Key to Rhopalomastix of Southeast Asia

This key to workers is based on a key from: Wang W. Y., G. W. J. Yong, and W. Jaitrong. 2018. The ant genus Rhopalomastix (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Southeast Asia, with descriptions of four new species from Singapore based on morphology and DNA barcoding. Zootaxa. 4532:301-340.

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Rhopalomastix

1

 * In profile, lateral surface of posterior half of head largely smooth and shiny (Figs. 6, 50); ventral surface of head largely smooth and shiny, with sparse superficial reticulate sculpture or feeble striations; outer surface of femora largely smooth and shiny, sometimes feebly reticulate . . . . . 2


 * In profile, lateral surface of posterior half of head largely striate and/or reticulate (Figs. 10, 14, 26, 30, 54, 66); ventral face of head striate, punctate and/or reticulate with smooth and shiny interspaces; outer face of femora superficially reticulate with smooth and shiny interspaces . . . . . 3

2
return to couplet #1
 * Anterior face of petiole smooth and shiny, without short appressed or decumbent hairs . . . . . Rhopalomastix murphyi


 * Anterior face of petiole weakly punctate or smooth, with short appressed or decumbent hairs. . . . . Rhopalomastix glabricephala

3
return to couplet #1
 * In dorsal view, anterior pronotal margin strongly convex, distinctly angulate medially (Fig. 2A); clypeus in profile view evenly and roundly convex (Fig. 3A) . . . . . Rhopalomastix striata


 * In dorsal view, anterior pronotal margin broadly convex or weakly angulate medially (Figs. 2B–D); clypeus in profile view variable—almost entirely straight and flat, or very weakly convex (Figs. 3B–D) . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * Vertexal lobe of head largely smooth and shining, sometimes with sparse and fragmented striae; head and dorsum of meso-soma darker blackish-brown than rest of body . . . . . Rhopalomastix tenebra


 * Vertexal lobe of head largely finely striated and shining, sometimes striae fragmented and sparse; body colour uniformly brown . . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * Posteriormost portion of vertex just above occiput in posterodorsal view largely unsculptured, smooth and shiny; petiolar node in dorsal view more strongly convex anteriorly than posteriorly . . . . . Rhopalomastix javana


 * Posteriormost portion of vertex striate but slightly shiny; petiolar node in dorsal view similarly convex anteriorly and posteriorly . . . . . Rhopalomastix johorensis