without any sign of a median notch or impression
Mandibles longitudinally striate and node of petiole with smooth curve from anterior to dorsum plus incurved posterior face, TL 3.7 mm plus Otherwise next species group
quadridentatum-group complex-A	-
162	Propodeum with minute denticles at upper angle; TL 3.7 mm; uniform yellowish-brown	Tetramorium unicum	Cameroun & Zaïre
137	Propodeum with moderate triangular teeth; mandibles with 3 teeth followed by 6-7 denticles; TL 4.1-5.9 mm; colour variable yellowish-brown to blackish-brown	.	.
type worker - yellow-brown
commodum variant - dark coloured		Tetramorium quadridentatum	West Africa & Congo Basin
137	Similar but smaller with coarser sculpturation; mandibles with 3 teeth followed by 4 denticles; TL 3.7-3.9 mm; uniform yellowish-brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium viticolum	Kenya & South Sudan
SUB7 Propodeum with a pair of elongate spines; TL at least 3.0 mm Otherwise sub-section
Dorsal (hind surface) of tibiae with erect or suberect hairs or pubescence; Otherwise
quadridentatum-group complex-B	Occipitum rugo-reticulate
86	Mandibles smooth; TL 4.8-5.2 mm; yellowish-brown, gaster darker	.	.
.		Tetramorium magnificum	Ivory Coast
89	Mandibles longitudinally striate; TL 2.6-3.0 mm; erect hairs blunt and almost all shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye; petiole and postpetiole finely rugulose dorsally; uniform medium to dark brown	Tetramorium longoi	South Africa
NA	Mandibles striate; TL 3.3 mm; erect hairs fine and all equal to or longer than the maximum diameter of the eye; red-brown, gaster darker	Tetramorium n sp Cameroun fk 06	Cameroun
camerunense-group - lucayanum-complex (member)	Occipitum smooth
89	TL 3.5 mm; glossy dull yellow, gaster dark brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium amissum	Zaïre
Dorsal (hind surface) of tibiae without erect or suberect hairs or pubescence
quadridentatum-group - complex-C (ungrouped)	Eyes large, diameter > 0.30 X HW
42	TL 4.7-5.1 mm; dull red or reddish-brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium simulator	Zimbabwe
flabellum-group (part)	Eyes smaller, diameter < 0.26 X HW
?saginatum-complex	Shorter scapes (SI 80-85), relatively broad heads and strongly developed frontal carinae; clypeus with median carina plus lateral longitudinal weak carinae
148	Base of first gastral tergite sculptured with fine dense costulation; TL 3.3-3.7 mm; blackish-brown, first gastral tergite lighter	.	.
.		Tetramorium pylacum	Ivory Coast & Cameroun
151	Base of first gastral tergite unsculptured except for hair pits giving rise to stout hairs; TL 2.8-3.2 mm; uniform dark brown	Tetramorium saginatum	Angola
coloreum-complex	Relatively short scapes (SI 77-83), relatively broad heads
142	Unicolorous very dark blackish brown; TL 3.1-3.3 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium invictum	Ivory Coast
-	Bicoloured, black (or dark brown) and yellow
57	Disc of postpetiole smooth and shining; mandibles smooth; TL 3.2-3.4 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium postpetiolatum	Zaïre
57	Disc of postpetiole longitudinally sculptured; mandibles finely striate; TL 3.0-3.6 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium coloreum	Congo Basin
granulatum-complex	With blanketing reticulo-punctate sculpture on head, alitrunk and pedicel
42	With bizarre short, flattened hairs; TL 3.4-3.6 mm; dull red, gaster dark brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium bellicosum	Nigeria
148	With fine dense coat of short erect hairs; TL 3.5-3.7 mm; dull red, gaster slightly darker	.	.
.		Tetramorium granulatum	Nigeria

SUB8 Propodeum with at most a pair of short triangular teeth
Mandibles striate (not always obvious), most with short blunt hairs Otherwise next species group
simillimum-group	Alitrunk dorsum with short blunt hairs, if any if no hairs then eyes large, diameter > 0.29 X HW
oculatum-complex	Large eyes and (probably) 2-4 elongated curved, hooked hairs on underside of head Otherwise next complex
-	Uniform pale yellow
28 (as T. (Tet.) arnoldi)	Propodeum unarmed; alitrunk dorsum without hairs; TL 2.8-3.0 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium incruentatum	Zimbabwe
168	Propodeum unarmed; erect hairs present on dorsal alitrunk; TL 2.8-2.9 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium berbiculum	Zimbabwe
168	With small but well-developed propodeal teeth; TL 2.5-2.7 mm; gaster usually darker	.	.
.		Tetramorium luteolum	Zimbabwe
-	Uniform dark brown
-	Base of gastral tergite with a band of shagreening
170	Very large eyes; TL 2.4-3.2 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium oculatum	Zimbabwe
170	Moderate sized eyes; thick silvery hairs conspicuous; TL 2.9-3.2 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium argenteopilosum	Zimbabwe
-	Base of gastral tergite without a band of shagreening and without silvery hairs
171	Scapes relatively long (SI 80-87); metapleural lobes sharp; TL 2.8-3.0 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium bevisi	Lesotho
171	Scapes relatively short (SI 71); metapleural lobes rounded; TL 2.7 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium krynitum	Namibia
simillimum-complex	Smaller eyes (max 0.27 HW)
-	Head with dense reticulo-puncturation Otherwise next sub-complex
177	With appressed hairs behind the eye; TL 1.9-2.1 mm; bright uniform yellow	.	.
.		Tetramorium rhetidum	West Africa & Congo Basin
-	With a single stout hair immediately behind the eye
176	Yellowish, thorax and head reddish, gaster paler; TL 2.2-2.5 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium delagoense	Mozambique
(176) revived from synonymy Bolton (1995)	Rust-red, head lighter, gaster darker; TL 2.5 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium intextum	East Africa & Congo (?)
(176) revived from synonymy Bolton (1995)	Dark yellow brown to black	Tetramorium zambezium	Forests of West & Central Africa
-	Without a single stout projecting hair immediately behind the eye, either hairless or with a number of minute appressed hairs behind the eye
178	Yellowish- to light brown, gaster darker; generally smaller, TL 2.0-2.7 mm	.	.
.	Egypt specimen	.	.
.	Note - West African specimens with finer erect hairs	Tetramorium simillimum Gabon	Pan-African & tramp
178	Uniform dark brown to blackish brown; larger, TL 2.4-2.6 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium bothae	southern Africa
-	Head with no more than weak sculpturation
174	Scapes relatively long (SI 91), TL 2.2 mm; dark brown glossy	Tetramorium buthrum	Congo Basin
175	Scapes shorter (SI 82-83); mandibles finely shagreened ; TL 2.0-2.2 mm	.	.
.		Tetramorium anxium	Guinea & Gabon
Mandibles usually smooth alitrunk dorsum with fine acute hairs, if any; if no hairs then eye diameter < 0.29 X HW
dumezi-group	-
dumezi-complex	Erect pilosity relatively sparse, short & fine Otherwise sub-section
.	Propodeum with short acute teeth; without erect hairs on scapes or tibiae
165	with a strong median pronotal costa; head with seven rugulae between the frontal carinae; TL 3.1 mm; brownish yellow	Tetramorium pialtum	Ghana
165	No erect hairs on scapes or tibiae; without a median pronotal costa; TL 2.7-3.1 mm; clear pale yellow	Tetramorium dumezi	West Africa & Congo Basin
.	Propodeal teeth reduced or absent
92	Erect hairs on scapes and hind tibiae, gaster smooth; TL 3.1-3.3 mm; light brown	.	.
.		Tetramorium candidum	Zaïre & Tanzania
92	Erect hairs on scapes and hind tibiae but gaster densely punctulate; TL 3.2-3.3 mm; uniform clear pale yellow	Tetramorium isipingense	South Africa
162	No pilosity on legs; TL 3.4 mm; uniform mid-brown	.	,
.	.	Tetramorium elidisum	Ghana
NA	Without erect pilosity on legs or scapes; TL 3.7 mm; dark brown, funiculi and mandibles contrasting	Tetramorium n  sp Cameroun fk um54	Cameroun
.	Erect hairs variably abundant but always fine and acute
new	Propodeum with small acute teeth; dorsum of head and alitrunk rugo-reticulate; TL 2.1-2.4 mm; yellow-brown	Tetramorium amaniensis	Tanzania (Usambara Mts) - new species
meressei-complex	Abundant long soft curved acute hairs forming a dense pelt; postpetiole with a high posterior face
91	Propodeum with small teeth; dorsal alitrunk weakly sculptured; TL 3.2-3.5 mm; uniform pale yellow	.	.
91		Tetramorium meressei	Ghana & Zaïre
91	Propodeum angular with no teeth; dorsal alitrunk evenly sculptured; TL 3.1 mm; brown	Tetramorium psymanum	Ghana

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

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