The Ants of Egypt SUBFAMILY DOLICHODERINAE - Genus Tapinoma Förster

Genus Tapinoma Förster (1850a: 43)

Diagnostic Features - Eyes at or in front of the midlength of the head on the dorsal surface. Clypeus with or without the anterior margin emarginate. Mandibles with large apical two or three teeth, followed by a row of denticles. Palp formula, 6,4; and palpi long. Propodeum unarmed or rarely with a pair of blunt tubercles. Gaster in dorsal view with four visible tergites, the anal and associated orifices are ventral.

Foerster's (1850a) genus definition is at . Mayr (1855: 372) gave a genus description and a key to separate European species, this is at . Mayr (1861: 41) gave a genus description, this is at .

Separation of species

1	Anterior border of clypeus entire; TL 1.5-1.75 mm; variably coloured but with significant pale areas of alitrunk and gaster contrasting with the dark brown head, appendages wholly pale yellowish.	widespread tramp species - Tapinoma melanocephalum
--	Anterior border of clypeus with medial notch	2
2	TL 2.5-3.5 mm; black or brownish black, often mandibles, antennae and most of legs dark brown, tarsi yellowish; pubescence abundant, erect hairs sparse; wholly very finely striato-punctate, quite shiny. The subspecies nigerrimum is larger TL 3.5-4.0 mm, with antennae and legs wholly pale reddish in the smallest individuals, although the pale sections are reduced in larger specimens	Europe & Middle East - Tapinoma erraticum
--	Apparently somewhat larger; the propodeum is lower with a shallow angle between the dorsum and declivity; appendages almost entirely dark	Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East - Tapinoma simrothi

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