Key to Iranian Crematogaster species

Key to Iranian Crematogaster species based on Mohseni & Mikheyev (2023).

1

Postpetiole not divided into two lobes dorsally => 2
Postpetiole divided by a median longitudinal furrow into two lobes dorsally (Figure 2E, G, J) => 3

Mohseni & Mikheyev (2023), Fig. 2a. Crematogaster gypsophila (holotype): (A, H), head in full-face view; (B) head and mesosoma in profile; (C) mesosoma and waist in profile; (D, I) body in profile; (E, J) body in dorsal view; (F) waist and gaster in profile; (G) propodeum, waist, and gaster in dorsal view.
Mohseni & Mikheyev (2023), Fig. 2b. Crematogaster gypsophila (holotype).

Body color uniformly dark brown; propodeum with at least a pair of long hairs; petiole with a distinct ventral tooth => Crematogaster sordidula
Body color nonuniformity light brownish-yellow, the color of the vertex, the end of the ﬂagellum, the transverse bands of the gaster’s segments, and the posterior part of the gaster brown; propodeum with no or very rare long hairs; petiole with a very small ventral tooth => Crematogaster bogojawlenskii

Mohseni & Mikheyev (2023), Fig. 2a. Crematogaster gypsophila (holotype): (A, H), head in full-face view; (B) head and mesosoma in profile; (C) mesosoma and waist in profile; (D, I) body in profile; (E, J) body in dorsal view; (F) waist and gaster in profile; (G) propodeum, waist, and gaster in dorsal view.
Mohseni & Mikheyev (2023), Fig. 2b. Crematogaster gypsophila (holotype).

First segment of funiculus is as long as the two following segments together; mesosoma with no or few erect hairs but body with pubescence => 5
First segment of funiculus longer than the two following segments together; mesosoma with erect hairs and body with pubescence => Crematogaster subdentata

Body uniformly brown, covered with dense pubescence; maximum petiole width anterior => Crematogaster inermis
Bicolored, gaster always dark brown; mesosoma with sparse pubescence, somewhat more abundant in head and abdomen; maximum petiole width in the middle => Crematogaster warburgi

Head and mesosoma light brown; head with fine sculpturing; second funiculus segment longer than third; pronotum without long hairs; gaster pubescencent => Crematogaster schmidti
Head and mesosoma dark brown; head with strong sculpturing; second funiculus segment as long as third; pronotum with long hairs; gaster covered by pubescence and long hairs => 9

Pronotum with a pair of long hairs; gaster darker in posterior two-thirds => Crematogaster sorokini
Pronotum at least with two pair of long hairs; gaster dark brown => Crematogaster melanogaster

Promesonotum unsculptured or feebly imbricate in dorsal view; petiole with a concave anterior margin in dorsal view => 11
Promesonotum longitudinally striated in dorsal view; petiole without a concave anterior margin in dorsal view => 13

Body color uniformly yellow; promesonotum with fine and confused sculpture => Crematogaster hezaradjatica
Body color uniformly dark brown; promesonotum with well developed longitudinally striae => 12

Body color uniformly blackish brown; mesonotum strongly convex in profile; propodeal spines longer, about ca. 1.5 longer than bases => Crematogaster auberti
Body color uniformly brown; mesonotum not strongly convex in profile; propodeal spines shorter, about ca. 0.5 longer than bases => Crematogaster antaris

Bicolored, head and gaster blackish brown and darker than mesosoma, petiole relatively lighter than other parts; cephalic surface, including frontal area unsculptured and without pubescence; scape with sparse pubescence; anepisternum strongly striated and katepisternum punctulated; petiole pentagonal form (Figure 2) => Crematogaster gypsophila
Head and gaster same color as mesosoma; cephalic surface, including frontal area sculptured and with pubescence; both anepisternum and katepisternum striated; petiole trapeziform => 14

Body color uniformly yellowish brown; pronotum shining in profile => Crematogaster afghanica
Body color uniformly black or blackish brown; pronotum moderately sculptured in profile => Crematogaster laestrygon