Key to Ectomomyrmex of Melanesia

A dated but still useful key. This worker key is based on: Wilson, E. O. 1958g. Studies on the ant fauna of Melanesia III. Rhytidoponera in western Melanesia and the Moluccas. IV. The tribe Ponerini. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 119: 303-371.

Wilson noted - Exclusive of Ectomomyrmex vermiculatus, known only from Tenimbar.

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Ectomomyrmex

1

 * Posterior face of the petiolar node completely covered by coarse, straight, evenly spaced longitudinal striae; first and second gastric tergites covered by similar striae; sculpturing of the frontal area of the head consisting of dense longitudinal rugae that give way posteriorly to a section of transverse rugae occupying the central portion of the occipital zone . . . . . Ectomomyrmex striatulus


 * Posterior face of the petiolar node sculptured otherwise: either the striae are oblique and converge dorsally toward the midline, or transverse, or sparse and irregularly oriented; remainder of body not showing all of the additional sculptural characters described above . . . . . 2

2
return to couplet #1
 * Striation of first gastric tergite concentric-semicircular and always strongly developed . . . . . 3


 * Striation of first gastric tergite straight and longitudinal and often only feebly developed . . . . . 4

3
return to couplet #2
 * Striation of second gastric tergite concentric-semicircular; “center” of concentricity of striae of first gastric tergite located posterior to the midpoint of the dorsal tergital midline . . . . . Ectomomyrmex aciculatus


 * Striation of second gastric tergite straight and longitudinal; “center” of concentricity of striae of first gastric tergite located anterior to the midpoint of the dorsal tergital midline . . . . . Ectomomyrmex scobinus

4
return to couplet #2
 * Striae of dorsal surface of first gastric tergite very fine and much obscured by prominent, broad, shallow, contiguous punctures that fill the interspaces . . . . . 5


 * Striae of dorsal surface of first gastric tergite strongly developed and not obscured by the interspace punctures, which are fine and scattered . . . . . 6

5
return to couplet #4
 * Striation of posterior face of petiolar node transverse (Solomon Islands) . . . . . Ectomomyrmex aequalis


 * Striation of posterior face of petiolar node oblique and converging dorsally toward the midline (Neth. New Guinea) . . . . . Ectomomyrmex simillimus

6
return to couplet #4
 * Striation of posterior surface of petiolar node predominantly transverse; entire second gastric tergital surface covered by striae . . . . . Ectomomyrmex acutus


 * Striation of posterior surface of petiolar node predominantly oblique and converging dorsally toward the midline; only the posterior half of the second gastric tergite striate, the remainder smooth . . . . . Ectomomyrmex exaratus