Key to Cylindromyrmex Species

This queen and worker key is based on: Brown, W. L., Jr. 1975. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. V. Ponerinae, tribes Platythyreini, Cerapachyini, Cylindromyrmecini, Acanthostichini, and Aenictogitini. Search Agric. (Ithaca N. Y.) 5(1):1-115.

Brown stated: "I offer a modification of Wheeler's key of 1937:444-445. Users should be warned that the measurements as given may be imprecise, especially those derived from Wheeler's own descriptions. Most will be under measurements, and the smaller the absolute dimensions of the insect, the greater the error is likely to be."

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Cylindromyrmex

1

 * Workers . . . . . 2


 * Queens . . . . . 8

2
return to couplet #1
 * Eyes small and flat; at least the first gastric (IV true) abdominal segment partly longitudinally striate . . . . . 3


 * Eyes large and convex; gastric terga smooth . . . . . 6

3
return to couplet #2
 * Head nearly twice as long as broad; mandibles edentate; “length 8 mm” (Brasil) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex longiceps


 * Head not more than IV, times as long as broad; mandibles dentate . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * First gastric tergum striate only at base . . . . . 5


 * First gastric tergum entirely, and second at least partly, striate, TL 6-7 mm (Panama) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex parallelus


 * (Venezuela) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex meinerti

5
return to couplet #4
 * Body brownish red, head and gaster dark brown or black; mandibles with about 6 teeth; eyes very small, with about 30 or less indistinct facets; “length 4.5 mm.” (SE Brasil) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex brevitarsus


 * Body black or very dark brown; mandibles larger, with about 10 teeth or crenulations; eyes larger, with > 50 facets; TL 6-7 mm (Cuba) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex darlingtoni

6
return to couplet #2
 * Eyes situated at about middle of sides of head; “length 6-6.5 mm” (Costa Rica) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex schmidti


 * Eyes situated distinctly behind middle of sides of head . . . . . 7

7
return to couplet #6
 * Coxae, femora, and tibiae uniform ferruginous yellow, tarsi sometimes slightly darker ferruginous (S Brasil; Paraguay) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex brasiliensis


 * Legs black or dark brown; extensor surfaces of tibiae pale yellow, or at least partly clouded with dull yellow (Ecuador; Galapagos; Peru; Guyanas) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex striatus

8
return to couplet #1
 * Postpetiole and gaster smooth . . . . . 9


 * Post petiole entirely striate above . . . . . 10

9
return to couplet #8
 * Femora yellow; fore tibiae more than twice as long as broad; wings brownish; TL about 10 mm (Bolivia; Venezuela) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex boliviae


 * Femora “reddish black,” fore tibiae scarcely twice as long as broad; wings violaceous; “length 12.5 mm” (Panama; Ecuador) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex godmani

10
return to couplet #8
 * Petiole and postpetiole striate, but gastric terga smooth . . . . . Cylindromyrmex striatus and . . . . . Cylindromyrmex brasiliensis; go to couplet #7


 * At least the first gastric (IV true abdominal) segment more or less striate . . . . . 11

11
return to couplet #10
 * Gastric striation limited to base of first tergum (IV true abdominal segment); mandibles with about 10 teeth; “length 7.5-8 mm” (Cuba) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex darlingtoni


 * Tergum of first gastric segment (at least) entirely striate . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * Mandibles 7-toothed; tergum of second gastric (V true abdominal) segment entirely striate, third segment at least partly striate; wings grayish hyaline with infuscated tips (Panama) . . . . . Cylindromyrmex parallelus

. . . . . Cylindromyrmex schmidti
 * Mandibles indistinctly dentate; tergum of second gastric segment striate only in the middle, third segment smooth; wings uniformly infuscated; “length 9.5 mm” (Costs Rica)