Key to Sulawesi Polyrhachis subgenera and species-groups

This worker key is based on: [[Media:Kohout 2008a.pdf|Kohout, R.J. 2008a. A review of the Polyrhachis ants of Sulawesi with keys and descriptions of new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 52:255-317. PDF]]

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Polyrhachis 

1

 * Mesosomal dorsum distinctly laterally marginate along its entire length . . . . . 2


 * Mesosomal dorsum only partly marginate or totally immarginate . . . . . 13

2
return to couplet #1
 * Pronotal humeri produced into more-or-less anteriorly directed spines . . . . . 3


 * Pronotal humeri rounded, angular or produced into broad-based short teeth . . . . . 10

3
return to couplet #2
 * Propodeum usually with upturned teeth; petiole scale-like with dorsum armed or unarmed (Myrma, in part) . . . . . 4


 * Propodeum with posteriorly or upwardly directed spines; petiole columnar, armed with spines or teeth of various configurations . . . . . 7

4
return to couplet #3
 * Dorsum of petiole with four spines or teeth . . . . . 5


 * Dorsum of petiole without spines, entire or at most obtusely jagged . . . . . 6

5
return to couplet #4
 * Mesosoma in profile evenly convex, without distinct border between dorsum and propodeal declivity; head with distinct postocular carinae . . . . . continua species-group (only Polyrhachis continua)


 * Mesosoma in profile with distinct border dividing dorsum from declivity; head without postocular carinae . . . . . relucens species-group

6
return to couplet #4
 * Large species (HL >2.30); whole body with numerous long or medium length erect hairs . . . . . vestita species-group


 * Small species (HL <1.80); body with only a few short erect hairs on front of head and around gastral apex . . . . . inermis species-group

7
return to couplet #3
 * Dorsum of petiole armed with 3 mostly dorsoposteriorly directed spines of various lengths (Myrmothrinax) (in part - also, ) . . . . . 8


 * Dorsum of petiole armed with 2 mostly horizontal spines that usually conform to shape of gaster . . . . . 9

8
return to couplet #7
 * Petiole with spines more-or-less subequal or with middle spine shorter than lateral pair . . . . . aequalis species-group


 * Petiole with middle spine distinctly longer than lateral pair that are sometimes rudimentary . . . . . thrinax species-group

9
return to couplet #7
 * Pronotal humeri produced into broad, horizontal, dorsally flattened spines; dorsum of petiole acute with pair of intercalary teeth . . . . . cryptoceroides species-group (only Polyrhachis cryptoceroides)


 * Pronotal humeri produced into rather slender, acute spines; dorsum of petiole with posteriorly sloping platform, without intercalary teeth . . . . . Hedomyrma

10
return to couplet #2
 * Propodeum with short, upturned teeth . . . . . 11


 * Propodeum with posteriorly directed, horizontal spines . . . . . 13

11
return to couplet #10
 * Petiole scale-like; dorsum armed with four, more-or-less subequal teeth . . . . . zopyra species-group (only Polyrhachis zopyra)


 * Petiole columnar; dorsum armed with spines and/or teeth of various configurations . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * Dorsum of petiole with two elevated spines, or with two horizontal spines and often a pair of intercalary teeth . . . . . flavicornis species-group


 * Dorsum of petiole with three very short, erect spines, middle spine often rudimentary . . . . . Myrmothrinax (in part - also, ) (only Polyrhachis trispinosa)

13
return to couplet #1; return to couplet #10
 * Pronotal humeri rounded or weakly obtusely angulate; petiole with 3 spines, middle spine distinctly elongated, lateral spines short or rudimentary; body without long hairs . . . . . Myrmothrinax (in part - also, ) (only Polyrhachis unicuspis)


 * Pronotal humeri distinctly toothed; petiole with 2 horizontal spines conforming to shape of gaster; body with abundant long hairs . . . . . Chariomyrma

14

 * Mesosomal dorsum partly marginate (Myrmatopa, in part) . . . . . 15


 * Mesosomal dorsum totally immarginate . . . . . 16

15
return to couplet #14
 * Lateral margins of mesonotum produced into distinct dorsolateral prominences; pronotal dorsum without trace of lateral margins . . . . . schnag species-group


 * Lateral margins of mesonotum relatively flat, without distinct dorsolateral prominences; pronotal margins evident only at humeral angles, vague or completely lacking posteriorly . . . . . wallacei species-group

16
return to couplet #14
 * Mesonotum with pair of spines . . . . . Polyrhachis (only Polyrhachis erosispina)


 * Mesonotum without spines . . . . . 17

17
return to couplet #16
 * Mesosoma strongly longitudinally and transversely convex; colour black, mostly highly polished . . . . . 18


 * Mesosoma weakly to moderately convex; colour of body variable, never highly polished . . . . . 19

18
return to couplet #17
 * Petiole scale-like; dorsum armed with four teeth or spines of various configurations; sides of head with longitudinal carinae separating genae from ventral parts of head; propodeum without spines . . . . . Cyrtomyrma


 * Petiole columnar; dorsum armed with two horizontal spines that conform to shape of gaster; sides of head without longitudinal carinae; propodeum with pair of spines . . . . . mucronata species-group

19
return to couplet #17
 * Head and body with numerous, more-or-less erect hairs . . . . . 20


 * Head and body with only a few scattered hairs . . . . . 22

20
return to couplet #19
 * Larger species (HL >2.50) . . . . . sexspinosa species-group


 * Smaller species (HL <2.20) . . . . . 21

21
return to couplet #20
 * Frontal carinae distinctly elevated; head and body rather coarsely sculptured . . . . . cleophanes species-group


 * Frontal carinae not distinctly elevated; head and body reticulate-punctate . . . . . bicolor species-group

22
return to couplet #19
 * Antennal scapes and tibiae distinctly flattened . . . . . hector species-group


 * Antennal scapes and tibiae not distinctly flattened . . . . . 23

23
return to couplet #22
 * Pronotal humeri produced into distinct, acute spines; head appears normal in relation to rest of body; eyes convex . . . . . 24


 * Pronotal humeri toothed; head disproportionally large compared to rest of body; eyes flat . . . . . flavoflagellata species-group (only Polyrhachis storki)

24
return to couplet #23
 * Head and body deeply sculptured, foveolate-rugose . . . . . 25


 * Head and body only weakly reticulate-punctate . . . . . 26

25
return to couplet #24
 * Smaller species (HL <1.60); body light to very dark reddish-brown with appendages distinctly lighter . . . . . furcata species-group (only Polyrhachis rufipes)


 * Larger species (HL >2.25); body, including apendages and gaster often very dark reddish-brown . . . . . armata species-group (only Polyrhachis armata)

26
return to couplet #24
 * Propodeal spines with their tips distictly curved outwards . . . . . dives species-group (only Polyrhachis dives)


 * Propodeal spines with their tips straight . . . . . armata species-group (in part)