Key to North American Dolichoderus Species

From Johnson, C. 1989. Identification and nesting sites of North American species of Dolichoderus Lund (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Insecta Mundi 3: 1-9.

1

 * Dorsum of pronotum and mesonotum approximately equal in sculptural development (Fig. 1c) and both surfaces largely opaque; erect hairs on head, upper thoracic surface (Fig. 2c) and scapes. . . . . . Dolichoderus plagiatus


 * Dorsum of pronotum, though granulate or punctate, smoother than the mesonotum, its surface opaque or shining; erect hairs may or may not occur on body and scapes . . . . . 2

2
return to couplet #1
 * In dorsal view, the propodeum's width and length approximately equal (Fig. 1b); erect hairs absent from upper surface of alitrunk or confined to anterior of pronotum; body concolored in black. . . . . Dolichoderus taschenbergi


 * In dorsal view, the propodeum's length exceeds its width; erect hairs may or may not occur on upper surface of alitrunk; body concolored or bicolored . . . . . 3

3
return to couplet #2
 * No erect hairs on upper surface of alitrunk (Fig. la); the concave declivous face of propodeum sculptured with fine vertical striations; body bicolored. . . . . . Dolichoderus mariae


 * Several erect hairs occur over the length of the alitrunk; the concave, declivous face of propodeum smooth or granulate,; mature adults bicolored or concolored in dark brown or orange. . . . . Dolichoderus pustulatus