The Ants of Egypt SUBFAMILY FORMICINAE - Genus Paratrechina Motschulsky

Genus Paratrechina Motschulsky (1863: 13)

In Tribe LASIINI, previously PRENOLEPIDINI.

Diagnostic Features - Dorsal surface of head, alitrunk and gaster with distinctly paired coarse hairs. Eyes well developed and set at or in front of the mid-length of the head. No ocelli. Antennae 12-segmented and inserted close to the posterior margin of the clypeus. Anterior clypeal margin entire or weakly emarginate medially. Mandibles narrow, with five or six teeth. Palpi long. Propodeum unarmed. Petiole a reduced scale inclined forwards and often overhung by the first gastral segment, always unarmed above. Acidopore borne on a conical projection of the hypopigium, and surrounded by a fringe of hairs.

Bernard (1952) writing of the Tribe LASIINI, described these as small, very specialised, terricolous ants, showing polymorphism. The larvae have a reduced buccal apparatus and are fed on alimentary fluids, notably the exudate of Homoptera, which the ant workers often raise in the nest. Most have a vast geographic distribution.

See key by Emery (1910a: 127) at (P. flavipes is from Japan).

Separation of species - (also from André 1882b: 203 ff)

1	With elongated legs and scapes, latter twice as long as head; TL 2.5-3.0 mm; body almost smooth and very shiny; erect pilosity long and yellow; brown-black or reddish-brown appendages pale	longicornis
--	Without elongated legs and scapes	2
2	With noticeable pubescence on gaster and fine erect hairs; TL 2.2-2.6 mm; yellow-brown	jaegerskioeldi
--	With only sparse pubescence on gaster and coarse erect hairs; TL 2.0-2.5 mm; overall brown, dark on the head and gaster	vividula

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