Key to Afrotropical Lioponera Species

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Brown (1975)[1] revises the Afrotropical species as part of Cerapachys. Three species are known only for males: Lioponera decorsei, Lioponera nigra, Lioponera similis. The rest of known Afrotropical species are included in the following key, extracted from the cited article.


1

  • Petiolar node seen from above forming two broadly rounded lobes behind, separated by a deep concavity . . . . . Lioponera braunsi
Cerapachys braunsi casent0903780 h 1 high.jpg
Cerapachys braunsi casent0903780 p 1 high.jpg
Cerapachys braunsi casent0903780 d 1 high.jpg
  • Petiolar node with angulate or dentate posterolateral corners, the posterior margin between them transverse, at most only gently concave . . . . . 2

2

return to couplet #1

  • Trunk coarsely longitudinally costulate its entire dorsal length; colour black . . . . . Lioponera foreli
Cerapachys foreli casent0173075 head 1.jpg
Cerapachys foreli casent0173075 profile 1.jpg
Cerapachys foreli casent0173075 dorsal 1.jpg
  • Trunk dorsum smooth or punctate. longitudinal costulae, if present, confined to the anterior and posterior extremities of the surface . . . . . 3

3

return to couplet #2

  • Petiolar node much more closely and roughly sculptured and with much denser pubescence than trunk . . . . . 4
  • Petiolar node and dorsum of trunk with similar sculpture and pubescence . . . . . 5

4

return to couplet #3

  • Eye length < apical antennomere L, and eye separated from mandibular insertion by half or more of its maximum length; at least traces of costulation at anterior and posterior ends of trunk and on propodeal declivity; sculpture of petiole and postpetiole coarse and deep, often elongate. . . . . Lioponera vespula
Cerapachys vespula casent0178210 head 1.jpg
Cerapachys vespula casent0178210 profile 1.jpg
Cerapachys vespula casent0178210 dorsal 1.jpg
  • Eye larger, its maximum length > apical antennomere L, only narrowly separated from mandibular insertion; trunk without traces of longitudinal striation, declivity smooth and shining; sculpture of petiole and postpetiole fine and superficial. . . . . Lioponera coxalis
Cerapachys coxalis casent0173076 head 1.jpg
Cerapachys coxalis casent0173076 profile 1.jpg
Cerapachys coxalis casent0173076 dorsal 1.jpg

5

return to couplet #3

  • Larger species (Petiole node W > 0.50 mm), black; trunk, petiole, postpetiole, and gaster shining, with abundant, small but very distinct round punctures, rather even in size and evenly distributed throughout . . . . . Lioponera nkomoensis
Cerapachys nkomoensis casent0178209 head 1.jpg
Cerapachys nkomoensis casent0178209 profile 1.jpg
  • Smaller species (Petiole node W < 0.45 mm), ferrugineus with piceous gaster; punctures finer, indistinct or not evenly distributed . . . . . Lioponera braytoni

References