Key to Odontomachus of China

This worker key is based on: Chen, Z.-L., Shi, F.-M., Zhou, S.-Y. 2018. A new species of Odontomachus Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from China. Far Eastern Entomologist 356: 1-8 (DOI 10.25221/fee.356.1).

Odontomachus haematodus is not included in the key, because the reports of this species may be results of a wrong identification. Moreover, Odontomachus tensus Wang, 1993 is most likely to be Odontomachus rixosus Smith, 1857 based on the original description. We could not find out the differences between them, so this species also excluded in the key.

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• Odontomachus
• The ants of China

1

• Dorsum of pronotum smooth and shiny . . . . . 2

• Dorsum of pronotum striate or ridge . . . . . 3

2

return to couplet #1

• Dorsum of propodeum with longitudinal ridges . . . . . Odontomachus linearis

• Dorsum of propodeum with transverse ridges . . . . . Odontomachus fulgidus

3

return to couplet #1

• Sub-preapical teeth acute; scape long (SI≥1.57) . . . . . 4

• Sub-preapical teeth truncatus; scape short (SI≤1.30) . . . . . 5

4

return to couplet #3

• In full face view vertex finely striate longitudinally . . . . . Odontomachus silvestrii

• In full face view vertex finely striate transversely . . . . . Odontomachus granatus

5

return to couplet #3

• Dorsum of pronotum with transverse striae . . . . . Odontomachus monticola

• Dorsum of pronotum with concentric or fusiform striae . . . . . 6

6

return to couplet #5

• The striae of pronotum distinctly weaker than the propodeum’s . . . . . Odontomachus rixosus

• The striae of pronotum as strong as the propodeum’s . . . . . 7

7

return to couplet #7

• Large species (HW 2.25-2.65); mesopleuron with finely rugose . . . . . Odontomachus circulus

• Small species (HW 1.90-2.11); mesopleuron smooth and shiny . . . . . Odontomachus xizangensis