Key to Asphinctopone species

This key was presented in Hawkes, 2010. A new species of Asphinctopone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) from Tanzania. Zootaxa. 2480:27-36. [[Media:Hawkes 2010.pdf|PDF]], which in turn was a modification of: Bolton, B. & Fisher, B.L. 2008. The Afrotropical ponerine ant genus Asphinctopone Santschi. Zootaxa 1827: 53-61. [[Media:Bolton & Fisher 2008.pdf|PDF]]

1

 * Metanotal groove only slightly impressed, lateral margins of median clypeal lobe not sharply angulate and not pro¬jecting further forward than the median margin. Mandible without a tooth-like process on the inner basal margin. Larger species (HW 0.86 mm), entirety of head and mesosoma sculptured and covered with a relatively dense sub-erect to erect pubescence. (Tanzania) . . . . . Asphinctopone pilosa


 * Metanotal groove deeply impressed, lateral margins of median clypeal lobe sharply angulate and projecting as short denticles slightly anterior to median margin. Mandible with a tooth-like process on the inner basal margin (may be obscured by anterolateral angles of clypeal lobe when mandibles closed). Smaller species (HW 0.62–0.68 mm), head and mesosoma not entirely sculptured nor entirely covered with pubescence; at least the propleura smooth, shining and hairless. (West & Central Africa) . . . . . 2

2

 * With propodeum in profile the dorsum with pubescence extremely scanty, almost absent. Side of propodeum with scattered punctures, the spaces between them usually smooth. (Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic) . . . . . Asphinctopone silvestrii


 * With propodeum in profile the dorsum with a pelt of erect, weakly curved pubescence. Side of propodeum entirely densely irregularly sculptured. (Central African Republic) . . . . . Asphinctopone differens