Key to Blepharidatta workers and queens

Key to Blepharidatta workers based on Brandao, Feitosa & Diniz (2015).

This key can also be used to identify Blepharidatta queens, except for Blepharidatta conops of which the queens are the only ones with phragmotic heads [Figs 2 C, E].

1

 * Eyes bulging, strongly projecting and distinct in full face view (Figs 1 A, C, E); propodeal spines shorter than the petiole in lateral view (figs 2 B, D, F) => 2
 * Eyes only moderately convex, concealed by the frontal carinae in full face view (Fig. 1 G); propodeal spines extremely developed, as long as the petiole in lateral view (Fig. 2 H); Colombian and western Brazilian Amazon => Blepharidatta fernandezi

2

 * In frontal view, anterior face of pronotum weakly delimited and covered by irregular and sparse rugulation (Figs 1 B, C); dorsal surface of head and dorsum of mesosoma feebly and irregularly sculptured, devoid of thick longitudinal rugae (Fig. 1 A–D) => 3
 * In frontal view, anterior face of pronotum almost vertical and densely covered by a row of short longitudinal rugae (Fig 1 E); dorsal surface of head and dorsum of mesosoma entirely covered by thick longitudinal to subconcentric rugae (Fig. 1 E–F); Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia and northeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil => Blepharidatta delabiei

3

 * Smaller species (workers circa 2.5 mm in total) (Figs 1 A–B); body uniformly yellowish; head, mesosoma and waist areolaterugose, opaque; almost flat compound eyes concealed by the frontal carinae in full face view; petiolar node dorsally convex; widespread in the Amazon Forest, from eastern Brazil (Pará), southern Venezuela and eastern Ecuador =>Blepharidatta brasiliensis
 * Larger species (workers circa 4.5 mm in total) (Figs 1 C–D); body light-brown to black, with gaster and appendages lighter; head, mesosoma and waist weakly and irregularly sculptured, shiny; compound eyes bulging in full face view, conic; petiolar node elongate, feebly differentiated; widespread in Brazilian arid environments (Brazilian cerrados and caatingas) => Blepharidatta conops