Key to Alfaria species

Identification key to workers and gynes of Alfaria (published as the Gnamptogenys minuta-group) based on Dias & Lattke (2019).

1

• Propodeum with a pair of denticles => 7
• Propodeum continuous, denticles absent => 2

2

return to couplet #1

• Integument mostly opaque, sculpturing predominantly granulose with variable degrees of areolae/foveolae => 3
• Integument mostly shiny or silky, sculpturing can be finely striolate or smooth with variable degrees of areolae/foveolae => 5

3

return to couplet #2

• Mandible falcate, masticatory margin edentate and concave (north-central Venezuela) => Alfaria fieldi
• Mandible triangular, masticatory margin fairly straight and denticulate or crenulate => 4

4

return to couplet #3

• Metanotal groove well-impressed; spiracles of abdominal segments I and II shining and conspicuous (northwestern Venezuela) => Alfaria petiscapa
• Metanotal groove absent; spiracles of abdominal segments I and II opaque and not conspicuous (southern Mexico to Brazil) => Alfaria minuta

5

return to couplet #2

• Mandible falcate (northern South America) => Alfaria falcifera
• Mandible triangular => 6

6

return to couplet #5

• Eye not prominent, broadly convex; anterior clypeal margin broadly convex; occipital lobe rounded (southern Mexico to Costa Rica) => Alfaria simulans
• Eye prominent, semispherical; anterior clypeal margin medially concave; occipital lobe subangular (eastern Ecuador to central Brazil) => Alfaria vriesi

7

return to couplet #1

• Meso- and metatibial spurs absent (Colombia to southern Brazil) => Alfaria caelata
• Meso- and metatibial spurs present => 8

8

return to couplet #7

• Clypeal lamella present; clypeus with a median tooth, postpetiolar tergite mostly with arched punctate-rugulae (southwestern Brazil) => Alfaria striolata
• Clypeal lamella absent; clypeus with a median lobe; postpetiolar tergite with rough longitudinal costulae medianly (southeast Brazil) => Alfaria piei

References

• Camacho, G.P., Franco, W., Branstetter, M.G., Pie, M.R., Longino, J.T., Schultz, T.R., Feitosa, R.M. 2022. UCE phylogenomics resolves major relationships among Ectaheteromorph ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ectatomminae, Heteroponerinae): A new classification for the subfamilies and the description of a new genus. Insect Systematics and Diversity 6(1): 5; 1–20 (doi:10.1093/isd/ixab026).
• Dias, A.M., Lattke, J.E. 2019. A new species and new records of minuta-group Gnamptogenys from Brazil (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 63, 30–34 (DOI 10.1016/j.rbe.2018.10.002).