Key to Nepalese species of Leptogenys

Key to Nepalese species of Leptogenys based on the worker caste, modified from Subedi et al. (2022).

1

• Petiolar node longitudinally compressed with elongate dorsal face and in profile view triangular, or squamiform and distinctly narrowed apically => 2
• Petiolar node nodiform, in profile with almost parallel anterior and posterior margins => 4

2

return to couplet #1

• Petiolar node longitudinally compressed, in profile view triangular => Leptogenys chinensis
• Petiolar node squamiform and in profile view distinctly tapered apically => 3

3

return to couplet #2

• Head dorsum sparsely punctate, posterior head margin straight in full-face view, clypeus with strong median carina => Leptogenys dentilobis
• Head dorsum smooth and shiny, posterior head margin weakly concave in full-face view, clypeus without median carina => Leptogenys birmana

4

return to couplet #1

• Head striate only anteriorly, posterior portion smooth and shiny => Leptogenys laeviceps
• Head entirely striate => 5

5

return to couplet #4

• Entire head dorsum with regular longitudinal striation, entire mesosoma regularly striate, clypeus without longitudinal median carina, erect hairs on antennal scape very short or completely missing => Leptogenys kitteli
• Head with longitudinal striation that is curved transversely on vertex, pronotum and mesonotum irregularly rugose with no regular striation, clypeus with longitudinal median carina, hairs on antennal scape long, dense and very conspicuous => Leptogenys diminuta

References

• Subedi, I.P., Budha, P.B., Yamane, S. 2022. Ants of the genus Leptogenys Roger, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Nepal. Far Eastern Entomologist 448: 11-20 (doi:10.25221/fee.448.2).