Key to Vollenhovia from India

Key to species of Vollenhovia from India based on the worker caste. Modified from Dhadwal et al. (2023).

1

• Mesosoma sculptured (Fig 16A) => 2
• Mesosoma smooth and shiny, with a few delicate scattered punctures anteriorly (Fig 16B) => Vollenhovia oblonga laevithorax

• 

  Dhadwal et al. (2023), Fig 16. A: Dorsal view of Vollenhovia gastropunctata; B: Dorsal view of Vollenhovia oblonga laevithorax (CASENT0904539). Image B from AntWeb (www.antweb.org); photographer, Z. Lieberman (B).

2

return to couplet #1

• Dorsal surface of promesonotum without a smooth band (Fig 17A) => 3
• Dorsal surface of promesonotum with a smooth band (Fig 17B) => Vollenhovia terayamai

• 

  Dhadwal et al. (2023), Fig 17. A: Dorsal view of Vollenhovia taylori; B: Dorsal view of Vollenhovia terayamai.

3

return to couplet #2

• Propodeum unarmed (Fig 1) => 4
• Propodeum armed with a pair of small denticles (Fig 18B) => Vollenhovia pfeifferi

• 

  Dhadwal et al. (2023), Fig. 1. Vollenhovia karimalaensis, head in full face view.
• 

  Dhadwal et al. (2023), Fig 18. A: Lateral view of Vollenhovia taylori; B: lateral view of Vollenhovia pfeifferi.

4

return to couplet #3

• Body size small (TL <2.30) => 5
• Body size large (TL >2.30mm) => 6

5

return to couplet #4

• Mesopleuron transversely striate; subpetiolar process elongate and rectangular (Fig 19A) => Vollenhovia mawrapensis
• Mesopleuron coarsely punctate; subpetiolar process roughly triangular (Fig 19B) => Vollenhovia taylori

• 

  Dhadwal et al. (2023), Fig 19. A: Lateral view of Vollenhovia mawrapensis; B: lateral view of Vollenhovia taylori.

6

return to couplet #4

• Anterior margin of clypeus convex pointed in the middle => 7
• Anterior clypeal margin concave => Vollenhovia gastropunctata

7

return to couplet #6

• Body generally foveolate; mandibles with 8 teeth; subpetiolar process lamellar wall distinctly longer than high (Fig 20A) => Vollenhovia keralensis
• Body generally punctate; mandibles with 7 teeth; subpetiolar process elongate and sickle shaped (Fig 20B) => Vollenhovia karimalaensis

• 

  Dhadwal et al. (2023), Fig 20. A: Lateral view of Vollenhovia keralensis; B: Lateral view of Vollenhovia karimalaensis. Images (A) from Sadasivan & Kripakaran (2022).

References

• Dhadwal, T., Rilta, J. S., Bharti, H. 2023. Taxonomic studies on the genus Vollenhovia Mayr, 1865 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Five new species from India. Sociobiology 70(3), e9103 (doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9103).