Key to Nesomyrmex brevicornis group species

This worker key is based on: Csősz, S. & Fisher, B.L. 2016. Taxonomy of Malagasy Nesomyrmex brevicornis species-group using conventional morphology-based approach. ZooKeys. 616:125–159. (doi:10.3897/zookeys.616.9532).

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• Nesomyrmex
• Nesomyrmex brevicornis species-group

1

• Head and mesosoma dark brown to black . . . . . 2 (Nesomyrmex brevicornis, Nesomyrmex brunneus, Nesomyrmex edentatus, Nesomyrmex flavigaster)

• Head and mesosoma yellow . . . . . 5 (Nesomyrmex cingulatus, Nesomyrmex longiceps, Nesomyrmex minutus, Nesomyrmex punctaticeps, Nesomyrmex sellaris)

2

return to couplet #1

• Gaster pale yellow, the rest of the body dark brown to black . . . . . Nesomyrmex flavigaster

• Body—including gaster—concolorous, dark brown to black . . . . . 3 (Nesomyrmex brevicornis, Nesomyrmex brunneus, Nesomyrmex edentatus)

3

return to couplet #2

• Large species, cephalic size (CS) > 620 μm [620, 808] . . . . . Nesomyrmex brunneus

• Smaller species, cephalic size (CS) < 560 μm [472, 560] . . . . . 4 (Nesomyrmex brevicornis, Nesomyrmex edentatus)

4

return to couplet #3

• Head feebly imbricate, appears shiny. Scape longer (SL/CS) > 0.65 [0.65, 0.67] . . . . . Nesomyrmex edentatus

• Head coarsely imbricate, appears dull. Scape shorter (SL/CS) < 0.55 [0.53, 0.55] . . . . . Nesomyrmex brevicornis

5

return to couplet #1

• First gaster tergite brown, conspicuously darker than the rest of the body . . . . . 6 (Nesomyrmex cingulatus, Nesomyrmex minutus)

• Body concolorous, gaster light yellow . . . . . 7 (Nesomyrmex longiceps, Nesomyrmex punctaticeps, Nesomyrmex sellaris)

6

return to couplet #5

• On the median area of frons foveae around setal pits larger, the largest diameter of pits 15–20 μm. Frontal carina distance (FRS/CS): 0.31 [0.30, 0.33], scape length (SL/CS): 0.63 [0.60, 0.65] . . . . . Nesomyrmex cingulatus

• On the median area of frons foveae around setal pits inconspicuous, the largest diameter of pits ≤ 10 μm. Frontal carina distance (FRS/CS): 0.36 [0.33, 0.39], scape length (SL/CS): 0.57 [0.53, 0.61] . . . . . Nesomyrmex minutus

7

return to couplet #5

• Head longer (CL/CWb) >1.40 [1.42, 1.46], postocular area relatively shorter (PoOC/CL) < 0.45 [0.42, 0.45] . . . . . Nesomyrmex longiceps

• Head shorter (CL/CWb) < 0.30 [1.14, 1.26], postocular area relatively longer (PoOC/CL) > 0.47 [0.47, 0.53] . . . . . 8 (Nesomyrmex punctaticeps, Nesomyrmex sellaris)

8

return to couplet #7

• Frontal carina distance larger (FRS/CS) > 0.33 [0.32, 0.35]. On the median area of frons foveae around setal pits larger, the largest diameter of pits 10–15 μm . . . . . Nesomyrmex punctaticeps

• Frontal carina distance smaller (FRS/CS) < 0.29 [0.27, 0.30]. On the median area of frons setal pits are not embedded by foveae . . . . . Nesomyrmex sellaris