sculpture
reticulated rugae abundant
reticulated rugae abundant
abundant amount of reticulated rugae above eye level (Pheidole)
posterolateral lobes smooth
posterolateral lobes smooth
The posterolateral portion of cephalic dorsum sculptured with punctures, rugae or some combination, but never smooth and shining. Best viewed in profile. Used in Antkey to separate the majors of Pheidole fervens and Pheidole teneriffana from those of Pheidole flavens and Pheidole moerens.
posterolateral lobes sculptured
posterolateral lobes sculptured
The posterolateral portion of cephalic dorsum smooth and shining, lacking any type of distinct sculpture. Best viewed in profile. Used in Antkey to separate the majors of Pheidole flavens and Pheidole moerens from those of Pheidole fervens and Pheidole teneriffana.
mesosoma entirely punctate
mesosoma entirely punctate
The mesosoma is entirely covered in a punctate ground sculpture giving it a uniformly dull appearance. Used in Antkey to separate Monomorium pharaonis and the Monomorium salomonis-group from other Monomorium.
carinae approaching posterior margin
carinae approaching posterior margin
This character state was used by Wilson (2003) to distinguish Pheidole flavens from Pheidole moerens. However, the character is ambiguous and variable, and may have been based upon examination of a limited amount of material.
carinae terminating before posterior margin
carinae terminating before posterior margin
This character state was used by Wilson (2003) to distinguish Pheidole moerens from Pheidole flavens. However, the character is ambiguous and variable, and may have been based upon examination of a limited amount of material.
carinae strongly reticulate
carinae strongly reticulate
posterolateral lobes with longitudinal carinae frequently being intersected and interrupted by transverse carinae to form a dense mesh of rugoreticulation. This character, combined with the absence of antennal scrobes, is used to separate the major worker of Pheidole obscurithorax from that of Pheidole fervens and Pheidole teneriffana.
carinae weakly reticulate
carinae weakly reticulate
posterolateral lobes with longitudinal carinae only occasionally being intersected by much shorter transverse carinae to form a patches of rugoreticulation. This character, combined with the presence of antennal scrobes, is used to separate the major worker of Pheidole fervens and Pheidole teneriffana from that of Pheidole obscurithorax (which has a much denser network of rugoreticulum).
rugae mostly longitudinal
rugae mostly longitudinal
Cephalic dorsum primarily sculptured with subparallel longitudinal rugae that are not intersected by sections of shorter latitudinal rugae. Used in Antkey to separate Tetramorium caespitum_cf and Tetramorium tsushimae from all other Tetramorium species.
rugae strongly reticulated
rugae strongly reticulated
Cephalic dorsum with short lateral rugae intersecting longer longitudinal rugae. Used in Antkey to separate all other Tetramorium species from Tetramorium caespitum_cf and Tetramorium tsushimae.