Key to Crematogaster kelleri group workers

This worker key is based on: Blaimer, B.B. & Fisher, B.L. 2013. How much variation can one ant species hold? Species delimitation in the Crematogaster kelleri-group in Madagascar. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68082. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068082

1

Postpetiole clearly bisected by a complete, deep, longitudinal median impression (Figs 5, 6) . . . . . 2

Fig 5. Postpetiole with a complete, deep, longitudinal median impression C. madagascariensis

Fig 6 Postpetiole with median stripe on complete median impression C. hazolava

Postpetiole with shallow median impression anteriorly, more pronounced posteriorly (Figs 7, 8) . . . . . Crematogaster kelleri

Fig 7 Postpetiole with shallow median impression C. kelleri

Fig 8 Postpetiole with shallow median impression C. kelleri

2

return to couplet #1

Propodeal spiracle mostly confluent with base of propodeal spines (Fig. 9); propodeal spines short (SPI 0.07–0.15) . . . . . 3

Fig 9 Propodeal spiracle confluent with base of propodeal spines C. hazolava

Fig 10 Propodeal spiracle situated below base of propodeal spines C. tavaratra

Propodeal spiracle situated below base of propodeal spines (Fig. 10); propodeal spines medium length (SPI 0.17–0.24); far northern Madagascar . . . . . Crematogaster tavaratra

3

return to couplet #2

Postpetiole evenly colored (as in Fig. 5, 7, 8), body color other than yellow . . . . . 4

Fig 5 Postpetiole with a complete, deep, longitudinal median impression C. madagascariensis

Fig 7 Postpetiole with median stripe on complete median impression C. hazolava

Fig 8 Species-key to the C. kelleri-group. Postpetiole with shallow median impression C. kelleri

Postpetiole with ‘‘median stripe’’: longitudinal impression lighter colored than lobes (as in Fig. 6), or body color yellow (in this case median stripe present, but hard to see) . . . . . Crematogaster hazolava

Fig 6 Postpetiole with median stripe on complete median impression C. hazolava

4

return to couplet #3

Very small species (HW 0.68–0.72, WL 0.73–0.74); posterior head margin rounded; color dirty yellow; known only from Montagne d’Ambre massif . . . . . Crematogaster hafahafa

Medium to large species (HW 0.86–1.11, WL 0.92–1.16); posterior head margin usually with subangular corners, color brown or dark brown . . . . . Crematogaster madagascariensis