Key to Sulawesi Polyrhachis subgenera and species-groups

This worker key is based on: Kohout, R.J. 2008a. A review of the Polyrhachis ants of Sulawesi with keys and descriptions of new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 52:255-317.

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Polyrhachis

1

• Mesosomal dorsum distinctly laterally marginate along its entire length . . . . . 2

• Mesosomal dorsum only partly marginate or totally immarginate. . . . . 13

2

return to couplet #1

• Pronotal humeri produced into more-or-less anteriorly directed spines . . . . . 3

• Pronotal humeri rounded, angular or produced into broad-based short teeth . . . . . 10

3

return to couplet #2

• Propodeum usually with upturned teeth; petiole scale-like with dorsum armed or unarmed (Myrma, in part) . . . . . 4

• Propodeum with posteriorly or upwardly directed spines; petiole columnar, armed with spines or teeth of various configurations . . . . . 7

4

return to couplet #3

• Dorsum of petiole with four spines or teeth . . . . . 5

• Dorsum of petiole without spines, entire or at most obtusely jagged . . . . . 6

5

return to couplet #4

• Mesosoma in profile evenly convex, without distinct border between dorsum and propodeal declivity; head with distinct postocular carinae . . . . . continua species-group (only Polyrhachis continua)

• Mesosoma in profile with distinct border dividing dorsum from declivity; head without postocular carinae . . . . . relucens species-group

6

return to couplet #4

• Large species (HL >2.30); whole body with numerous long or medium length erect hairs . . . . . vestita species-group

• Small species (HL <1.80); body with only a few short erect hairs on front of head and around gastral apex . . . . . inermis species-group

7

return to couplet #3

• Dorsum of petiole armed with 3 mostly dorsoposteriorly directed spines of various lengths (Myrmothrinax) (in part - also #12, #13) . . . . . 8

• Dorsum of petiole armed with 2 mostly horizontal spines that usually conform to shape of gaster . . . . . 9

8

return to couplet #7

• Petiole with spines more-or-less subequal or with middle spine shorter than lateral pair . . . . . aequalis species-group

• Petiole with middle spine distinctly longer than lateral pair that are sometimes rudimentary . . . . . thrinax species-group

9

return to couplet #7

• Pronotal humeri produced into broad, horizontal, dorsally flattened spines; dorsum of petiole acute with pair of intercalary teeth . . . . . cryptoceroides species-group (only Polyrhachis cryptoceroides)

• Pronotal humeri produced into rather slender, acute spines; dorsum of petiole with posteriorly sloping platform, without intercalary teeth . . . . . Hedomyrma

10

return to couplet #2

• Propodeum with short, upturned teeth . . . . . 11

• Propodeum with posteriorly directed, horizontal spines . . . . . 13

11

return to couplet #10

• Petiole scale-like; dorsum armed with four, more-or-less subequal teeth . . . . . zopyra species-group (only Polyrhachis zopyra)

• Petiole columnar; dorsum armed with spines and/or teeth of various configurations . . . . . 12

12

return to couplet #11

• Dorsum of petiole with two elevated spines, or with two horizontal spines and often a pair of intercalary teeth . . . . . flavicornis species-group

• Dorsum of petiole with three very short, erect spines, middle spine often rudimentary . . . . . Myrmothrinax (in part - also #7, #13) (only Polyrhachis trispinosa)

13

return to couplet #1; return to couplet #10

• Pronotal humeri rounded or weakly obtusely angulate; petiole with 3 spines, middle spine distinctly elongated, lateral spines short or rudimentary; body without long hairs . . . . . Myrmothrinax (in part - also #7, #12) (only Polyrhachis unicuspis)

• Pronotal humeri distinctly toothed; petiole with 2 horizontal spines conforming to shape of gaster; body with abundant long hairs . . . . . Chariomyrma

14

• Mesosomal dorsum partly marginate (Myrmatopa, in part) . . . . . 15

• Mesosomal dorsum totally immarginate . . . . . 16

15

return to couplet #14

• Lateral margins of mesonotum produced into distinct dorsolateral prominences; pronotal dorsum without trace of lateral margins . . . . . schnag species-group

• Lateral margins of mesonotum relatively flat, without distinct dorsolateral prominences; pronotal margins evident only at humeral angles, vague or completely lacking posteriorly . . . . . wallacei species-group

16

return to couplet #14

• Mesonotum with pair of spines . . . . . Polyrhachis (only Polyrhachis erosispina)

• Mesonotum without spines . . . . . 17

17

return to couplet #16

• Mesosoma strongly longitudinally and transversely convex; colour black, mostly highly polished . . . . . 18

• Mesosoma weakly to moderately convex; colour of body variable, never highly polished . . . . . 19

18

return to couplet #17

• Petiole scale-like; dorsum armed with four teeth or spines of various configurations; sides of head with longitudinal carinae separating genae from ventral parts of head; propodeum without spines . . . . . Cyrtomyrma

• Petiole columnar; dorsum armed with two horizontal spines that conform to shape of gaster; sides of head without longitudinal carinae; propodeum with pair of spines . . . . . mucronata species-group

19

return to couplet #17

• Head and body with numerous, more-or-less erect hairs . . . . . 20

• Head and body with only a few scattered hairs . . . . . 22

20

return to couplet #19

• Larger species (HL >2.50) . . . . . sexspinosa species-group

• Smaller species (HL <2.20) . . . . . 21

21

return to couplet #20

• Frontal carinae distinctly elevated; head and body rather coarsely sculptured . . . . . cleophanes species-group

• Frontal carinae not distinctly elevated; head and body reticulate-punctate . . . . . bicolor species-group

22

return to couplet #19

• Antennal scapes and tibiae distinctly flattened . . . . . hector species-group

• Antennal scapes and tibiae not distinctly flattened . . . . . 23

23

return to couplet #22

• Pronotal humeri produced into distinct, acute spines; head appears normal in relation to rest of body; eyes convex . . . . . 24

• Pronotal humeri toothed; head disproportionally large compared to rest of body; eyes flat . . . . . flavoflagellata species-group (only Polyrhachis storki)

24

return to couplet #23

• Head and body deeply sculptured, foveolate-rugose . . . . . 25

• Head and body only weakly reticulate-punctate . . . . . 26

25

return to couplet #24

• Smaller species (HL <1.60); body light to very dark reddish-brown with appendages distinctly lighter . . . . . furcata species-group (only Polyrhachis rufipes)

• Larger species (HL >2.25); body, including apendages and gaster often very dark reddish-brown . . . . . armata species-group (only Polyrhachis armata)

26

return to couplet #24

• Propodeal spines with their tips distictly curved outwards . . . . . dives species-group (only Polyrhachis dives)

• Propodeal spines with their tips straight . . . . . armata species-group (in part)