Key to Cerapachys

Key to Cerapachys species modified by Liu et al (2024) from the original Chinese key by Chen et al. (2016).

1

• Petiole in dorsal view smooth without rugae (Fig. 1A) => Cerapachys antennatus
• Petiole in dorsal view with coarse longitudinal and/or irregular rugae (Fig. 1B, C) => 2

• 

  Liu et al. (2024), Fig. 1. Petiole in dorsal view. (A) Cerapachys anternnatus (CASENT0901347), (B) Cerapachys jacobsoni (CASENT0746007), (C) Cerapachys sulcinodis (CASENT0907050).

2

return to couplet #1

• The anterior margin of the torulo-posttorular complex forming a small projector/tooth in full-face view (Fig. 2A, B, C) => 3
• The anterior margin of the torulo-posttorular complex without a small projector/tooth in the full-face view (Fig. 2D) => Cerapachys zhengyangwangi

• 

  Liu et al. (2024), Fig. 2. Head in full-face view. (A) Cerapachys jacobsoni (CASENT0746007), (B) Cerapachys sulcinodis (CASENT0903772), (C) Cerapachys anternnatus (CASENT0901347), (D) Cerapachys zhengyangwangi (MCZ-ENT00763371).

3

return to couplet #2

• Large species (TL = 11mm) => Cerapachys manni
• Small species (TL < 8mm) => 4

4

return to couplet #3

• Petiole in dorsal view with two strong unbroken longitudinal rugae in the centre surrounded by irregular pits (Fig. 1B) => Cerapachys jacobsoni
• Petiole in dorsal view with several longitudinal and irregular rugae (Fig. 1C) => 5

• 

  Liu et al. (2024), Fig. 1. Petiole in dorsal view. (A) Cerapachys anternnatus (CASENT0901347), (B) Cerapachys jacobsoni (CASENT0746007), (C) Cerapachys sulcinodis (CASENT0907050).

5

return to couplet #4

• Anterior face of petiole shallowly concave => Cerapachys xizangensis
• Anterior face of petiole straight => Cerapachys sulcinodis
  • Note: As pointed out by Chen et al. (2016), C. xizangensis could be a synonym for C. sulcinodis. The separation proposed here is rather weak and the relationship between these two taxa requires further study, which is currently not possible due to lack of type access.

References

• Chen, Z.L., Shi F.-M. & Zhou, S.-Y. 2016. A new species and a new record of Cerapachys Smith, 1857 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from China. Far Eastern Entomologist 324:1-12.
• Liu, C., Hita Garcia, F., Peng, Y.-Q., Pierce, N.E. 2024. Taxonomy of the ant genus Cerapachys Smith, 1857 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in China with description of a new species. Asian Myrmecology 17: e017001 (doi:10.20362@am.017001).