Key to Australian Ponera Species

1

 * Body colour honey yellow to light brown => 2


 * Body colour dark brown to black => 3

2

 * Metanotal groove present, the mesonotum and dorsal face of the propodeum separated by a suture or impression => 4


 * Metanotal groove completely absent, the mesonotum and dorsal face of the propodeum forming a single continuous surface => Ponera tenuis

3

 * Head relatvely broad, head width greater than 0.50mm and cephalic index greater than 87 => Ponera selenophora


 * Head relatively narrow, head width less than 0.5mm and cephalic index less than 86 => Ponera clavicornis

4

 * Petiolar node relatively narrow => Ponera incerta


 * Petiolar node relatively broad => Ponera leae