Key to Pogonomyrmecini genera and Pogonomyrmex species groups

This worker key is based on: Johnson, R.A. 2015. A taxonomic revision of South American species of the seed-harvester ant genus Pogonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Part I. Zootaxa. 4029:1–142.

The tribe contains two genera, Hylomyrma and Pogonomyrmex.

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 * Pogonomyrmex
 * Pogonomyrmex species groups
 * Hylomyrma
 * South America
 * Neotropics

1

 * Psammophore poorly-developed, consisting of numerous short to long hairs scattered over ventral surface of . . . . . 2


 * Psammophore well-developed, consisting of numerous long, curved hairs along basolateral margin of head (Pogonomyrmex-part) . . . . . 8

2
return to couplet #1
 * Inferior propodeal spines biaculeate, upper and lower portions both acuminate; apical (masticatory) margin of mandible markedly oblique in frontal view . . . . . Hylomyrma


 * Inferior propodeal spines rounded, triangular, or spiniform; when prominent they are always with a single point, never biaculeate; apical (masticatory) margin of mandible perpendicular or nearly so in frontal view (Pogonomyrmex-part) . . . . . 3

3
return to couplet #2
 * Anterior surface of petiolar node striate . . . . . P. mayri-group


 * Anterior surface of petiolar node smooth and shining to moderately coriarious . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * In profile, head and mesosoma with numerous long, flexuous hairs with length > MOD . . . . . P. sylvestris-group


 * In profile, hairs on head and mesosoma usually short to medium-length, relatively stiff, longest rarely >MOD . . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * In frontal view, head elongate (CI < 90); hind femur long, HFI > 120 and HFL > 2.00 mm; entire scape strongly striate . . . . . P. cunicularius-group


 * In frontal view for most to all workers in a series, head subquadrate to quadrate (CI > 90) and hind femur shorter, HFI rarely > 100 and HFL rarely > 2.00 mm; scape smooth to moderately striate . . . . . 6

6
return to couplet #5
 * Posterior surface of petiolar node with transverse to oblique rugae or rugoreticulate; dorsum of postpetiole with longitudinal to oblique rugae or rugoreticulate or strongly granulate-punctate, dull; head and mesosoma concolorous tan to brown . . . . . P. naegelii-group


 * Posterior surface of petiolar node and dorsum of postpetiole smooth and shining to moderately coriarious, weakly shining; head and mesosoma concolorous orangish or dark brown to black, rarely bicolored (head orangish, mesosoma blackish) . . . . . 7

7
return to couplet #6
 * In frontal view, anterior margin of clypeus convex; in profile, clypeus strongly convex; anteroventral margin of peduncle of petiole with small, acuminate spine; promesonotum smooth and shining or if rugose to rugoreticulate, then promesonotal interugae strongly granulate, dull . . . . . P. angustus-group


 * In frontal view, anterior margin of clypeus flat to concave; in profile, clypeus flat to weakly convex; anteroventral margin of peduncle of petiole with triangular process or rarely with weakly acuminate triangular spine; promesonotum rugoreticulate, interrugae smooth and shining to moderately coriarious, weakly shining . . . . . P. brevibarbis-group

8
return to couplet #1
 * Fine, dense, incised striae (usually longitudinal) cover anterior one-third to all of first gastral tergum . . . . . P. rastratus-group (in part - also )


 * Fine, dense, incised striae lacking on first gastral tergum or restricted to base . . . . . 9

9
return to couplet #8
 * Cephalic dorsum with scattered small foveae (use >50x magnification); part to all of cephalic dorsum with fine longitudinal striae; antennal scapes short, extending beyond eye less than one-third the distance from posterior margin of eye to posterior corner of head . . . . . P. coarctatus-group


 * Cephalic dorsum lacking foveae; cephalic dorsum with prominent longitudinal rugae; antennal scapes longer, extending beyond eye by more than one-half the distance from posterior margin of eye to posterior corner of head . . . . . 10

10
return to couplet #9
 * Dorsum of postpetiole weakly to strongly coriarious, if present rugae are faint and discontinuous . . . . . P. bispinosus-group


 * Dorsum of postpetiole with transverse rugae that traverse the entire surface . . . . . 11

11
return to couplet #10
 * Superior propodeal spines consist of small tubercles or denticles (unplaced) . . . . . Pogonomyrmex theresiae


 * Superior propodeal spines long, well-developed, length >0.5x distance between their bases . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * Head broader than long (CI > 100); rugae on cephalic dorsum incised, closely-spaced, regular, width of rugae and interrugae similar or rugae on cephalic dorsum prominent, coarse, interrugae smooth to moderately coriarious, weakly shining to shining . . . . . P. laticeps-group


 * Head variable, but head longer than broad for at least some workers in a series; rugae on cephalic dorsum prominent, coarse, interrugae usually strongly granulate-punctate, dull to weakly shining, often with a beaded appearance . . . . . P. rastratus-group (in part - also )