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Leptothorax and Temnothorax
Leptothorax and Temnothorax
Leptothorax | Temnothorax |
| Antennae normally 11-segmented | Antennae normally 12-segmented, but often 11-segmented in our region |
| Median carina absent from clypeus | Median carina absent from clypeus |
| Tranverse crest present on stipes of maxilla | Tranverse crest absent on stipes of maxilla |
| 1a. | Antennae with 12 segments; roughly sculptured with rugae on head, mesosoma, petiole, and post-petiole; gaster smooth and glossy; dark brown/black; *massive post-petiolar node, width ³ 1.5 × width of the petiole* | T. texanus |
| 1b. | Antennae with 11 segments (may look like 12) | 2 |
| 2a. | Median carina present from clypeus (genus Temnothorax) | 3 |
| 2b. | Median carina present from clypeus (genus Temnothorax) | 6 |
| 3a. | Propodeal spines short, length < ½ the distance between their bases; normally dark brown; *head nearly covered with fine striae* | T. schaumii |
| 3b. | Propdeal spines longer, color yellowish-brown to dark brown to black | 4 |
| 4a. | Dark brown to black ant; dorsum of head smooth, shining; propodeal spines long, pointing nearly straight backwards | T. longispinosus |
| 4b. | Yellowish-brown ant; dorsum of head sculptured | 5 |
| 5a. | Propodial spines well-separated at base; post-petiole notably broader than long | T. ambiguus |
| 5b. | Propodial spines close together at base; post-petiole subquadrate, not significantly broader than long | T. curvispinosus |
| 6 | L. muscorum |
Reference: Mackay, W. P. 2000. A review of the new world ants of the subgenus Myrafant, (genus Leptothorax) Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Sociobiology 36: 265-444.;
Discussions with Stefan Cover (MCZ), 11/15/2006
