Key to Australian Heteroponera Species

The following key to Australian Heteroponera species is based on Taylor (2011 ).

1

 * Petiole lacking a dorsomedial spine. Propodeum lacking slender erect spines, though sometimes with sculpturally jagged posterolateral edges. Reflexure of second gastral segment unexceptional. Antennal scrobes often (but not always) strongly developed => 2
 * Petiole armed dorsally with a small, erect median spine. Propodeum with a pair of similarly proportioned posterodorsolateral spines or homologous transversely lamellate spine-like processes. Second gastral segment in side view markedly reflexed, so that the gastral apex is directed anteroventrally. Antennal scrobes lacking. (H. leae species group) => 3

2

 * Generally larger species (head width seldom < 1 mm). Second gastral segment in dorsal view notably narrower than first; often tapered, narrowing posteriad. Antennal scrobes usually strongly developed, vestigial in one species. (The group known only from northeast coastal Queensland and adjacent highlands between 15°S and 20°30'S – from just north of Cooktown, south to the approximate latitude of Proserpine) => H. relicta species group
 * Size generally smaller (head width seldom > 1 mm, and usually substantially smaller). Second gastral segment in dorsal view neither notably narrower than first nor markedly tapered posteriorly. Antennal scrobes lacking. (Widespread, all states except Tasmania) => H. imbellis species group

3

 * Head in square frontal view with the median vertexal (= "occipital") profile short, essentially straight, not broadly emarginate; the profile curving evenly towards the eye on each side. Propodeal spines represented as small flattened transverse tabs. Second gastral segment very strongly reflexed; in lateral view its dorsoposteroventral profile enclosing slightly less than a right-angle, with a relatively short, tightly curved median section. (South-west Western Australia) => Heteroponera majeri
 * Vertexal margin more broadly transverse and concave in outline. Propodeal spines acutely pointed, not tabulate. Second gastral segment less strongly reflexed. (eastern Australia) => 4

4

 * Dorsal profile of second gastral segment an even semicircular arc, its tergite moderately finely, longitudinally striate-reticulate with the longitudinal trend very distinct. (Northeast and eastern central New South Wales, 29°-34°S) => Heteroponera leae
 * Dorsal profile of second gastral segment not evenly semicircular, more strongly curved in the median section than elsewhere, its tergite moderately reticulate punctate-rugose with a less well-developed longitudinal trend. (Southeast Queensland and far northeast New South Wales, 20°-28°S) => Heteroponera crozieri