Key to Melophorus of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province

This key to minor workers is based on: [[Media:Heterick 2009.pdf|Heterick, B. E. 2009a. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76: 1-206. Part 1 PDF]]

Although this genus is polymorphic, there is generally relatively less difference, apart from the broad head capsule in the major, between the major and other worker castes than there is in genera like Pheidole and Camponotus. The characteristics of all worker castes of Melophorus, therefore, are included in this key. The major workers for some species, however, are unknown.

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 * Australia
 * Melophorus

1

 * Propodeum in major and minor workers armed with stout denticles, directed vertically; head, mesosoma and nodes strongly shagreenate; matt in appearance; minor worker with elongate head capsule, in full-face view, about three times as long as wide (very rare, sandplain E of Albany and Eneabba region) (Figure 332) . . . . . Melophorus majeri


 * Propodeum unarmed in all worker castes; appearance otherwise not as above . . . . . 2

2
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 * In profile, head (at least of minor and media workers) extremely flattened (Figure 333); outline of dorsum of mesosoma almost straight (characteristics of major worker unknown) . . . . . Melophorus sp. JDM 787


 * In profile, head not extremely flattened; outline of dorsum of mesosoma usually sinuate, with pronotum and/or propodeum elevated above plane of mesonotum . . . . . 3