Key to Neotropical Ponerinae genera

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This key is translated and modified from Baccaro et al (2015)[1] with permission of the authors, adding the genus Belonopelta, complemented with Schmidt & Shattuck (2014)[2]

This key covers all the Neotropical Ponerinae except the genus Ponera. Only one species Ponera pennsylvanica has been reported from Mexico, and Ponera ruficornis cited from Brazil is incertae sedis in Ponera.

1

  • Mandibles long and linear, inserted in the medial anterior portion of the head, semiparallel when closed and forming 180 degrees when open .....2
  • Mandibles otherwise, inserted in the lateral anterior portion of the head, never semiparallel when closed and forming 180 degrees when open .....3

2

return to couplet 1

  • Nuchal carinae "V" shaped converging in the middle of the posterior margin of the head. Apofisal lines present and well defined. Apex of the petiolar node generally conical or pointed ..... Odontomachus (Neotropical species ID)
Odontomachus brunneus casent0104165 profile 1.jpg
  • Nuchal carinae forming a continuous line through the posterior margin of the head. Apofisal lines absent. Petiolar node varying, subtriangular, squamiform or bidentate Anochetus (Neotropical species ID)
Anochetus emarginatus casent0217503 p 1 high.jpg

3

return to couplet 1

  • Mandibles very long and slender, with three or four spiniform teeth, long and very sharp. ..... 3'
  • Mandibles triangular or falcate, without teeth as described .....4

3'

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  • Antennal insertions separeted by a distance smaller than 1/3 of the head width. The apical tooth not touching the anterolateral region of the opposite side of the head when closed. Eyes very small, usually single faceted ..... Belonopelta (Neotropical species ID)
Casent0003157 p 1 high.jpg
  • Antennal insertions separeted by a distance smaller than 1/3 of the head width. The apical tooth touching the anterolateral region of the opposite side of the head when closed. Eyes well developed and conspicuous, with nummerous ommatidia ..... Thaumatomyrmex (Neotropical species ID)
Thaumatomyrmex mutilatus casent0173034 profile 1.jpg

4

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Dinoponera mutica casent0260421 p 1 high.jpg
  • Smaller ants. Head width <4.00 mm. Anterior clypeal margin without a pair of projecting teeth .....5

5

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Platythyrea prizo casent0900576 p 1 high.jpg
  • Petiole varying, but never as described above .....6

6

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  • Tarsal claws in anterior legs frequently finely pectinated, rarely with one or two preapical teeth. Clypeus sometimes with a medial carina and with its anterior face triangular and prominent. Mandibles slender and sharp, with its masticatory margin oblique and normally without conspicuous teeth ..... Leptogenys (Neotropical species ID)
Leptogenys ciliata casent0178808 p 1 high.jpg
  • Tarsal claws in anterior legs single, or with a preapical tooth at most. Clypeus generally without a medial carina and with its anterior margin varying, but very rarely triangular or subtriangular. Mandibles usually triangular; if slender and sharp then with conspicuous apical and preapical teeth.....7

7

return to couplet 6

  • Mandibles long, with its masticatory margin clearly oblique with 3 to 4 big teeth. Medial portion of clypeus widely triangular, and projected anteriorly. Eyes usually formed by a single ommatidium or absent. In profile view, the frontal lobes abruptly elevated over the cephalic plane ..... Simopelta (Neotropical species ID)
Simopelta laticeps castype09451 profile 1.jpg
  • Mandibles subtriangular, with numerous teeth or denticles in its masticatory margin. Medial portion of clypeus never triangular, and not projected anteriorly. Eyes variable in size .....8

8

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Centromyrmex brachycola casent0178344 profile 1.jpg
  • External surface of basitarsi without spiniform quetae. Head usually slightly longer than wide. Eyes varying, rarely absent .....9

9

return to couplet 8

  • Medial and posterior tibiae with two apical spurs, the outer simple and frequently half the size or less than the inner spur, this one usually pectinate .....10
  • Medial and posterior tibiae with one apical spur ..... Hypoponera (Neotropical species ID)
Hypoponera foreli casent0173714 profile 1.jpg

10

return to couplet 9

  • Metapleural gland orifice without a posterior U-shaped cuticular lip (opening separated from posterior propodeal face by a very narrow, low flange) (Fig. B) .....13
  • Metapleural gland orifice with a posterior, inverted U-shaped cuticular lip (opening lateral and anterior of posterior propodeal face) (Fig. A) .....11
SSP03.jpg

11

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Pachycondyla constricta casent0217555 p 1 high.jpg

12

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  • Preocular carina absent. Arolium neither prominent nor shiny white. Hypopigyum with a row of stout quetae to every side of the sting, sometimes not evident due to associated quetae ..... Pachycondyla (Neotropical species ID)
Pachycondyla inca casent0903888 p 1 high.jpg
Pachycondyla bugabensis casent0217570 p 1 high.jpg

13

return to couplet 10

  • Mandible with six teeth in its masticatory margin and with a basal suture, sometimes very developed. Propodeal spiracle slit shaped ..... Pseudoponera (Neotropical species ID)
Pachycondyla stigma casent0178180 profile 1.jpg
  • Mandible with more than six teeth in its masticatory margin and without a basal suture, although sometimes a small fringe can be present. Propodeal spiracle rounded ..... some Mayaponera and all Rasopone (Neotropical species ID)
Pachycondyla arhuaca casent0249129 p 1 high.jpg

References

<References>

  1. Baccaro, F.; Feitosa, R. F.; Fernando, F.; Fernandes, I. O.; Izzo, T. J.; de Souza, J. L. P.; Solar, R. Guia para os gêneros de formigas do Brasil. Editora Inpa. Manaus, 2015. 388 pp.
  2. Schmidt, C.A. & Shattuck, S.O. 2014. The higher classification of the ant subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a review of ponerine ecology and behavior. Zootaxa. 3817, 1–242 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3817.1.1)