Key to Iberian Peninsula Aphaenogaster species

This key is based on specimens based on the key developed by X. Espadaler and K. Gómez for www.hormigas.org

1
Segmentos funiculares 2-6 cortos, apenas más largos que anchos Todos los segmentos funiculares elongados
 * Funicular segments 2-6 short, slightly longer than broad .....2
 * All the funicular segments elongated .....3

2
return to couplet .....1 Cabeza estriada-reticulada
 * Head striated-reticulated .....Aphaenogaster subterranea

Cabeza puntuada, lisa
 * Head punctuated, smooth .....Aphaenogaster dulciniae

3
return to couplet .....1

Cuerpo de color amarillo anaranjado a naranja oscuro Color castaño oscuro a negro
 * Body colour from orange-yellowish to dark orange ..........4
 * Body colour from dark brown to black ..........5

4
return to couplet .....3 Espinas propodeales muy desarrolladas, de longitud similar a la altura del propodeo
 * Very developed propodeal spines, its lenght similar to propodeum height .....Aphaenogaster cardenai

''Espinas propodeales muy cortas, de longitud mucho menor que la altura del propodeo
 * Propodeal spines short, its lenght much smaller than propodeum height .....Aphaenogaster splendida

5
return to couplet .....3 ''Mandíbulas cortas y poderosas, con el margen exterior fuertemente curvado hacia la linea media. Las obreras mayores convergen a una morfología cefálica similar a Messor''
 * Short and powerful mandibles, with the outer margin strongly curved towards the middle line. Major workers converging in cephalic morphology to Messor .....Aphaenogaster striativentris

Mandíbulas elongado-triangulares con el margen exterior no fuertemente curvado hacia la linea media
 * Elongated and triangular mandibles, with the outer margin not strongly curved towards the middle line ..........6

6
return to couplet .....5 ''Gastro liso. Obreras polimórficas''
 * Gaster smooth . Polimorfic workers .....Aphaenogaster gibbosa

''Gastro estriado, al menos en la base. Obreras monomórficas''
 * Gaster striated, at least in its base. Monomorphic workers ..........7

7
return to couplet .....6 Propodeo con espinas triangulares muy reducidas
 * Propodeum with very reduced triangular spines .....Aphaenogaster gemella

Espinas propodeales desarroladas
 * Propodeum spines clearly developed..........8

8
return to couplet .....7 ''Espinas propodeales largas, falciformes, siguiendo el perfil corporal y normalmente curvadas hacia la horizontal. Maza antenal de cuatro artejos'' ''Espinas más cortas, cilíndrica y orientadas a 45º sobre el propodeo. Maza antenal de cinco artejos''
 * Long propodeal spines, falciform, following mesosoma shape and usually curved downwards. Antennal club with four segments .....Aphaenogaster iberica
 * Shorter spines, cylindrical and oriented 45º with the horizontal. Antennal club with five segments .....Aphaenogaster senilis