Key to Anochetus of the Malagasy Region

These keys to workers, queens and males are based on: Fisher, B. L. and M. A. Smith. 2008. A Revision of Malagasy Species of Anochetus Mayr and Odontomachus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). [http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0001787 PloS one. 3:e1787].

Key to workers and queens / Key to males

This key is slightly outdated but is the best available for the genus.

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 * Anochetus
 * Ants of Madagascar

1

 * Inner mandibular blade without preapical teeth and denticles . . . . . 2


 * Inner mandibular blade with at least four preapical teeth and denticles . . . . . 4

2

 * Worker compound eye large, .0.15 mm long. In full face view, antennal scape extends beyond posterior margins of occipital lobe. Dorsal surface of head and mesosoma with or without numerous short setae . . . . . 3


 * Worker compound eyes small, ,0.15 mm long. In full face view, antennal scape usually fail to reach, and never surpass, posterior margin of occipital lobe. Dorsal surface of head with numerous short setae . . . . . Anochetus grandidieri

3

 * Dorsal surface of head and mesosoma without numerous short setae. Pronotal dorsum glassy smooth . . . . . Anochetus madagascarensis


 * Dorsal surface of head and mesosoma with numerous short setae. Pronotal dorsum with punctures anteriorly and longitudinal ridges posteriorly (Aldabra) . . . . . Anochetus pattersoni

4

 * Petiolar node as seen from front or rear with apical margin deeply concave, lateral corner forming long spine . . . . . Anochetus boltoni


 * Petiolar node as seen from front or rear with apical margin rounded, or slightly flattened, the lateral corner without spine . . . . . Anochetus goodmani

Males
Anochetus goodmani males are unknown and not included

1M

 * Shortest distance between lateral ocellus and margin of compound eye smaller than maximum length of ocellus. Petiolar node as seen from front or rear with lateral corners rounded, without acute spine or sharp tooth . . . . . 2M


 * Shortest distance between lateral ocellus and margin of compound eye distinctly greater than maximum length of ocellus. Petiolar node as seen from front or rear with lateral corners with acute spine or tooth . . . . . 3M

2M

 * Body yellowish brown. Petiolar node as seen from front or rear with apical margin concave. Paramere simple with rounded apex . . . . . Anochetus madagascarensis


 * Body dark brown, black. Petiolar node as seen from front or rear with apical margin more or less flat. Paramere constricted apically into a ventrally-directed digitiform lobe . . . . . Anochetus pattersoni

3M

 * Head and mesoscutum with dense reticulate sculpture, opaque, not smooth or shiny. Declivitous surface of propodeum abrupt, about as long as dorsal surface . . . . . Anochetus grandidieri


 * Head and mesoscutum with week sculpture, smooth and shiny areas present. Declivitous surface of propodeum gradually sloping posteriorly, indistinctly delimited from dorsal surface . . . . . Anochetus boltoni