Key to Afrotropical Proceratium Species

The following worker key is based on Baroni Urbani, C., de Andrade, M.L. (2003) The ant genus Proceratium in the extant and fossil record (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Monografie, 36, 1–492.

This key does NOT include new species (P. sokoke, P. carri, P. nilo and P. sali) described in Hita Garcia, F.; Hawkes, P. G.; Alpert, G. D. 2014. Taxonomy of the ant genus Proceratium Roger (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Afrotropical region with a revision of the P. arnoldi clade and description of four new species. ZooKeys 447:47–86.. These species can be identified using the Afrotropical arnoldi clade key noted below.

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• Proceratium
• Key to Afrotropical Proceratium species groups
• Key to Afrotropical species of the Proceratium arnoldi clade

1

• Gastral tergite I greatly hypertrophied posteriorly. Madagascar . . . . . Proceratium diplopyx

Head of Proceratium diplopyx worker

Profile of Proceratium diplopyx worker

• Gastral tergite I round posteriorly . . . . . 2

2

return to couplet #1

• Clypeus protruding anteriorly and surrounding the antennal sockets. Fore tibiae with a basal spine . . . . . 3

• Clypeus reduced, medially subconvex, not surrounding and at most as long as the antennal sockets. Fore tibiae without basal spine . . . . . 5

3

return to couplet #2

• Propodeal sides at least with a well marked angle. Funicular joints broader than long. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole opaque. Ghana . . . . . Proceratium boltoni

Head of Proceratium boltoni worker

Profile of Proceratium boltoni worker

• Propodeal sides unarmed, convex in side view. Funicular joints about as broad as long. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole at least superficially shining . . . . . 4

4

return to couplet #3

• Integumental foveae smaller. Pilosity denser and shorter. Gaster convex in side view. IGR 0.27-0.29. Mauritius . . . . . Proceratium avium

Head of Proceratium avium worker

Profile of Proceratium avium worker

• Integumental foveae larger. Pilosity sparser and longer. Gaster less convex in side view. IGR 0.31-0.34. Mauritius . . . . . Proceratium avioide, a junior synonym of Proceratium avium

5

return to couplet #2

• Frontal carinae very close to each other and posteriorly fused. Lower mesopleura flat. Integumental sculpture at most granulate . . . . . 6

• Frontal carinae far from each other and diverging posteriorly. Lower mesopleura posteriorly inflated. Integumental sculpture granulate-foveolate . . . . . 7

6

return to couplet #5

• Head and mesosoma with suberect hairs. Kenya . . . . . Proceratium toschii

• Head and mesosoma without suberect hairs. Cameroon . . . . . Proceratium terroni

7

return to couplet #5

• Integumental foveae superficial. First gastral tergite longer than 1/4 of the postpetiole. Zimbabwe . . . . . Proceratium arnoldi

Head of Proceratium arnoldi worker

Profile of Proceratium arnoldi worker

• Integumental foveae deep. First gastral tergite 1/7 or less of the length of the postpetiole . . . . . 8

8

return to couplet #7

• Integumental foveae smaller and more superficial. Gastral sculpture more superficial. Burundi . . . . . Proceratium burundense

Head of Proceratium burundense worker

Profile of Proceratium burundense worker

• Integumental foveae larger and more marked. Gastral sculpture deeper. Cameroon . . . . . Proceratium lunatum

Head of Proceratium lunatum worker

Profile of Proceratium lunatum worker