Key to Polyrhachis Chariomyrma select Australian species

This worker key is based on: Kohout, R.J. 2008. Two new species of Polyrhachis Fr. Smith from Australia, based on formerly quadrinomial taxa. Australian Entomologist. 35:161-171.

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• Polyrhachis
• Australia

1

• Head and mesosoma distinctly metallic green, blue or purple or a combination of these colours . . . . . Polyrhachis hookeri

• Head and mesosoma uniformly very dark brown or black . . . . . 2

2

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• Dorsum of gaster with a distinct longitudinal patch of very dark maroon or purple-coloured, closely appressed pubescence; body with rather irregular, reticulate-rugose sculpturation . . . . . 3

• Dorsum of gaster without such a patch, with golden or coppery pubescence uniformly distributed over gastral dorsum; body sculpturation generally longitudinally striate-punctate with striae on pronotal dorsum U-shaped medially and oblique across humeral angles . . . . . Polyrhachis cydista

3

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• Propodeal spines relatively short, divergent, weakly elevated from their somewhat broadened bases and dorso-ventrally flattened; gaster reddish-brown, distinctly lighter than dorsum ofmesosoma . . . . . Polyrhachis obscura

• Propodeal spines longer, with their length almost equal to distance between their bases, gently curved, with their tips projecting posteriorly; gaster very dark with distinct green metallescence . . . . . Polyrhachis lownei