Key to Crematogaster of the north-eastern Mediterranean Basin

This worker key is based on: [[Media:Salata, S., Borowiec, L. 2015. Redescription of Crematogaster cypria Santschi, 1930, new status.pdf|Salata S. and Borowiec L. 2015. Redescription of Crematogaster cypria Santschi, 1930, new status, with description of two new related species from Greece and Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys. 505:59–77. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.505.9566]]

The complexes in the key comprise more than one species, some likely described under valid specific and infraspecific names and others that are new to science. All of the complexes need a revision based on types and including material encompassing the entire distribution of the species.

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1

 * Petiole subquadrate in dorsal view, sides almost parallel; antennal club three-segmented, subgenus Crematogaster s. str . . . . . 2


 * Petiole trapezoidal narrowing from front to rear in dorsal view, sides almost parallel; antennal club two-segmented . . . . . subgenus Orthocrema

2
return to couplet #1
 * Propodeum with distinct propodeal spines . . . . . 3


 * Propodeum without propodeal spines, at most with small tubercles. Cyprus, Caucasian countries, the Near East and North Africa . . . . . Crematogaster inermis complex

3
return to couplet #2
 * First gastral tergite with numerous erect setae . . . . . 4


 * First gastral tergite without or at most with 1–5 erect setae . . . . . 6

4
return to couplet #3
 * Propodeal spines long, more than 2.5 times longer than width at base. Mesonotal keel long, longer than half length of mesonotum . . . . . 5


 * Propodeal spines short, at most 2 times longer than width at base. Mesonotal keel absent or forming very small tubercle close to promesonotal suture. Cyprus . . . . . Crematogaster cypria

5
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 * Antennal scape on anterior surface on whole length with erect setae. Eyes more round. Dodecanese . . . . . Crematogaster erectepilosa


 * Antennal scape on anterior surface with subappressed to suberect setae. Eyes more oval. SW Turkey . . . . . Crematogaster gullukdagensis

6
return to couplet #3
 * Pronotum at least on sides with more or less distinct rugae, dorsal surface more or less shiny. Mesonotal keel present, at least in form of short longitudinal tubercle . . . . . 7


 * Pronotum without rugae, dorsal surface punctate and microreticulate, dull. Mesonotal keel absent. Widespread throughout the region . . . . . Crematogaster lorteti

7
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 * Pronotum on whole surface with rugae. Propodeal spines long, more than 2.5 times longer than width at base . . . . . 8


 * Pronotum only on sides with short rugae, anterior and central part only punctate. Propodeal spines short, at most 2 times longer than width at base. The Near East (Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan) . . . . . Crematogaster jehovae complex

8
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 * Body distinctly bicoloured, head and mesosoma yellowish, red to reddish-brown, abdomen dark brown. Rugae on anterior part of pronotum usually transverse. Widespread throughout the region . . . . . Crematogaster schmidti complex


 * Body more or less unicolours, brown to almost black or head and mesosoma only indistinctly paler coloured than abdomen. Rugae on whole pronotum usually longitudinal or on pronotal sides oblique, occasionally in anterior part transverse. Widespread throughout the region . . . . . Crematogaster ionia complex