Key to Forelius with rounded spiracles

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This worker key is based on: Guerrero, R.J. & Fernández, F. 2008. A new species of the ant genus Forelius from the dry forest of Colombia. Zootaxa 1958: 51-60.

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Forelius

1

  • Small workers (TL 1.6–1.7 mm). Scapes barely reaching vertex margin (SI < 90). Mesosomal outline always continuous in lateral view. (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay) . . . . . Forelius heyeri
Forelius pusillus casent0173739 head 1.jpg
Forelius pusillus casent0173739 profile 1.jpg
  • Worker size variable (TL 1.4 – 2.5 mm). Scapes reaching or surpassing vertex margin by at least 1/6 of their length (SI > 90). Mesosomal outline variable . . . . . 2

2

return to couplet #1

  • Pronotum bearing only two erect setae. Dorsal face of propodeum lacking erect setae. (Colombia, Costa Rica, USA) . . . . . Forelius damiani
Forelius damiani casent0178238 head 1.jpg
Forelius damiani casent0178238 profile 1.jpg
  • Pronotum bearing more than two erect setae. Dorsal face of propodeum bearing erect setae. Note: Some evidence of intergradation between F. pruinosus and F. mccooki (Ward 2005) suggests that F. pruinosus may contain a number of cryptic species, and may also hybridize with the very similar F. mccooki . . . . . 3

3

return to couplet #2

  • Mandibles with four teeth and three to four denticles. Pronotum usually with six erect setae. Dorsal face of mesosoma bearing more than 10 erect setae. (Jamaica, Mexico, USA) . . . . . Forelius mccooki
Forelius mccooki casent0005322 head 1.jpg
Forelius mccooki casent0005322 profile 1.jpg
  • Mandibles with five teeth and one or two denticles. Pronotum usually with four erect setae. Dorsal face of mesosoma bearing 2 to 6 erect setae. (Bahamas, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, USA) . . . . . Forelius pruinosus
Forelius pruinosus casent0005320 head 1.jpg
Forelius pruinosus casent0005320 profile 1.jpg