Key to Ponera of India

This worker key is based on: Bharti, H., Rilta, J.S. 2015. Taxonomic studies on the ant genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with the description of a new species from India. ZooKeys 526: 9–18 (doi: 10.3897/zookeys.526.5971).

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• Ponera
• The Ants of India

1

• Eyes absent; metanotal groove distinct (Fig. A); posteroventral teeth of subpetiolar process absent (Fig. C) . . . . . Ponera taylori

Bharti and Rilta 2015. Figures A-D.

• Eyes present; metanotal groove indistinct (Fig. B); posteroventral teeth of subpetiolar process present (Fig. D) . . . . . 2

2

return to couplet #1

• A blunt tooth on clypeal margin present (Fig. E), lateral sides of propodeum distinctly marginate (Fig. G), body blackish in colour . . . . . Ponera paedericera

Bharti and Rilta 2015. Figures E-H.

Ponera paedericera

• A blunt tooth on clypeus margin absent (Fig. F), lateral sides of propodeum not marginate (Fig. H), body reddish brown to dark brown in colour . . . . . 3

3

return to couplet #2

• Mandible with 5 well-developed teeth; mesosoma, petiole, and gaster sparsely punctate (Fig. I), teeth on subpetiolar process directed downward; (Fig. K), DPI=106 . . . . . Ponera sikkimensis

Bharti and Rilta 2015. Figures I-K.

Ponera sikkimensis

• Mandible with 3 well-developed teeth; mesosoma, petiole, and gaster densely punctate (Fig. J), teeth on subpetiolar process directed backward (Fig. L), DPI: >131–221 . . . . . Ponera indica