Key to Afrotropical Platythyrea workers
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Key based on Brown (1975)[1]
NOTE: This key covers all the Afrotropical especies except Platythyrea matopoensis known only from sexuals and Platythyrea viehmeyeri
1
- Opening of propodeal spiracle round or oval . . . . . 2
- Opening of propodeal spiracle elongate, slit shaped. . . . . 8
2
return to couplet #1
- Size large, trunk length (WL)>3.8 mm ..... Platythyrea cribrinodis
- Size smaller, WL<3.8 mm . . . . . 3
3
return to couplet #2
- Posterior margin of petiolar node completely unarmed; mandibles with masticatory borders toothless, cultrate; head width (eyes omitted) < 0.9 mm ..... Platythyrea cooperi
- Posterior margin of petiolar node armed with 2 or 3 blunt teeth or angles; mandibles finely but distinctly toothed or crenulate; head width (eyes omitted) usually 0.9 mm or more . . . . . 4
4
return to couplet #3
- Head width (eyes omitted) < 1.0 mm; in full-face view, scapes fail to reach posterior margin of head ..... Platythyrea tenuis
- Head width (eyes omitted) >1.0 mm; in full-face view, scapes overreach posterior margin of head at least slightly when held straight back from insertions . . . . . 5
5
return to couplet #4
- Second segment of antennal funiculus about twice as long as third, and much longer than eye ..... Platythyrea occidentalis
- Second segment of antennal funiculus about the same length as third, and much shorter than eye . . . . . 6
6
return to couplet #5
- Posterodorsal extremity of petiolar node between lateral teeth rounding downward into posterior face, or at least without a sharp projecting margin; mandible near base with a strong dorsolateral groove . . . . . 7
- Posterodorsal extremity of petiolar node with a sharply projecting margin that include the 2 lateral teeth or angles and a low median tooth or lobe that overhangs the concave posterior face; mandible without dorsolateral groove ..... Platythyrea modesta
7
return to couplet #6
- Sculpture opaque, with many conspicuous large punctures on petiole and other dorsal surfaces ..... Platythyrea schultzei
- Sculpture of dorsal surfaces fine and in part feebly shining; coarser punctures small and shallow, inconspicuous on petiole and other dorsal surfaces ..... Platythyrea frontalis
8
return to couplet #1
- Eyes small, their maximum diameters greatest width of antennal scape in front view; petiolar node with sharp, strongly projecting posterodorsal margin ..... Platythyrea gracillima
- Eyes much longer than greatest scape width; posterodorsal border of petiolar node not or only weakly projecting caudad . . . . . 9
9
return to couplet #8
- Posterior face of petiolar node concave, sharply distinct from dorsal surface, and slightly overhung by the weakly projecting posterodorsal border; mesonotum not at all impressed ..... Platythyrea arnoldi
- Posterior face of petiolar node convex or flat, continuing the rounded dorsal face; mesonotum often impressed, at least weakly and in part . . . . . 10
10
return to couplet #9
- Petiole long and narrow, width/length index <64; mesonotum distinctly impressed over its whole length ..... Platythyrea lamellosa
- Petiole not so long and narrow, width/length index >64; mesonotum at most feeble impressed in posterior part, where it joins metanotum . . . . . 11
11
return to couplet #10
- Size large, trunk length (WL)>3.8 mm ..... Platythyrea conradti
- Size large, trunk length (WL)<3.8 mm ..... Platythyrea crucheti
