Key to Iridomyrmex of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province

This key to workers is based on: [[Media:Heterick 2009.pdf|Heterick, B. E. 2009a. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76: 1-206. Part 1 PDF]]

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 * Australia
 * Iridomyrmex

1

 * Propodeum large, conical (Iridomyrmex conifer species-group) (Figure 147) . . . . . 2


 * Propodeum smaller, not conical (Figure 148) . . . . . 4

2
return to couplet #1
 * Erect or suberect setae on pronotum usually lacking, but where present never more than 6 . . . . . Iridomyrmex conifer


 * More than 8 erect or suberect setae present on pronotum . . . . . 3

3
return to couplet #2
 * In full-face view, lateral margin of head generally lacking erect setae, but where present posterior setae larger than greatest diameter of scape, and distinctly curved . . . . . Iridomyrmex turbineus


 * In full-face view, lateral margin of head always with numerous short, erect setae, these setae always less than maximum scape diameter, and straight or slightly curved . . . . . Iridomyrmex setoconus

4
return to couplet #1
 * Large ants (HW > 1.5 mm); erect setae on all surfaces of tibiae and often of scapes; mesonotum with angle or arch between convex anterior sector and flat posterior sector (Figure 149); purple, green or blue iridescence present in SW species (“meat ants” in Iridomyrmex purpureus species-group) . . . . . 5


 * Differing in one or more of the above characters (e.g. Figure 150) . . . . . 8

5
return to couplet #4
 * Lateral and/or dorsal regions of head with weak green iridescence (and often purple iridescence) . . . . . Iridomyrmex viridiaeneus


 * Lateral and/or dorsal regions of head with purple or blue, but never green iridescence . . . . . 6

6
return to couplet #5
 * In profile, posterior region of pronotum (immediately anterior of the promesonotal suture) rising above the mesonotum in a short, strongly convex arch (Figure 151); sides of head with only very weak purplish iridescence or with no iridescence . . . . . Iridomyrmex reburrus


 * In profile, posterior region of pronotum (immediately anterior of the promesonotal suture) rising above the mesonotum in a broad, uniform, weakly convex arch (Figure 152); sides of head usually with well-developed iridescence (commonly purple or blue) . . . . . 7

7
return to couplet #6
 * Head and mesosoma dark reddish-brown to black; head often with strong blue iridescence . . . . . Iridomyrmex lividus


 * Head and mesosoma reddish-brown; head with purple iridescence . . . . . Iridomyrmex greensladei

8
return to couplet #4
 * Frontal carinae of head capsule curved throughout their length (Iridomyrmex calvus species-group) (Figure 153) . . . . . 9


 * Frontal carinae of head capsule sinuate or approximately straight medially (Figure 154) . . . . . 13

9
return to couplet #8
 * Propodeum flattened, with propodeal spiracles situated dorsally near propodeal angles; petiolar node very low and broad; body black, with blue iridescence (Figure 155) . . . . . Iridomyrmex calvus group sp. JDM 1069


 * Propodeum more rounded, propodeal spiracle situated laterally; petiolar node more developed, narrow (e.g. Figure 156) . . . . . 10

10
return to couplet #9
 * Tibiae devoid of erect setae . . . . . 11


 * Tibiae with regularly placed erect setae . . . . . 12

11
return to couplet #10
 * Mesosoma with numerous short to medium-length (longest setae ≈ width of eye) erect setae . . . . . Iridomyrmex hesperus


 * Mesosoma often lacking erect setae, if present then confined to one or two pairs on pronotum and/or mesonotum, short (width of eye <) . . . . . Iridomyrmex notialis

12
return to couplet #10
 * Erect setae absent from antennal scape; head and mesosoma finely sculptured, the sculpture obscured by appressed pubescence . . . . . Iridomyrmex prismatis


 * Erect setae present on antennal scape; head and mesosoma shining and generally smooth, with only superficial microreticulation evident in some lights, the cuticle not obscured by appressed pubescence . . . . . Iridomyrmex innocens

13
return to couplet #8
 * Viewed from front, head capsule very long, up to twice as long as wide, its widest point well above its midpoint (Figure 157); vertex of head capsule often weakly to strongly convex; appendages long, femur and tibia about length of mesosoma (I. agilis species-group) . . . . . 14


 * Viewed from front, head capsule ≤1.5 times as long as wide, its widest point at about its midpoint (Figure 158); vertex of head capsule straight or concave; appendages shorter, < length of mesosoma . . . . . 16

14
return to couplet #13
 * Larger species (HW > 1 mm); red-and-black . . . . . Iridomyrmex agilis


 * Smaller species (HW < 1 mm); concolorous black or dark brown . . . . . 15