Key to Philippine Odontomachus

This worker key is based on: Sorger, D.M. and H. Zettel. 2011. On the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Philippine Islands: V. The genus Odontomachus Latreille, 1804. Myrmecological News. 14:141-163.

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Odontomachus

1

• Subapical tooth of mandible truncate . . . . . 2

• Subapical tooth of mandible acute (or very narrowly rounded if worn) . . . . . 3

2

return to couplet #1

• Subapical tooth and apex of mandible very short, blunt. Body dark brown. Temporal prominences striate. Striation on pronotum predominantly concentrical. Gaster tergite 2 anteriorly with fine microsculpture. (O. haematodus species group) . . . . . Odontomachus simillimus

• Subapical tooth and apex of mandible elongate. Head and gaster light brown. Temporal prominences smooth. Striation on pronotum predominantly transverse. Gaster tergite 2 anteriorly smooth. (O. rixosus species group) . . . . . Odontomachus rixosus

3

return to couplet #1

• Head posteriorly with pair of small, but distinct tubercles. Pronotum granulate, at most with very superficial striation. SI = 1.2-1.3. In lateral view, anterior face of gaster tergite 1 evenly convex, without impression at position of apex of petiolar spine. (O. malignus species group) . . . . . Odontomachus malignus

• Head posteriorly without tubercles. Pronotum with distinct striation of variable directions. SI > 1.35 (except in one species from Mindanao SI = 1.2). In lateral view, anterior face of gaster tergite 1 flattened, with small impression (pit or line) at position of apex of petiolar spine (rare individual exceptions for both characters do occur). (O. infandus species group) . . . . . 4

4

return to couplet #3

• Posterior dorsum of head mainly punctured, some faint striation near extraocular furrow often present . . . . . 5

• Posterior dorsum of head mainly striate, a very small smooth area posteriorly near median furrow common . . . . . 8

5

return to couplet #4

• SI = 1.2. Anterior part of tergite 1 almost evenly rounded. Pronotum postero-medially with longitudinal striation, horseshoe-shaped. Species of Mindanao . . . . . Odontomachus sp. 2

• SI > 1.35. Anterior part of tergite 1 distinctly flattened. Pronotum with different striation. . . . . . 6

6

return to couplet #5

• Head yellowish orange. Mesopleuron completely striate. Mesosoma with dense pilosity. Species of southern Luzon . . . . . Odontomachus banksi

• Head dark brown. Centre of mesopleuron largely smooth. Mesosoma with sparse pilosity . . . . . 7

7

return to couplet #6

• Smooth area on mesopleuron reaching meso-metapleural suture. Petiole widest at distinct anterior tubercles (width of node equal or smaller than width at tubercles). Species from Camiguin . . . . . Odontomachus scifictus

• Mesopleuron with stripe of short striae along meso-metapleural suture. Petiole with weak tubercles, at node wider than at tubercles. Species from the Western Visayas (Negros, Panay, Siquijor) . . . . . Odontomachus philippinus

8

return to couplet #4

• Head and mesosoma unicolourous reddish brown. Petiole stout, with almost straight spine. Species from the mountains of northern Luzon . . . . . Odontomachus schoedli

• Head distinctly lighter than mesosoma (exceptions in O. infandus only occur, if both parts are very dark brown). Petiole less stout . . . . . 9

9

return to couplet #8

• Gaster tergites 1 and 2 partly yellowish brown, tergite 1 anteriorly low, strongly flattened; impression, if pit-shaped, at or behind mid-length. Petiole with very elongate spine. Striation of pronotum variable (transverse or longitudinal). Species from the central and eastern Philippines (absent from Luzon and Mindoro) . . . . . Odontomachus alius

• Gaster tergites 1 and 2 dark (blackish) brown, tergite 1 anteriorly comparatively high; impression, if pit-shaped, before mid-length. Petiolar spine shorter. Striation of pronotum longitudinal, usually in loops . . . . . 10

10

return to couplet #9

• Striation of head almost complete. Head usually light to dark brown. Petiolar spine curved. Species widely distributed on Luzon and Mindoro . . . . . Odontomachus infandus

• Striation of head posteriorly reduced. Head yellowish orange, strongly contrasting with mesosoma. Petiolar spine straight. Species from southern Luzon . . . . . Odontomachus sp. 1