Key to Afrotropical Lioponera Species

Brown (1975) revises the Afrotropical species as part of Cerapachys. Three species are known only for males: Lioponera decorsei, Lioponera nigra, Lioponera similis. The rest of known Afrotropical species are included in the following key, extracted from the cited article.

1

 * Petiolar node seen from above forming two broadly rounded lobes behind, separated by a deep concavity . . . . . Lioponera braunsi


 * Petiolar node with angulate or dentate posterolateral corners, the posterior margin between them transverse, at most only gently concave . . . . . 2

2
return to couplet #1
 * Trunk coarsely longitudinally costulate its entire dorsal length; colour black . . . . . Lioponera foreli


 * Trunk dorsum smooth or punctate. longitudinal costulae, if present, confined to the anterior and posterior extremities of the surface . . . . . 3

3
return to couplet #2
 * Petiolar node much more closely and roughly sculptured and with much denser pubescence than trunk . . . . . 4


 * Petiolar node and dorsum of trunk with similar sculpture and pubescence . . . . . 5

4
return to couplet #3
 * Eye length < apical antennomere L, and eye separated from mandibular insertion by half or more of its maximum length; at least traces of costulation at anterior and posterior ends of trunk and on propodeal declivity; sculpture of petiole and postpetiole coarse and deep, often elongate. . . . . Lioponera vespula


 * Eye larger, its maximum length > apical antennomere L, only narrowly separated from mandibular insertion; trunk without traces of longitudinal striation, declivity smooth and shinig; sculpture of petiole and postpetiole fine and superficial. . . . . Lioponera coxalis

5
return to couplet #3
 * Larger species (Petiole node W > 0.50 mm), black; trunk, petiole, postpetiole, and gaster shining, with abundant, small but very distinct round punctures, rather even in size and evenly distributed throughout . . . . . Lioponera nkomoensis


 * Smaller species (Petiole node W < 0.45 mm), ferrugineus with piceous gaster; punctures finer, indistinct or not evenly distributed . . . . . Lioponera braytoni