Genus Technomyrmex (Dolichoderinae)

• Technomyrmex Mayr, G. 1872: 147 . Type species: Technomyrmex strenuus Mayr, by monotypy.
• Engramma Forel, 1905e: 180. Type species: Engramma lujae Forel, by monotypy. Synonymy: Shattuck, 1992c: 153.
• Aphantolepis Wheeler, W.M. 1930e: 44. Type species: Aphantolepis quadricolor Wheeler, by monotypy. Synonymy: Brown, W.L. 1953h: 5.

• OVERVIEW.   This genus has 60 species that are found in the Old World tropics. One species has spread worldwide as a tramp species (Brown, 2000: 67 in Agosti, Majer, et. al. Ants, standard methods for measuring and monitoring biodiversity)
• ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS.  Worldwide.


      
Photo of Technomyrmex albipes Smith. Courtesy of Japanese Ant Database


• RECOGNITION.   Mandible with 12 to 14 teeth decreasing in size from apex to base; basal angle absent. Pronotum with erect hairs on dorsal surface. Petiolar scale absent (rarely present but minute). In dorsal view, 5 gastral tergites visible. The terminal tergite is not reflexed ventrally and thus the anus is located at the terminus of the gaster in lateral view.
• SIMILAR GENERA.   This genus is most similar to Tapinoma which differs by having 4 gastral tergites visible in dorsal view and is without erect hairs on pronotum.
• TRIBE.  Dolichoderini.
• TAXONOMY.   Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 202 (key to species formerly in Engramma - out of date) .— Shattuck, 1992c: 153–161, figs. 150–156, table 4 (description of w.q.m., diagnosis of l., distribution map, figures (full face and lateral views) w.q.m.) .— Bolton, 1994: figs. 54, 55 (SEMs (full face and lateral view) of w.) .— Shattuck, 1994: 156–169 (catalog) .

• albipes. Formica (Tapinoma) albipes Smith, F. 1861b: 38 (w.) . [Sulawesi] Forel, 1891c: 98 (q.) . Combination in Tapinoma: Mayr, 1863a: 455; in Technomyrmex: Emery, 1888d: 392. Junior synonym of detorquens: Donisthorpe, 1932b: 575. Revived from synonymy: Wilson & Taylor, 1967b: 82. Current subspecies nominal plus bruneipes, brunneus, cedarensis, cordiformis, rotundiceps, trunicola, wedda.
• nigrum. Tapinoma nigrum Mayr, G. 1862: 703 (w.) . [Sri Lanka] Synonymy: Mayr, G. 1872: 147 ; Mayr, G. 1876: 83 .
• albitarse. Tapinoma albitarse Motschoulsky, 1863: 14 (w.q.) . [Sri Lanka] Synonymy: Emery, 1893h: 249.
• vitiensis. Technomyrmex vitiensis Mann, 1921: 373 (w.) . [Fiji Island] Santschi, 1928a: 52 (m.) . Synonymy: Wilson & Taylor, 1967b: 82.
• rufescens. Technomyrmex albipes st. rufescens Santschi, 1928c: 70, fig. 1 (w.) . [Fiji Island] Synonymy: Wilson & Taylor, 1967b: 82.

• TAXONOMY. Shattuck, 1994: 157.—Shattuck, 1999: 83–83, figs. 372–374.
• MISCELLANEOUS. Tsuji, Furukawa, et.al. 1991: 413–422 (caste system, existence of reproductively active intermediates) .— Tsuji & Yamauchi, 1994: 157–167.