Key to Philippine Ponerinae

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online

This worker key is based on: General, D. and G. Alpert. 2012. A synoptic review of the ant genera (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the Philippines. ZooKeys. 200:1-111 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.200.2447.

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1

  • Mandibles long and linear, inserted at middle of the anterior margin of head . . . . . 2
  • Mandibles triangular or linear, inserted at sides of head . . . . . 3

2

return to couplet #1

  • Frons with a conspicuous groove running along the midline; in profile, petiole node produced into a dorsal sharp point . . . . . Odontomachus
  • Frons simple, at most with shallow striations; in profile, petiole node blunt . . . . . Anochetus

3

return to couplet #1

  • Antennal insertions well separated; hind tibia with two pectinate spurs . . . . . Platythyrea
  • Antennal insertions closely approximated; hind tibia with one pectinate spur, but may have a smaller simple spur in front of it . . . . . 4

4

return to couplet #3

  • Hind tibia with only one pectinate spur, without a smaller, simple anterior spur . . . . . 5
  • Hind tibia with two spurs with the smaller spur simple . . . . . 8

5

return to couplet #4

  • Side of mandible near insertion with a small circular pit . . . . . Pachycondyla (in part - also #12)
  • Side of mandible near insertion without a pit . . . . . 6

6

return to couplet #5

  • Outer surface of middle tibia and middle and hind tarsi with strong, peg-like teeth; pronotum flat and shelf-like in profile . . . . . Centromyrmex
  • Outer surface of middle tibia and middle and hind tarsi with hairs, but never with strong, peg-like teeth; pronotum convex in profile . . . . . 7

7

return to couplet #6

  • Subpetiolar process with an oval or circular translucent window, and with a sharp posterior angle . . . . . Ponera
  • Subpetiolar process without an oval or circular translucent window, and usually blunt or rounded posteriorly . . . . . Hypoponera

8

return to couplet #4

  • Tarsal claws on hind leg either pectinate or with one or more teeth on inner surface . . . . . 9
  • Tarsal claws on hind leg simple, never with teeth on inner surface . . . . . 10

9

return to couplet #8

  • Ocelli present; mandibles long and forceps-like with a triangular flange beneath . . . . . Harpegnathos
  • Ocelli absent; mandibles variable but never long and forceps-like with a triangular flange beneath . . . . . Leptogenys

10

return to couplet #8

  • Petiole node with a pair of spines . . . . . Diacamma

11

return to couplet #10

  • Side of pronotum with a pair of large blunt angles; anterior clypeal margin with small blunt teeth or denticles . . . . . Odontoponera
  • Side of pronotum and anterior clypeal margin simple . . . . . 12

12

return to couplet #11

  • Mandibles, when fully closed, with a large gap between them; eyes situated very near base of mandibles . . . . . Myopias
  • Mandibles, when fully closed, slightly overlap along the inner margin; eyes situated away from base of mandibles . . . . . Pachycondyla (in part - also #4)