Key to Afrotropical species of Proceratium arnoldi clade

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This worker key is based on: Hita Garcia, F.; Hawkes, P. G.; Alpert, G. D. 2014. Taxonomy of the ant genus Proceratium Roger (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Afrotropical region with a revision of the P. arnoldi clade and description of four new species. ZooKeys 447:47–86.

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1

  • No maculae present on vertexal angles of head (Fig. 3A); abdominal segment IV relatively long, around 1.6 times longer than abdominal segment III (ASI 156–159) (Fig. 3D) [Mozambique] . . . . . Proceratium carri
MCZ Proceratium carri hal.jpg
  • Maculae on vertexal angles of head present and usually very conspicuous, but sometimes difficult to see (Fig. 3B, 3C); abdominal segment IV always conspicuously shorter than above, between 1.0 to 1.3 times longer than abdominal segment III (ASI 102–132) (Fig. 3E, F) . . . . . 2
Hita Garcia et al. 2014. Figure 3.

2

return to couplet #1

Proceratium nilo casent0235688 p 1 hal.jpg
  • Eyes variable in size, but always present (OI 3–8) (Fig. 4B, C) . . . . . 3
Hita Garcia et al. 2014. Figure 4.

3

return to couplet #2

  • Eyes larger (OI 8) (Fig. 5A); ventral process of petiole with posteroventral corner conspicuously projecting ventrally, almost spiniform (Fig. 5D) [Burundi] . . . . . Proceratium burundense
Proceratium burundense P casent0902427.jpg
  • Eyes always smaller (OI 3–5) (Fig. 5B, C); ventral process of petiole usually more or less rectangular without posteroventral corner conspicuously projecting ventrally, rarely posteroventral corner weakly pointing posteroventrally, but distinctly less conspicuously than above (Fig. 5E, F) . . . . . 4
Hita Garcia et al. 2014. Figure 5.

4

return to couplet #2

  • Head, mesosoma and petiole with numerous long, fine, suberect to erect hairs on top of dense mat of much shorter decumbent to subdecumbent pubescence (Fig. 6A, B) . . . . . 5
  • Head, mesosoma and petiole with mat of short decumbent to subdecumbent pubescence only, without numerous longer, fine suberect to erect hairs (Fig. 6C), sometimes parts of pubescence on mesosoma suberect to erect (Fig. D) . . . . . 6
Hita Garcia et al. 2014. Figure 6.

5

return to couplet #4

  • Petiolar node in profile appearing thicker and stouter, with lower third of anterior face strongly produced anteriorly (Fig. 7A) [Kenya] . . . . . Proceratium sokoke
MCZ-Proceratium-sokoke-hal.jpg
  • Petiolar node higher and thinner than above, more strongly anteroposteriorly compressed, with anterior face relatively straight (Fig. 7B) [Tanzania] . . . . . Proceratium sali
Hita Garcia et al. 2014. Figure 7.
Proceratium sali casent0235689 p 1 hal.jpg

6

return to couplet #4

  • Head relatively longer (CI 85–87) (Fig. 8A); surface sculpture weak and superficial; body colouration yellow to very light brown (Fig. 8B) [South Africa, Zimbabwe] . . . . . Proceratium arnoldi
  • Head relatively shorter (CI 92–95) (Fig. 8C); surface sculpture better developed, usually deeply foveolate; body colouration of darker brown than above (Fig. 8D) [Cameroon, Gabon and Uganda] . . . . . Proceratium lunatum
Hita Garcia et al. 2014. Figure 8.