Key to Central America Procryptocerus

This worker key is based on:[[Media:Longino & Snelling 2002.pdf|Longino, J.T. and Snelling, R.R. 2002. A taxonomic revision of the Procryptocerus of Central America. Contributions in Science. 495:1-30. PDF]]

Longino and Snelling noted: The following key is based on workers. In general, key characters pertaining to the head or gaster apply equally to workers and queens.

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Procryptocerus

1

 * Sculpture on face composed entirely of high, sharp carinae, which often anastomose to form areolae (Fig. 1A, B), but which may be regularly longitudinally parallel; first gastral tergite smooth, punctate, or striate; if striate, <40 striae/mm across disc; base of scape never flattened . . . . . 2


 * Sculpture on face composed entirely of discrete, rounded foveae (Fig. 1H–J); distance between foveae ≥ fovea diameter; interspaces generally smooth, minutely areolate; foveae uniformly covering face or restricted to anterior half or less, leaving posterior portion of face smooth; base of scape terete or flattened (see also 1c) . . . . . 4


 * Sculpture on face striate (Fig. 1D), or a mixture of striae and foveae (Fig. 1D–G), or with shallow more or less confluent foveae (Fig. 1C); if entirely foveate (Fig. 1G), sculpture very shallow and gaster covered with long, flattened, subdecumbent setae; base of scape never flattened . . . . . 9

2
return to couplet #1
 * First gastral tergite densely micropunctate over most of surface; sculpture on face uniformly areolate with no longitudinal orientation (Fig. 1B), HW, 1.05 mm . . . . . Procryptocerus belti


 * First gastral tergite usually smooth and shining, occasionally with longitudinal rugulae anteriorly or with longitudinal rugulae both anteriorly and posteriorly; sculpture on face often with at least some longitudinal orientation medially (Fig. 1A); HW . 1.05 . . . . . 3

3
return to couplet #2
 * Lateral portion of clypeus expanded, such that a trough is formed between it and torulus (Fig. 2A); in anterior view torulus is partially hidden; mesosoma length, 1.9 mm; side of dorsal face of propodeum often with a tooth or lobe midway between base of propodeum and base of propodeal spine . . . . . Procryptocerus batesi


 * Lateral portion of clypeus falls perpendicularly to base of torulus (Fig. 2B), such that in anterior view torulus is clearly visible; mesosoma length (ML) usually .1.9 mm; side of dorsal face of propodeum straight with no tooth or lobe midway between base of propodeum and base of propodeal spine . . . . . Procryptocerus mayri

4
return to couplet #1
 * First gastral tergite densely and finely striate over entire surface; erect setae stiff, short, sparse . . . . . 5


 * First gastral tergite smooth or with striae confined to anterior one half; erect setae thin and flexuous or absent . . . . . 6

5
return to couplet #4
 * Base of scape flattened, as wide as distal end; HW . 1.20 mm; anterior face of petiole smooth and shining . . . . . Procryptocerus kempfi


 * Base of scape (above basal flange) subterete, narrower than distal end; HW, 1.20 mm; anterior face of petiole with coarse transverse striae . . . . . Procryptocerus hylaeus

6
return to couplet #4
 * Base of scape (above basal flange) subterete, narrower than distal end; scape orange brown or black . . . . . 7


 * Base of scape flattened, as wide as distal end; scape black . . . . . 8

7
return to couplet #6
 * Face largely smooth and shining, weak foveae confined to anterior third (Fig. 1I) . . . . . Procryptocerus coriarius


 * Face uniformly foveate (Fig. 1J) . . . . . Procryptocerus eladio

8
return to couplet #6
 * First gastral tergite smooth and shiny, with scattered minute puncta, lacking longitudinal sculpture in Central America, with anterior longitudinal rugulae in Peru; mesosomal dorsum with abundant long flexuous setae . . . . . Procryptocerus nalini


 * First gastral tergite with anterior portion evenly longitudinally striate; mesosomal dorsum with sparse, short, stiff setae . . . . . Procryptocerus attenuatus

9
return to couplet #1
 * Sculpture on face composed of confluent, very shallow foveae (Fig. 1C); first gastral tergite finely longitudinally striate, with sparse erect short setae; HW, 1.0 mm . . . . . Procryptocerus pictipes
 * Sculpture on face striate or very shallow and a mixture of foveae and weak rugulae (Fig. 1D–G); HW . 1.0 mm . . . . . 10

10
return to couplet #9
 * Dorsal face of propodeum and first gastral tergite with relatively few setae, which are not strongly flattened (Fig. 3A, B); face with conspicuous longitudinal rugae with variable development of small foveae (Fig. 1D); posterior face of forefemur smooth or with faint carinae, which do not extend the full length of femur . . . . . Procryptocerus scabriusculus


 * Dorsal face of propodeum and first gastral tergite with strongly flattened setae (Fig. 3C–F); sculpture on face very shallow, foveae more conspicuous than rugae (Fig. 1E–G) . . . . . 11

11
return to couplet #10
 * Gaster densely covered with subdecumbent, strongly flattened, glittering setae; along median axis of first gastral tergite decumbent setae overlap by about half their length; lateral lobes of mesonotum in the form of horizontal flanges which are blunt, posteriorly directed, and project over the propodeal suture, such that in side view their vertically concave posteroventral margins obscure the median portion of the suture (Fig. 3F) . . . . . Procryptocerus impressus


 * Gaster with relatively less dense setae on first gastral tergite; along median axis, decumbent setae overlap by less than half their length or do not overlap; lateral lobes of mesonotum smaller, such that in side view they do not obscure the propodeal suture (Fig. 3D) . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * First gastral tergite continuously striate from anterior to posterior border; face nearly or entirely devoid of erect setae (Fig. 1E) . . . . . Procryptocerus paleatus


 * Striae on first gastral tergite fading out before attaining posterior margin; face with about 10 erect setae (Fig. 1F) . . . . . Procryptocerus tortuguero