Key to Philippine Formicinae

This worker key is based on: General, D. and G. Alpert. 2012. A synoptic review of the ant genera (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the Philippines. [http://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeys/issue/200/ ZooKeys. 200:1-111] doi: 10.3897/zookeys.200.2447.

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 * Ants of the Philippines - list of species
 * Philippine Ants homepage
 * Formicinae

1

 * Antenna 8-segmented, folding back below eye; eyes always large . . . . . Gesomyrmex


 * Antenna with 9- to 12-segmented, folding back above eye; eyes variable in size . . . . . 2

2
return to couplet #1
 * Antenna 9- to 11-segmented . . . . . 3


 * Antenna 12-segmented . . . . . 6

3
return to couplet #2
 * Propodeum and petiole armed with a pair of spines or teeth . . . . . Lepisiota


 * Propodeum and petiole without spines or teeth . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * Palps very short and extremely difficult to see; eyes minute . . . . . Acropyga


 * Palps long and prominent; eyes usually well-developed, often large . . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * Antennal scapes extremely long, extending more than half their length beyond posterior margin of head; erect hairs absent on dorsum of mesosoma . . . . . Anoplolepis


 * Antennal scape, notably shorter, seldom extending much beyond posterior margin of head; erect hairs sometimes present on dorsum of mesosoma . . . . . Plagiolepis

6
return to couplet #2
 * Mandibles with 10 or more teeth or denticles . . . . . 7


 * Mandibles with fewer than 10 teeth or denticles . . . . . 8

7
return to couplet #6
 * Mandibles linear and longer than head length, with sharp teeth along most of their length and crossing at apices when closed; eyes enormous . . . . . Myrmoteras


 * Mandibles triangular and shorter than head length; eyes large but not taking up most of the sides of head . . . . . Oecophylla

8
return to couplet #6
 * Antennal sockets almost abutting posterior clypeal margin; ring of hairs present around acidopore . . . . . 9


 * Antennal sockets well posterior to posterior clypeal margin; ring of hairs often absent around acidopore . . . . . 15

9
return to couplet #8
 * Maxillary palp short and inconspicuous, with 2–4 segments . . . . . 10


 * Maxillary palp long and conspicuous, with 6 segments . . . . . 11

10
return to couplet #9
 * In side view, mesonotal constriction present; mandibles strongly curved . . . . . Euprenolepis


 * In side view, mesonotal constriction absent; mandibles not strongly curved . . . . . Pseudolasius

11
return to couplet #9
 * Mesosoma and head without coarse erect hairs . . . . . Overbeckia


 * Mesosoma and head with coarse erect hairs . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * In side view, mesosoma long and slender, with or without constriction of mesonotum . . . . . 12


 * In side view, mesosoma short and compact, without constriction of mesonotum . . . . . 14

13
return to couplet #12
 * In side view, pronotum only slightly convex; erect setae on head randomly scattered on surface . . . . . Paratrechina


 * In side view, pronotum convex; erect setae on head form 2 parallel rows . . . . . Prenolepis

14
return to couplet #12
 * Propodeum with 1 pair of erect setae . . . . . Paraparatrechina


 * Propodeum without a pair of erect setae . . . . . Nylanderia

15
return to couplet #8
 * In side view, metathoracic spiracles forming turbercles that are the highest prominences of the mesosoma . . . . . Forelophilus


 * In side view, metathoracic spiracles not forming tubercles that are the highest prominences of the mesosoma . . . . . 16

16
return to couplet #15
 * Petiole node lacking teeth or spines; first gastral tergite distinctly less than half total length of gaster . . . . . Camponotus


 * Petiole node armed with spines, teeth, or denticles; first gastral tergite large, at least half of total length of gaster . . . . . 17

17
return to couplet #16
 * Spines or teeth usually present on pronotum, propodeum, or both; body usually covered with short appressed hairs and some erect hairs . . . . . Polyrhachis


 * Spines or teeth absent from pronotum and propodeum, often present on petiole; body usually densely covered with long erect hairs . . . . . Echinopla