Key to Anochetus of the Philippines

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This worker key is based on: Zettel, H. 2012. New trap-jaw ant species of Anochetus Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Philippine Islands, a key and notes on other species. Myrmecological News. 16:157-167.

Zettel noted: Measurements are taken from holotypes (in A. graeffei: lectotype) and from paratype workers of new species with smallest and largest HW. All measurements are in millimetres. Terms for head structures and mandibular dentition follow Borwn (1976, 1978) (see also Figs. 1 and 8).

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1

  • Intercalary tooth on mandibular apex well developed and situated between base and midlength of ventral apical tooth (Figs. 1-4). . . . . . 2
  • Intercalary tooth on mandibular apex absent or small and situated at apical third of ventral apical tooth (Figs. 5-7). . . . . . 6
Zettel 2012. Figure 1-7.

2

return to couplet #1

  • TL > 8 mm. Shaft of mandible bread-knife-shaped, with a single sharp, dentate medial edge . . . . . Anochetus princeps
Anochetus princeps casent0217511 p 1 high.jpg
  • TL < 7 mm. Shafts of mandibles forceps-shaped, each with a narrow medial plane between two more or less distinct, often finely serrate edges (Figs. 2-4) . . . . . 3

3

return to couplet #2

  • Pronotal disc smooth and shiny (e.g., Fig. 18). Eye glabrous (Fig. 16). . . . . . 4
  • Pronotal disc strongly sculptured (Figs. 26, 27). Eye beset with minute setae (Figs. 24, 25). . . . . . 5
Zettel 2012. Figures 16-19.
Zettel 2012. Figures 24-29.

4

return to couplet #3

Anochetus isolatus ANIC32-016928 side 25-AntWiki.jpg
  • Head sculpture reaching nuchal carina. Eyes minute (Fig. 16). TL 3.7-3.8 mm . . . . . Anochetus schoedli

5

return to couplet #3

  • Emargination of vertex shallow (Fig. 24). Mesosoma stout (Fig. 26), PW / HW > 0.57 (0.58 in lectotype, 0.61-0.65 in Philippine specimens). First gaster tergite coarsely punctured, in Philippine specimens with some additional striation (Fig. 28) . . . . . Anochetus graeffei
Anochetus graeffei casent0172373 profile 1.jpg
  • Emargination of vertex deep (Fig. 25). Mesosoma slender (Fig. 27), PW / HW 0.50-0.53 (0.53 in holotype). First gaster tergite finely punctured (Fig. 29) . . . . . Anochetus ruginotus

6

return to couplet #1

7

return to couplet #6

  • TL 9.4 mm. Node of petiole very broad in lateral aspect (Fig. 21). Intercalary tooth on mandible distinct (Fig. 5) . . . . . Anochetus werneri
  • TL < 6 mm. Node of petiole slender in lateral aspect (Fig. 9). Intercalary tooth on mandible minute or absent (e.g., Fig. 7). . . . . . 8

8

return to couplet #7

  • TL 4.4-5.2 mm. Striation on head confined to frons between frontal carinae. Pronotum with longitudinal, but irregular striation . . . . . Anochetus incultus
Anochetus incultus casent0217506 p 1 high.jpg
  • TL 5.5-5.7 mm. Striation on head extended onto vertex (Fig. 8). Pronotum with dense, regular, longitudinal striation (Fig. 10) . . . . . Anochetus leyticus

9

return to couplet #6

  • Eyes minute, length 0.13-0.14 mm. Mandibles short, length < 0.70 mm. Longitudinal striae on frons obsolete . . . . . Anochetus brevis
Anochetus brevis casent0902439 p 1 high.jpg
  • Eyes of moderate size, length > 0.15 mm. Mandible length > 0.70 mm. Longitudinal striae on frons distinct, at least laterally. . . . . . 10

10

return to couplet #9

  • Mesonotum smooth. Propodeum with more than 30 transverse costulae. Frons entirely striate . . . . . Anochetus modicus
Anochetus modicus casent0217508 p 1 high.jpg
  • Mesonotum transversely striate. Propodeum with 20-25 transverse costulae (Fig. 17). Striation of frons restricted to sides . . . . . Anochetus pangantihoni