The Ants of Africa

	The Ants of Africa SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE - Genus Temnothorax
Contents - Myrmicinae - MYRMICINAE Introduction

Genus Temnothorax Mayr

In Tribe FORMICOXENINI.

Genus definition Mayr (1861: 68), revived status Bolton (2003: 252).

Mayr's (1861) genus definition is at .

Reversion by Bolton (2003: 270 ff) from one Genus Leptothorax into three Genera Leptothorax Mayr, Nesomyrmex Wheeler and Temnothorax Mayr.

Temnothorax - Median anterior portion of clypeus without a prominent lobe and not overlapping mandibles; transverse crest absent from stipe of maxilla; clypeus with median carina; antennae 11- or 12-segmented (in Africa only 12-segmented).

Key to the workers of African species (adapted from Bolton, 1982, and Prebus, 2015; note that Prebus uses SI = SL/HL X 100 and not the usual convention of SL/HW X 100, I have calculated the latter):

The size range of the Senegal specimens strongly suggests that mpala is nothing more than a population of slightly smaller megalops. The three queens all match also.

1	Head sub-square in full face view Holotype only. TL ca 3.2 mm, HL 0.73; HW 0.67; PW 0.45; SL 0.51; CI 91; OI 28, SI 79. Antennal scapes short, distinctly failing to reach the posterior margin of the head; compound eyes moderate in size (OI < 30); post petiole globular in dorsal view, widest at the midpoint of the segment; metanotal groove shallowly impressed; head subrectangular (CI > 85); posterior margin of head flat. Overall chestnut-brown, with head and gaster posterior to the midlength of the first tergite darker.	Kenya - solidinodus
--	Head distinctly rectangular or nearly so in full face view	2
2	Head relatively short, CI ca 80	3
--	Head distinctly elongated CI > 75	4
3	Bolton - TL 3.2-3.6, HL 0.74-0.78; HW 0.58-0.60; PW 0.42-0.47; SL 0.62-0.64; CI 77-78; OI 31; SI 107 Smaller eyes max 0.31 of HW; petiole node in profile with sharp posterodorsal angle; antennal scapes surpassing the posterior margin of the head by the length of the first funicular segment; postpetiole widest at the anterior 1/3 of the segment; posterior margin of head rounded; metanotal groove shallowly impressed; compound eyes moderate in size; propodeal spines moderately long.	Kenya - cenatus
--	TL ca 3.3 mm; HL 0.65–0.66; HW 0.52–0.53; PW 0.38–0.39; SL 0.63; CI 79; OI 31; SI 120. Antennal scapes surpassing the posterior margin of the head by the length of the first two funicular segments; postpetiole widest at the anterior 1/3 of the segment; posterior margin of head rounded; promesonotal suture shallowly impressed; compound eyes moderate in size; propodeal spines moderately long. Colour unique among the species of the Afrotropical region, having a light orange head, mesosoma and gaster plus pale appendages. (two workers only) Note: the images of rufus do not show the sculpturation reported by Prebus (2015): "Sculpture of mesosoma in dorsal view with predominately longitudinal rugae on pronotum and mesonotum, becoming increasingly reticulate on the propodeum. Space between propodeal spines with several fine transverse rugae, propodeal declivity finely punctate. In profile, mesosoma rugo-reticulate; longitudinal rugae stronger on pronotum, becoming increasingly reticulate on mesopleuron, and giving way to coarse punctation on metapleuron. Petiole and postpetiole finely punctate, with weak overlying rugosity."	Kenya - rufus
--	TL 3.7 mm; HL 0.83, HW 0.74, SL 0.67, PW 0.5; CI 89; eye length/HL = 0.29; SI 108; n=8	Algeria & Senegal - barryi
.	Senegal worker - TL 3.5 mm; HL 0.80, HW 0.58, SL 0.62, PW 0.5; CI 72; eye length/HL = 0.28; SI 110; n=1 Pilosity seemingly more abundant than the barryi type and not unlike that on rufus. The size and overall apperanace set it apart from the latter.

4	Large eyes max 0.38 of HW; type specimen only TL 2.5 mm, HL 0.67, HW 0.47, SL 0.52, PW 0.35; CI 70, SI 110	.
.	Senegal specimens. n=5	Sudan across Sahel to Senegal - megalops
mpala	Prebus (2015) had: metanotal groove absent, barely visible as an indistinct break in the sculpture dorsally in some specimens; posterior margin of head flat. Now having Senegal examples, including a queen, this appears to be a simple junior synonym of megalops with the Prebus diagnostic features being inconsistent HL 0.60–0.67; HW 0.45–0.49; PW 0.34–0.37; SL 0.43–0.47; CI 73–76; OI 37–42; SI 100.	Kenya - mpala
--	HL 0.63; HW 0.48; PW 0.36; SL 0.57; CI 76; OI 32; SI 108. Antennal scapes surpassing the posterior margin of the head by the length of the first funicular segment; postpetiole widest at the anterior 1/3 of the segment; hairs on the posterior margin of the first gastric tergite separated by about their own length; posterior margin of head rounded; metanotal groove shallowly impressed; compound eyes moderate in size; propodeal spines short. Overall light reddish brown, with head and gaster slightly darker.	Kenya - brevidentis
--	TL 3.7 mm; HL 0.83, HW 0.74, SL 0.67, PW 0.5; CI 89; eye length/HL = 0.29; SI 108	Algeria & Senegal - barryi
.	Senegal worker - TL 3.5 mm; HL 0.80, HW 0.58, SL 0.62, PW 0.5; CI 72; eye length/HL = 0.28; SI 110

MYRMICINAE Introduction

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