Key to Australian Aphaenogaster Species

The following key to Australian Aphaenogaster is based on Shattuck (2008).

1: Hairs under head

• Majority of hairs on venter of head located laterally and forming a distinct psammophore, only scattered hairs on central portion => 2

(Leads to: Aphaenogaster barbigula, Aphaenogaster mediterrae, Aphaenogaster poultoni)

• Hairs on venter of head randomly distributed and not forming a distinct psammophore => 3

(Leads to: Aphaenogaster barbara, Aphaenogaster kimberleyensis, Aphaenogaster longiceps, Aphaenogaster pythia, Aphaenogaster reichelae)

2: Eye size, scape length

• Eye relatively large (EI greater than 21); scape relatively long (SI greater than 106) => Aphaenogaster mediterrae

• Eye relatively small (EI less than 21); scape relatively short (SI less than 106) => 4

(Leads to: Aphaenogaster barbigula, Aphaenogaster poultoni)

3: Shape of head

• Posterior margin of head nearly flat in full face view, extending laterally of the occipital collar before passing through a distinct posterolateral corner into the lateral margin of the head => 5

(Leads to: Aphaenogaster pythia, Aphaenogaster reichelae)

• Posterior margin of head broadly arched in full face view, the arch beginning at the occipital collar and with at most a weak angle separating the posterior and lateral margins of the head (often posterior and lateral margins forming a continuous surface) => 6

(Leads to: Aphaenogaster barbara, Aphaenogaster kimberleyensis, Aphaenogaster longiceps)

4: Petiolar shape, mandibular sculpturing

• Petiolar node (in dorsal view) wider than long; mandibular sculpture composed of irregularly sized striations (occurring in Western Australia) => Aphaenogaster poultoni

• Petiolar node (in dorsal view) approximately square; mandibular sculpture composed of regularly sized striations (occurring in South Australia and eastward) => Aphaenogaster barbigula

5: Scape length

• Scape relatively short (SI less than 125) (occurring in eastern Queensland and north eastern New South Wales) => Aphaenogaster pythia

• Scape relatively long (SI greater than 135) (occurring in Northern Territory) => Aphaenogaster reichelae

6: Hair shape, propodeal spines

• Shorter erect hairs on mesosomal dorsum (especially those on mesonotum) with blunt tips; dorsal surfaces of propodeum and propodeal spines connected through a gentle concavity (so that the base of each spine is at approximately the same level as the dorsal surface of the propodeum) => Aphaenogaster longiceps

• Erect hairs on mesosomal dorsum tapering to sharp points; dorsal surfaces of propodeum and propodeal spines connected through a gentle concavity followed by a gentle convexity (so that the base of each spine is raised slightly above the dorsal surface of the propodeum) => 7

(Leads to: Aphaenogaster barbara, Aphaenogaster kimberleyensis)

7: Head shape, scape length

• Head relatively narrow, scape relatively long (occurring in northern Northern Territory and northern Western Australia) => Aphaenogaster kimberleyensis

• Head relatively broad, scape relatively short (occurring in Queensland) => Aphaenogaster barbara