Tetramorium weitzeckeri, Emery, 1895

Garcia, Francisco Hita & Fischer, Georg, 2014, Additions to the taxonomy of the Afrotropical Tetramorium weitzeckeri species complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae), with the description of a new species from Kenya, European Journal of Taxonomy 90, pp. 1-16 : 4-5

Identification key to Afrotropical species complexes of the T. weitzeckeri species group (workers)

In Hita Garcia et al. (2010) we provided a key to all species from all three species complexes without a special key to these complexes. In order to facilitate species identifications and species group placements in the future, we provide a simple key to the complexes here:

1. Antennal scrobe well developed and usually deep, with a distinct and often sharp margin all around, frontal carinae curve down ventrally between posterior eye level and occipital margin to form the posterior and ventral margins of the antennal scrobe, in a few species posterior margin weak but still visible; sculpture on cephalic dorsum often reduced, generally 3 or fewer rugae present between frontal carinae, in a few species up to 5 or 6, never more ( Fig. 1A–B, E–F ) ...... T. muralti complex

– Antennal scrobe developed, but shallow, never with a sharp margin all around, frontal carinae almost reaching occipital margin and functioning as dorsal margin of antennal scrobe, ventral margin of antennal scrobe never differentiated; sculpture on cephalic dorsum never reduced, always at least 7 (generally distinctly more) longitudinal rugae present between frontal carinae ( Fig. 1D, G–H ).........2

2. Petiolar node distinctly squamiform, in profile between 2.3 and 4.0 times higher than long (LPeI 25–43), shape in dorsal view always strongly transverse and elliptical, and between 2.2 and 3.7 times wider than long (DPeI 219–367) ( Fig. 2A–B, E–F ) ......... T. weitzeckeri complex

– Petiolar node high nodiform, in profile around 1.3 to 2.0 times higher than long (LPeI 50–80), shape in dorsal view never elliptical or transverse, more an irregular polygon with rounded corners, and between1.1and 1.5times wider than long (DPeI110–154) ( Fig.2C–D, G–H )...... T. edouardi complex

Figures

Fig. 1. Head in frontal and lateral views. A, E. Tetramorium flavithorax (Santschi, 1914) (ZFMK- HYM20096172). B, F. T. muralti Forel, 1910 (ZFMKHYM20096125). C, G. T. weitzeckeri Emery (CASENT0249013, AntWeb, R. Perry 2011). D, H. T. mkomazi Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 (ZFMKHYM20096087).

Fig. 2. Petiolar node in lateral and dorsal views. A, E. Tetramorium renae Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters (CASENT0095412). B, F. T. bendai Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters (ZFMKHYM20096204). C, G. T. philippwagneri Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 (ZFMKHYM20096178). D, H. T. mkomazi Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 (ZFMKHYM20096087).