Key to Neotropical Dorylinae genera

This key is translated and modified from Baccaro et al (2015) with permission of the authors

This key covers all the Neotropical Dorylinae genera except the genus Amyrmex, known only from males.

1

 * One single isolated segment (petiole) between mesosoma and gaster. First gastral segment separated from the rest by a slight constriction .....2
 * Two isolated segments (petiole and postpetiole) between mesosoma and gaster. Postpetiole the same size than petiole or bigger, and always notably smaller than first gastral segment and separated from this by a well demarcated constriction .....6

2
return to couplet 1
 * Pigydium well developed and surrounded apically by a row of small spines or denticles. Tarsal claws unarmed. Propodeal spiracles located in the lower half of the lateral side of the propodeum. Monomorphic or slightly dimorphic workers, with triangular mandibles, denticulated or without teeth .....3
 * Pigydium reduced to a small sclerite "U" shaped, with four small non-conspicuous denticles. Tarsal claws with a preapical tooth-like process. Propodeal spiracles located in the upper half of the lateral side of the propodeum or just above the median line. Polimorphic, major workers with elongated and falcate mandibles, with two preapical long and spiniform teeth .... Cheliomyrmex (Neotropical species ID)

3
return to couplet 2
 * Head with a curved carina from the posterior margin of the lateral portion of clypeus up to the genae, just below the eyes ..... Cerapachys (Neotropical species ID)
 * Head without that carina .....4

4
return to couplet 3
 * Gaster with constrictions between segments 2, 3 and 4 besides the constriction between 1 and 2 Sphinctomyrmex (Neotropical species ID)
 * Gaster without constrictions between segments 2, 3 and 4 .....5

5
return to couplet 4
 * Antennal scrobes present. Eyes well developed. Head and mesosoma surfaces generally longitudinally striated Cylindromyrmex (Neotropical species ID)
 * Antennal scrobes absent. Eyes minute to vestigial. Head and mesosoma surfaces varying, but never longitudinally striated Acanthostichus (Neotropical species ID)

6
return to couplet 1
 * Propodeal spiracles located in the lower half of the lateral side of the propodeum. First gastral segment smaller than the other gastral segments combined .....7
 * Mesopropodeal suture absent in dorsal view. Propodeal spiracles located in the upper half of the lateral side of the propodeum or just above the median line. First gastral segment as long as or longer than the other gastral segments combined .....8

7
return to couplet 6
 * Constrictions present between gastral segments ..... Leptanilloides (Neotropical species ID)
 * Without constrictions between gastral segments Asphinctanilloides (Neotropical species ID)

8
return to couplet 6
 * Tarsal claws single, unarmed. Size of major workers usually less than 8 mm ..... Neivamyrmex (Neotropical species ID)
 * Tarsal claws with a conspicuous preapical tooh. Size of major workers usually more than 8 mm. .....9

9
return to couplet 8
 * Antennal scapes thickened, with its apical width more than 1/3 of its total length ..... Nomamyrmex (Neotropical species ID)
 * Antennal scapes slender, with its apical width less than 1/3 of its total length .....10

10
return to couplet 9
 * Posterodorsal sides of the propodeum armed with lamellae or spines. Major workers usually with exceptionally long hook shaped mandibles ..... Eciton (Neotropical species ID)


 * Posterodorsal sides of the propodeum rounded, without projections. Mandibles of the major workers never hook shaped ..... Labidus (Neotropical species ID)