Identification resources for Neotropical Ants

Related information:
 * Neotropical Region Species List

Key to Subfamilies
Key to subfamilies of the Neotropical region

Keys to Genera
Subfamilies with just one genus present:
 * Agroecomyrmecinae: Tatuidris
 * Martialinae: Martialis
 * Paraponerinae: Paraponera

Work if progress for: Keys to genera for the rest:
 * Dolichoderinae
 * Formicinae
 * Myrmicinae

Acanthognathus
Genus endemic to this region.

Antwiki key is created from Galvis & Fernández (2009) which modifies Brown & Kempf (1969) No new species has been described since then.

Acanthoponera
Genus endemic to this region

Jimenez et al (2008) offers a tentative key to all Neotropical species (pgs. 111, in Spanish).

Acanthostichus
The genus was revised by McKay (1996) and is still valid, though it doesn't include neither Acanthostichus emmae nor Acanthostichus longinodis.

Antwiki key is based in that reference

Acromyrmex
No recent revision is available, although some local keys are available:
 * Kusnezov (1956) Argentina (outdated)
 * Gonçalves (1961) : Brazil (outdated)
 * Fernandez et al (2015) : Colombia

Acropyga
Revised by LaPolla (2004)

Antwiki keys are based in that reference and valid

Adelomyrmex
This key is based on: Longino (2012) and contains only species known from the mainland Americas. Species from Melanesia and elsewhere, including a species from Isla del Coco, are not included.

Allomerus
Genus endemic to this region

Fernández (2007) revises the genus. No new species has been described since then.

Amyrmex
Genus endemic to this region with only one species: Amyrmex golbachi

Anillidris
Genus endemic to this region with only one species: Anillidris bruchi

Anochetus
Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to all Neotropical species (pgs. 126-128, in Spanish) except the recently described Anochetus chocoensis, Anochetus hohenbergiae and Anochetus miserabilis

Antwiki key is based on Brown (1978). This key is outdated as since Brown’s revision (1978), eleven additional Neotropical species have been described: eight fossils species from Dominican Amber (Anochetus ambiguus, Anochetus brevidentatus, Anochetus conisquamis, Anochetus corayi, Anochetus dubius, Anochetus exstinctus, Anochetus intermedius, Anochetus lucidus); two species from the mountains west of Cali, Colombia (Anochetus elegans, Anochetus vallensis); another colombian species (Anochetus chocoensis), an arborean Brazilian species (Anochetus hohenbergiae) and a species associated with leaf-cutter ants in Paraguay and Argentina (Anochetus miserabilis)

Anoplolepis
Only one tramp species present in this region: Anoplolepis gracilipes

Aphaenogaster
No revision is available for this genus in the Neotropical Region There are 16 species cited for the Neotropical Region, but only five are cited out of Mexico:
 * Aphaenogaster araneoides
 * Aphaenogaster honduriana
 * Aphaenogaster phalangium
 * Aphaenogaster relicta
 * Aphaenogaster relicta epinotalis

Logino & Cover (2004) revise the Aphaenogaster phalangium complex, endemic to Central America

Apterostigma
Lattke (1997) revises the genus. One species has been described for the region since then: Apterostigma megacephala

Asphinctanilloides
Genus endemic to this region

Revised in Brandao et al (1999). No species have been described since then.

Atta
Borgmeier (1965) revises the genus. His key is still useful, as it only misses Atta cubana, described in 1995.

Other useful local key for Colombia is *Fernandez et al (2015)

Azteca
Genus endemic to this region

Although no global revision has been done yet, there are some local revision as Longino (2007) for Costa Rica and the aurita group

Bariamyrma
Genus endemic to this region with only one species Bariamyrma hispidula

Basiceros
Genus endemic to this region Feitosa et al (2007) revises the genus. The key is still valid as no new species has been described since then.

Belonopelta
Genus endemic to this region

Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to the two Neotropical species (pgs. 136, in Spanish)

Blepharidatta
Genus endemic to this region

Revised by Brandao et al (2015).

Antwiki key is based on that reference and covers all the described species

Bothriomyrmex
Only one species present in this region: Bothriomyrmex paradoxus

Brachymyrmex
No genus revision is available, although some recent partial revisionary studies exists:
 * Ortiz & Fernández (2014) for the five species with tumuliform metathoracic spiracles

Camponotus
Extremely complex genus, with more than 450 species present. There are no available revision for the genus. There are some unpublished keys by Mr. and Mrs. MacKay that can be really helpful: |Provisional Neartic Camponotus Keys Some revisionary works have been published, covering subgenera or species groups:
 * Fernández (2002) for subgenus Dendromyrmex

Cardiocondyla
All the species cited in the Neotropical region are tramp species and have been reported from the Carribean area

Carebara
Fernández (2004) revises the American species. Two new species (Carebara arabara, Carebara coqueta) have been added since then.

Centromyrmex
Genus revised by Kempf (1967). Jimenez et al (2008) offers the same key translated into Spanish (pgs. 138)

Antwiki keys are based in that reference and cover all the species for the genus

Cephalotes
de Andrade & Baroni Urbani (1999) revise the genus.

Antwiki keys are updated based on that reference, adding Cephalotes specularis, described in 2014

Cerapachys
The last availble revision of the genus is Brown (1975). The keys for the Neotropical region are still valid as no new species have been described since then.

Cheliomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region

Watkins (1976) offers a key to all species, both soldiers and males, which are still valid.

Condylodon
Genus endemic to this region with only one species: Condylodon audouini

Crematogaster
There is no recent revision for this hyperdiverse genus in the Neotropic Region. Some keys for local faunas are available, as:
 * Longino (2003) : Costa Rica

Cryptomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region The genus and the two species have been defined by Fernández (2004)

Antwiki key covers all the described species.

Cryptopone
MacKay & Mackay (2010) revises the genus Pachycondyla for the Americas and covers all the Neotropical species.

The Neotropical Cryptopone species are treated as the ochracea species group in that publication (Couplets 2-4 in MacKay's key).

Cyatta
Genus endemic to this region, with only one species: Cyatta abscondita

Cylindromyrmex
Genus endemic to this region

The last availble revision of the genus is Brown (1975).

Antwiki key is based in that reference and covers all the described species except Cylindromyrmex escobari, described in 1998.

Cyphomyrmex
Kempf (1962) divides the genus in two species groups: strigatus group and rimosus group.

The revised species groups are:
 * Kempf (1964) : strigatus group. Species described since then: Cyphomyrmex andersoni and Cyphomyrmex snellingi
 * Kempf (1966) and Snelling & Longino (2002) : rimosus group. Species described since then: Cyphomyrmex castagnei, Cyphomyrmex muelleri

Daceton
Genus endemic to this region

Diaphoromyrma
Genus endemic to this region with one species described: Diaphoromyrma sofiae

Dinoponera
Genus endemic to this region

Lenhart et al (2013) revise the genus and offer keys valid for all described species.

Antwiki keys are based in that reference

Discothyrea
Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to Colombian species, covering the Neotropical species but Discothyrea icta, Discothyrea isthmica,  Discothyrea soesilae and  Discothyrea testacea (pgs. 223, in Spanish)

Dolichoderus
MacKay (1993) revises the genus for the Neotropical region. One species has been described since then (Dolichoderus tridentanodus), from Mexico

Dorymyrmex
No global revision is availble for the genus, though some local keys are available:
 * Snelling & Hunt (1975) : Chile (Araucomyrmex)
 * Cuezzo & Guerrero(2011) : Colombia

Eciton
Genus endemic to this region

Watkins (1976) offers a key to all species, both soldiers and males, which are still valid.

The genus is in need of a revision

Ectatomma
Genus endemic to this region

Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key (pgs. 56-59, in Spanish) to all Neotropical species except: Ectatomma parasiticum, Ectatomma suzanae, and Ectatomma vizottoi

Eurhopalothrix
This worker key is based on Longino (2013) and covers the Americas. No new species has been described since then.

Forelius
Cuezzo (2000) revises the genus. Species described for the Neotropical Region since then: Forelius damiani

Formica
All the Neotropical species are cited for Mexico, except Formica retecta, also cited for Honduras

Gigantiops
Genus endemic to this region with only one species described: Gigantiops destructor

Gnamptogenys
Lattke (2007) offers a key to the Neotropical species. Species described since then and not included in the key: Gnamptogenys andersoni, Gnamptogenys aspera, Gnamptogenys auricula, Gnamptogenys biquetra and Gnamptogenys dichotoma

Gracilidris
Genus endemic to this region with one species described: Gracilidris pombero

Heteroponera
Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to all Neotropical species (pgs. 113-114, in Spanish) except Heteroponera panamensis

Hylomyrma
Genus endemic to this region

Kempf (1973) revises the genus. His key cover all the species except Hylomyrma reginae, described in 1977

Hypoponera
No revision is available for the Neotropical species

Kalathomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region with one species described: Kalathomyrmex emeryi

Kempfidris
Genus endemic to this region with one species described: Kempfidris inusualis

Labidus
Watkins (1976) offers a key to all species, both soldiers and males, which are still valid.

Lachnomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region

Feitosa & Brandao (2008) revise the genus.

Antwiki key is based in that reference

Lasiophanes
Genus endemic to this region

Snelling & Hunt (1975) offers a key that covers all the valid species.

Lasius
All the cited species for the Neotropical region are cited from Mexico

Lenomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region

Fernández (2001) offers a key to all Neotropical species (in Spanish), except for Lenomyrmex colwelli, described in 2011

Leptanilloides
Delsinne et al (2015) offers a key that covers the genus.

Antwiki key is based on Borowiec et al (2011)

Leptogenys
No recent revision is available

Leptothorax
Two species have been cited from Mexico

Linepithema
Genus revised by Wild (2007)

Liometopum
Antwiki key for the US covers the species cited for the Neotropical region (Mexico). This key is based on Del Toro & Pacheco (2009)

Martialis
Genus endemic to this region with one species described: Martialis heureka

Mayaponera
Genus endemic to this region with one species described: Mayaponera constricta. MacKay & Mackay (2010) treates this species under the genus Pachycondyla forming the constricta complex.

Megalomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region

Brandao (1990) revises the genus and offers a key and arranges the genus in species-groups. As several new species have been described, the key is outdated, and should be complemented with Brandao (2003) and the revisonary studies for Central America, being the latest Boudinot et al (2013)

Monomorium
Fernández (2007) offers a useful key for the Neotropical species although misses some of the species cited for the region.

Mycetagroicus
Genus endemic to this region

Brandao et al (2008) offers a key for all the species in the genus

Mycetarotes
Genus endemic to this region Mayhé-Nunes (1995) offers a key for the four desribed species (in portuguese)

Mycetophylax
Genus endemic to this region

Klingenberg & Brandão (2009) revise the genus.

Antwiki key is based on that reference

Mycetosoritis
No recent revision is available for the genus

Mycocepurus
Genus endemic to this region

MacKay et al (2004) offer a key to all the Neotropical species except Mycocepurus castrator, described in 2010.

Myrcidris
Genus endemic to this region with one species decribed: Myrcidris epicharis

Antwiki keys include a non-described species from Guyana

Myrmecina
Two species have been cited from Mexico

Myrmecocystus
Snelling, R. (1976) and Snelling, R. (1982) revises the genus.

All the Neotropical species have been cited from Mexico

Myrmelachista
Genus endemic to this region

No global revision is available, but some local revisions are:
 * Longino (2006) : Costa Rica

Myrmica
Three species have been cited from Mexico and one from Brazil

Myrmicocrypta
There is no revision available for the genus

Neivamyrmex
Watkins (1976) offers a key to species, both soldiers and males, which are outdated, but the most complete till date.

The genus is in dire need of a revision

Neoponera
Most of the species now under this genus were revised by MacKay & Mackay (2010) under the genus Pachycondyla.

The current genus Neoponera comprises the MacKay's species complexes: aenescens, apicalis, crenata, emiliae, foetida, laevigata, rostrata, and the species Neoponera bucki of the stigma complex and Neoponera procidua of the crassinoda complex.


 * The Neoponera apicalis complex (as Pachycondyla) has been revised in Wild (2005)
 * The Neoponera foetida complex (as Pachycondyla) has been revised in Fernandes et al (2010)

These references cover the whole genus for the Neotropical region

Nesomyrmex
No recent revision is availble for this genus

Nomamyrmex
Watkins (1976) offers a key to the two described species, both workers and males, which are still valid.

Novomessor
Antwiki key covers the three species cited for Mexico

Nylanderia
No recent revision is available for the Neotropical species

Ochetomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region

Key based on Fernández (2003)

Octostruma
Genus endemic to this region

Longino (2013) revises the genus. Antwiki key is based on that reference

Odontomachus
Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to all Neotropical species (pgs. 151-155, in Spanish) except Odontomachus peruanus

Oxyepoecus
Genus endemic to this region

Albuquerque (2004) and Albuquerque & Brandao (2009) revise the genus and offers a key for all the species discovered til 2009.

Delsinne et al (2011) revises the local fauna for Paraguay, adding two new species.

New species added since then: Oxyepoecus regularis

Antwiki keys are based on those two references

Pachycondyla
MacKay & Mackay (2010) revises the genus for the Americas and covers all the Neotropical species. MacKay concept of the genus has now been splitted into the genera Brachyponera, Cryptopone, Hypoponera, Mayaponera, Neoponera, Paltothyreus, Rasopone, and Pachycondyla.

Current Neotropical Pachycondyla is formed by the MacKay's complexes crassinoda (except Neoponera procidua), curiosa, vieirai and the species Pachycondyla lenkoi of the stigma complex.

Paramycetophylax
Genus endemic to this region with one single species described: Paramycetophylax bruchi

Paraponera
Genus endemic to this region with one single species described: Paraponera clavata

Paraprionopelta
Genus endemic to this region with one single species described ''Paraprionopelta minima ''

Paratrechina
LaPolla & Fisher (2014) revises the genus.

One tramp species present: Paratrechina longicornis

Perissomyrmex
One species present in the region: Perissomyrmex snyderi

Phalacromyrmex
Genus endemic to this region with one species decribed Phalacromyrmex fugax

Pheidole
Wilson (2003) revises the genus for the Americas. Antwiki keys are based on that reference.

Major contributions have been done since then, as Longiono (2009), adding more than 20 new species.

New species described since then: Pheidole bigote, Pheidole_branstetteri, Pheidole carinote, Pheidole debilis, Pheidole eowilsoni, Pheidole epiphyta, Pheidole fossimandibula, Pheidole funki, Pheidole gymnoceras, Pheidole janzeni, Pheidole karolmorae, Pheidole karolsetosa, Pheidole lagunculinoda, Pheidole leoncortesi, Pheidole mesomontana, Pheidole mutisi, Pheidole neoschultzi, Pheidole pararugiceps, Pheidole phanigaster, Pheidole picobarva, Pheidole purpurea, Pheidole rhinomontana, Pheidole sebofila, Pheidole sparsisculpta, Pheidole synanthropica, Pheidole tenuicephala, Pheidole protaxi

Plagiolepis
One single species for the region: Plagiolepis alluaudi

Platythyrea
Brown (1975) revises the genus, covering all the species for the region but Platythyrea lenca and Platythyrea prizo.

Jimenez et al (2008) offers the same key translated into Spanish (pgs. 207-208), adding Platythyrea prizo

Pogonomyrmex
Johnson (2015) revises the genus

Polyergus
Trager (2013) revises the genus.

All the Neotropical species are cited from Mexico, and are covered by both keys.

Ponera
Only two species have been cited, one from Mexico and one Ponera ruficornis from Brazil. The status of this last species in Ponera is not clear, and should be regarded as an unidentifiable taxon, incertae sedis in Ponera.

Antwiki key covers the cited species

Prenolepis
All the species for the Neotropical region have been cited for Mexico. Creighton (1950) offers a key to all the species cited except Prenolepis acuminata. No other revision is available.

Some former local keys as Fontenla (2000) for Antillas Islands fall now under the genus Zatania

Prionopelta
Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to all Neotropical species except Prionopelta marthae (pgs. 48-49, in Spanish)

Probolomyrmex
Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to all Neotropical species (pgs. 233, in Spanish)

Proceratium
Baroni Urbani & de Andrade (2003) revise the genus. Antwiki key is based in that reference

Procryptocerus
Kempf (1951) revises the genus and offers a key, which is still valid nowadays.

Longino & Snelling (2002) revises the genus for Central America

Protalaridris
Genus endemic to this region with only one species described: Protalaridris armata

Pseudoatta
Genus endemic to this region One species and one subspecies cited from Argentina

Pseudomyrmex
Ward(1989) creates the species groups. The references to the groups are:


 * ferrugineus: Ward(1993)
 * gracilis
 * oculatus: Ward(1989)
 * pallens
 * pallidus
 * sericeus
 * subtilissimus: Ward(1989)
 * tenuis
 * viduus: Ward (1999)
 * Incertae sedis

Some local keys are available, like:
 * Costa Rica: Key to Costa Rica Pseudomyrmex (By Phil Ward)

Pseudoponera
MacKay & Mackay (2010) revises the genus Pachycondyla.

The current Neotropical species of the genus Pseudoponera comprises the MacKay's Pachycondyla species complex stigma excluding the species Neoponera bucki and Pachycondyla lenkoi

Rasopone
Genus endemic to this region

MacKay & Mackay (2010) revises the genus Pachycondyla.

The current genus Rasopone comprises the MacKay's Pachycondyla species complexes: arhuaca and ferruginea

Rhopalothrix
Longino & Boudinot (2013) revise the genus

Rogeria
Kugler (1994) revises the genus.

Antwiki key is based in that reference.

New species described since then:Rogeria tsumani

Sericomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region

The most recent key is provided by Wheeler (1916), outdated

Simopelta
Genus endemic to this region MacKay & Mackay (2008) revise the genus. This key covers all the species but Simopelta anomma

Solenopsis
The Neartic species were revised by Pacheco & MacKay (2013). A new species has been described since then (Solenopsis longicephala )

Sphinctomyrmex
Revised by Feitosa et al (2012), no new species has been described.

Stegomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region

Feitosa et al (2008) revises the genus and offers a key to all species.

Stenamma
Branstetter (2013) revises the genus in the Neotropical region

Stigmatomma
Lattke (1991) revises the genus for America. Due to the description of several new species, this key is outdated.

Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to all Neotropical species (pgs. 44-45, in Spanish). The key is valid for the American species formerly placed in Amblyopone. All the Neotropical species have been transferred to Stigmatomma

Strumigenys
Bolton (2000) revises the genus. The genus Pyramica has been sinonimized with Strumigenys, so there are two set of keys for this genus.

Longino (2006) completes the key based on former Pyramica species replacing couplets 29 and 30 by the provided to include new species

Sosa Calvo et al (2010) review the genus for Guyana, adding five new species

Lattke & Aguirre (2015) describe two new species from Ecuador

Syllophopsis
Last available revision for the Neotropics is Fernández (2007) (as Monomorium), although misses Syllophopsis sechellensis, tramp species cited from Barbados.

Talaridris
Genus endemic to this region with one species described: Talaridris mandibularis

Tapinoma
No revision is available for the Neotropical region

Tatuidris
Genus endemic to this region with one species described: Tatuidris tatusia

Technomyrmex
Key based in Fernández & Guerrero (2007). Covers all the Neotropical species

Temnothorax
MacKay (2000) revises the genus for the Neartic and Neotropical regions.

The species discovered since then are treated in Snelling et al (2014)

Tetramorium
All the species cited for the Neotropics are either tramp species or are restricted to Mexico

Vasquez et al (2011) offers a key for the Tetramorium tortuosum group from the New World

Thaumatomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region.

Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to all Neotropical species (pgs. 211-212, in Spanish) except Thaumatomyrmex soesilae

Trachymyrmex
Brandao & Nunes (2007) have confirmed the six species groups defined by Kempf, and splitting the jamaicensis group from the urichi group later on.

Available revisions are as follows


 * Cornetzi
 * Farinosus
 * Iheringi: Mayhé-Nunes & Brandão(2005)
 * Jamaicensis: Mayhé-Nunes & Brandão(2007)
 * Opulentus: Mayhé-Nunes & Brandão(2002)
 * Septentrionalis
 * Urichi

Tranopelta
Genus endemic to this region

Fernández (2003) offers a key to the three castes of the two species described.

Trichomyrmex
One introduced species for the region: Trichomyrmex destructor

Tropidomyrmex
Genus endemic to this region with one species described Tropidomyrmex elianae

Typhlomyrmex
Jimenez et al (2008) offers a key to Colombian species (pgs. 250-251, in French), but does not contain Typhlomyrmex clavicornis, Typhlomyrmex foreli and Typhlomyrmex meire

Lacau et al (2004) offer a key that covers all the Neartic species but misses Typhlomyrmex foreli and Typhlomyrmex prolatus

Veromessor
All the Neotropical species have been cited from Mexico

Antwiki key is updated

Wasmannia
The key to Wasmannia species based on workers by Longino and Fernández (2007 ) has been modified by Cuezzo et al. (2015 ) to include all the described species of Wasmannia (except Wasmannia villosa, which is only known from the queen).

Xenomyrmex
Creighton (1957) is the last available revision for the genus. Offers a key to all species but Xenomyrmex picquarti

Zatania
Genus endemic to this region Key based on LaPolla et al. (2012), covers all the described species till date