Polyrhachis flavicornis species-group

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online

The species in this group are members of the subgenus Myrmatopa.

Species

Identification

Key to Sulawesi Polyrhachis flavicornis-group species

Diagnosis

Jaitrong, Yamane and Noon-Anant (2023) - Members of the species group can be distinguished from other species groups by the following characteristics:

  • 1) the mesosoma that is box-like and dorsolaterally marginate throughout its length
  • 2) pronotum in dorsal view convex median portion and narrowed posteriorly, armed with humeral teeth
  • 3) propodeal spine short and directed upward
  • 4) petiole in lateral view with anterior slope distinctly convex
  • 5) petiole with two spines dorsolaterally, without denticles between the spines
  • 6) petiolar spine in lateral view curved backwards, as long as or longer than the height of petiole

This species group is most similar to the Polyrhachis wallacei species group but can be separated by

  • 1) pronotum dorsolaterally marginate throughout its length; pronotum dorsolaterally not marginate in P. wallacei group
  • 2) humerus armed with teeth or denticle; unarmed in P. wallacei group
  • 3) petiole in profile view with anterior slope distinctly convex; anterior slope almost straight in P. wallacei group
  • 4) petiolar spine in profile view curved backwards; vertical and almost straight in P. wallacei group

Notes

This group is characterised by the mesosomal dorsum being distinctly marginate along its entire length and by the black colour of the body (thus closely resembling some species of the subgenus Campomyrma). In contrast, the mesosoma of the redefined wallacei-group, is distinctly marginate only along the mesonotal and propodeal dorsa. The pronotal margins are completely lacking or evident only at the anterior pronotal angles and the colour of the body is yellowish-or light reddish-brown. The species of the schang species-group differ from members of the other two groups in having the lateral margins of the mesonotum distinctly raised dorsally and a completely immarginate pronotal dorsum.

Related Pages

References