Key to Australian Genera of Ponerinae

The following key to Australian genera of the subfamily Ponerinae has been modified from Schmidt & Shattuck (2014).

1

 * Clypeus broadly inserted between frontal lobes, which appear flattened in frontal view, the antennal sockets widely separated (Fig. A). Metatibia with two pectinate spurs. Tarsal claws usually armed with a single preapical tooth (rarely unarmed) => Platythyrea
 * Clypeus narrowly inserted between frontal lobes, the antennal sockets closely approximated (Fig. B). Metatibia with either one or two spurs. Tarsal claws usually unarmed, sometimes pectinate or armed with a single tooth => 2



2

 * Mandibles long and linear, inserted medially on the front of the head. Head with prominent ocular prominences (Fig. A) => 3
 * Mandibles inserted toward the sides of the front of the head. Head without prominent ocular prominences (Fig. B) => 4



3

 * Nuchal carina continuously curved, the posterior surface of the head lacking a pair of dark apophyseal lines (Fig. A) => Anochetus
 * Nuchal carina medially V-shaped, the posterior surface of the head with a pair of dark converging apophyseal lines (Fig. B) => Odontomachus



4

 * Mesotibiae dorsally with abundant stout traction setae (Fig. A) => Cryptopone
 * Mesotibiae dorsally without abundant stout traction setae (a few stout setae sometimes present near tarsus but never extending along length of tibia) (Fig. B) => 5



5

 * Ventral apex of the metatibia with a single spur, which is pectinate (Fig. A) => 6
 * Ventral apex of the metatibia with both a large pectinate spur and a smaller simple spur (Fig. B) => 8



6

 * Eyes absent. Mandibles elongate and narrow, the teeth small and widely spaced (Fig. A) => Iroponera
 * Eyes present (although sometimes very small). Mandibles generally triangular but occasionally elongate, the teeth generally moderately sized (occasionally elongate) and evenly spaced (Fig. B) => 7



7

 * Subpetiolar process with an anterior fenestra and paired posteroventral teeth (Fig. A) => Ponera
 * Subpetiolar process without both an anterior fenestra and paired posteroventral teeth (Fig. B) => Hypoponera



8

 * Tarsal claws pectinate (Fig. A) or armed with one or two preapical teeth => Leptogenys
 * Tarsal claws unarmed (Fig. B) => 9



9

 * Propodeal spiracle slit-shaped (Fig. A) => 10
 * Propodeal spiracle round or ovoid (Fig. B) => 14



10

 * Mesosoma with a deep pit anterior to each metanotal spiracle (Fig. A). Petiole with a pair of spines on the posterodorsal margin (Fig. A). Arolia prominent and white => Diacamma
 * Mesosoma without deep pits laterally (Fig. B). Petiole rounded dorsally, without a pair of spines (Fig. B). Arolia not prominent and white => 11



11

 * Compound eyes small (with 2-4 facets) or absent. Subpetiolar process with an anterior fenestra and/or a pair of teeth (Fig. A) => Parvaponera
 * Compound eyes present and larger, with numerous facets. Subpetiolar process simple, without an anterior fenestra (Fig. B) => 12



12

 * In frontal view, eyes located dorsally on head and separated from the lateral margin by a small gap (Fig. A). Additionally, with the following combination of characters: Head and body usually with both dense pilosity and dense pubescence; propodeum broad dorsally; petiole semicircular in dorsal profile and usually with a row of small teeth or denticles on the posterodorsal margin (angled or ridged in some Australian species); A3 tergite usually longitudinally striate => Pseudoneoponera
 * In frontal view, eyes located laterally on head and touching or extending beyond the lateral margin (Fig. B). Additional characters not as above. => 13



13

 * Head and body strongly sculptured (usually striate). Mesopleuron divided by a transverse groove. Petiolar node in dorsal view generally convex anteriorly and flat posteriorly (a few exceptions). Posterolateral margins of head angular (Fig. A) => Ectomomyrmex
 * Head and body not strongly sculptured. Mesopleuron not divided. Petiolar node scale-like or block-like. Posterolateral margins of head rounded (Fig. B) => Pseudoponera



14

 * Mandibles linear or subtriangular. Clypeus with a blunt anteromedial rectangular projection (Fig. A) => Myopias
 * Mandibles triangular. Clypeus without a blunt anteromedial rectangular projection (Fig. B) => 15



15

 * Mandible with a basal pit or groove. Prora absent from anterior margin of first gastral sternite (Fig. A) => Brachyponera
 * Mandible without a basal pit or groove. Prora present on anterior margin of first gastral sternite (Fig. B) => 16



16

 * In side view anterior clypeal margin angular and located against the mandibles (Fig. A). Mandibles elongate, their outer margins generally broadly and shallowely concave (Fig. B) => Mesoponera
 * In side view anterior clypeal margin rounded, the anterior-most point located above the mandibles and clypeus meeting mandibles posteriorly to this point (Fig. C). Mandibles shorter, their outer margins generally flat or with separate convex sections separated by a slight medial angle (Fig. D) => Austroponera