Key to Nearctic Dorymyrmex

This worker key is based on: [[Media:Snelling 1995a.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1995a. Systematics of Nearctic ants of the genus Dorymyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contributions in Science (Los Angeles, Calif.). 454:1-14.]]

Please be aware this genus in the Nearctic is fraught with problems in delimiting and determining species.

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Dorymyrmex

1



 * Mesonotal profile, in all or nearly all individuals from same nest, evenly convex (Figs. 11, 20) or flat to weakly concave (Fig. 22) . . . . . 2


 * Mesonotal profile, in all or nearly all individuals from same nest, with distinct dorsal and declivitous faces that meet in more or less well-defined angle (Figs. 18, 19) . . . . . 4

2
return to couplet #1
 * Promesonotal profile convex, base of propodeum angled 1450 or less to plane of posterior ponion of mesonotum (Figs. 11,20); scape surpassing vertex by no more than 0.33 times its length (Fig. 10); color various . . . . . 3


 * Promesonotal profile flat, base of propodeum angled 1650 or more to plane of mesonotum (Fig. 22); scape surpassing vertex by nearly 0.5 times its length; color uniformly clear yellow (gastral apex sometimes darkened) (Florida) . . . . . Dorymyrmex elegans

3
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 * Head (Fig. 10) broad, CI over 87 (less in some minor workers); scape relatively short (SI less than 112); propodeal tubercle blunt, posterior face straight or slightly convex (Fig. 11); color largely yellow or reddish yellow but if head and gaster infuscated, then mesosoma also infuscated (Maryland to Florida, west to eastern Texas) . . . . . Dorymyrmex bureni


 * Head narrower, CI less than 87; scape relatively longer, (SI at least 112 in 95% of individuals); propodeal tubercle sharper, posterior face slightly concave (Fig. 20); head and gaster brown, mesosoma clear yellowish (Florida) . . . . . Dorymyrmex flavopectus

4
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 * Front of head and discs of gastral terga 1-3 shiny, with only obscure sparse to scattered appressed pubescence . . . . . 5


 * Front of head and discs of gastral terga 1-3 only moderately shiny, with abundant appressed pubescence that partially obscures surface and imparts silky sheen to surface in oblique view . . . . . 7

5
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 * Posterior face of mesonotum distinctly sloping in profile (Figs. 17, 18) . . . . . 6


 * Posterior face of mesonotum nearly vertical in profile (Fig. 19) (Florida and Georgia) . . . . . Dorymyrmex bossutus

6
return to couplet #5
 * Propodeal tubercle short and preceded by transverse crease (Fig. 18); disc of gastral tergum 1 slightly shiny, distinctly roughened (Arizona) . . . . . Dorymyrmex wheeleri


 * Propodeal tubercle relatively higher and not preceded by transverse crease (Fig. 17); disc of gastral tergum 1 smooth and shiny (Texas) . . . . . Dorymyrmex lipan

7
return to couplet #4
 * Head relatively narrow, CI usually less than 88, rarely as much as 90; vertex margin straight or slightly convex (Figs. 4, 7); eye relatively large, 100 usually less than 1.50 (never over 1.70) times EL and EL equal to or exceeding OMD; female unicolorous yellowish or brownish . . . . . 8


 * Head relatively broad, CI over 90; eye relatively small, 100 at least 1.75 times EL, OMD at least equal to, and usually greater than, EL; vertex margin usually distinctly concave in frontal view, rarely straight; female head and mesosoma red, gaster blackish . . . . . 10

8
return to couplet #7
 * Propodeal tubercle relatively prominent; pronotum usually with discal seta pair, or, if absent, color distinctly yellowish (west of Mississippi River) . . . . . 9


 * Propodeal tubercle short (Fig. 21); pronotal disc without erect setae (Illinois?, Michigan?, New Jersey, south to Florida and Alabama) . . . . . Dorymyrmex grandulus

9
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 * Color light to dark brownish, head and gaster commonly darker than mesosoma; pronotal seta pair usually present (Kansas to central Texas, west to southern California) . . . . . Dorymyrmex insanus


 * Color clear yellowish to reddish yellow, often with vertex, mesosomal dorsum, and apex of gaster infuscated; pronotal seta pair commonly absent (Kansas and eastern Colorado to southern Texas, eastern New Mexico, and western Louisiana) . . . . . Dorymyrmex flavus

10
return to couplet #7
 * Head and mesosoma black or dark brown . . . . . 11


 * Head and mesosoma red (western Texas to southern Nevada and California) . . . . . Dorymyrmex bicolor

11
return to couplet #10
 * Vertex, in frontal view, distinctly concave (Fig. 4) (North Dakota south to eastern New Mexico and western Texas, east across southern states to North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida) . . . . . Dorymyrmex smithi


 * Vertex, in frontal view, straight or weakly concave (Fig. 14) (Utah) . . . . . Dorymyrmex paiute