Key to Afrotropical Cataulacus Species

The following key updates an earlier key from Bolton's world revision of the genus (Bolton, B. 1974. A revision of the Palaeotropical arboreal ant genus Cataulacus F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 30:1-105). A revised key, which is reproduced here, updated the Afrotropical Cataulacus"" species and was published by Bolton in 1982 (Bolton, B. 1982. "Afrotropical species of the myrmicine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Leptothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus'' (Formicidae)." Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 45:307-370).

AFT-1

 * Dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs of any description or at most with only 1-2 very short hairs at the highest point of the pronotum. Generally hairs absent from alitrunk but rarely sparse strongly appressed hairs may be present . . . . . AFT-2


 * Dorsal alitrunk with numerous standing hairs which are usually conspicuous. If the standing hairs are very short they are more or less evenly distributed over the dorsum and are not restricted to the highest point of the pronotum . . . . . AFT-10

AFT-2
return to couplet #AFT-1


 * Propodeum completely unarmed, without trace of spines or teeth. (Zaire) . . . . . Cataulacus inermis


 * Propodeum armed with a pair of spines or teeth . . . . . AFT-3

AFT-3
return to couplet #AFT-2


 * Dorsal alitrunk strongly sulcate throughout. Appressed hairs present on the dorsal alitrunk (Ghana) . . . . . Cataulacus adpressus


 * Dorsal alitrunk reticulate-punctate to reticulate, usually also with fine rugulae or a rugoreticulum present; never sulcate. Appressed hairs absent from dorsal alitrunk . . . . . AFT-4

AFT-4
return to couplet #AFT-3


 * Petiole dorsally strongly transversely rugose or sulcate everywhere . . . . . AFT-5


 * Petiole dorsally variously sculptured but never transversely strongly rugose or sulcate . . . . . AFT-7

AFT-5
return to couplet #AFT-4


 * First gastral sternite laterobasally with a longitudinal margination or carina which parallels the laterobasal margination of the first tergite. Femora of hind legs not excessively anteroposteriorly compressed . . . . . AFT-6


 * First gastral sternite laterobasally without a longitudinal margination or carina which parallels the laterobasal margination of the first tergite. Femora of hind legs strikingly anteroposteriorly compressed, narrow and very deep. (Sierra Leone, Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Zaire, Uganda) . . . . . Cataulacus kohli

AFT-6
return to couplet #AFT-5


 * Sides of head behind eyes irregular, either denticulate, crenulate or otherwise jagged. Relatively broader-headed species, CI > 125, the head strongly broadened behind the eyes. Laterally projecting hairs on sides of head behind eyes long and conspicuous. (Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroun, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia) . . . . . Cataulacus huberi


 * Sides of head behind eyes regular, smooth, neither denticulate nor crenulate. Relatively narrower-headed species, CI 120 or less, the head not strongly broadened behind the eyes. Laterally projecting hairs on sides of head behind eyes minute and inconspicuous or absent. (Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroun, Uganda, Congo, Zaire) . . . . . Cataulacus egenus

AFT-7
return to couplet #AFT-4


 * Petiole and postpetiole in dorsal view strongly longitudinally sulcate. Postpetiole dorsally divided into two projecting lobes by a deep median longitudinal cleft. (Cameroun, Zaire) . . . . . Cataulacus lobatus


 * Petiole and postpetiole in dorsal view not strongly longitudinally sulcate. Postpetiole dorsally not divided into two projecting lobes by a deep median longitudinal cleft . . . . . AFT-8

AFT-8
return to couplet #AFT-7


 * Lateral pronotal margination with 2 teeth. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of petiole and postpetiole with numerous tubercles and small angular prominences, presenting a multi-peaked and irregular surface. (Cameroun, Congo, Zaire, Kenya) . . . . . Cataulacus pullus


 * Lateral pronotal margination with 0-1 teeth. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of petiole and postpetiole not equipped with tubercles and small angular prominences . . . . . AFT-9

AFT-9
return to couplet #AFT-8


 * With the head in full-face view the lateral margins behind the eyes without a row of short projecting hairs. Lateral pronotal margination without teeth. (Ghana, Cameroun, Guinea, Zaire) . . . . . Cataulacus tardus


 * With the head in full-face view the lateral margins behind the eyes with a row of short projecting hairs. Lateral pronotal margination with a single tooth on each side, close to the anterior pronotal corner. (Zaire) . . . . . Cataulacus theobromicola

AFT-10
return to couplet #AFT-1


 * Petiole and postpetiole strongly transverse, much flattened dorsoventrally and without nodes, both very broadly thickly V-shaped in dorsal view. Propodeum armed only with a pair of small teeth or tubercles which are inconspicuous. (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroun, Zaire) . . . . . Cataulacus mocquerysi


 * Petiole and postpetiole nodiform, not strongly transverse nor flattened, not broadly V-shaped in dorsal view. Propodeal spines well developed and conspicuous . . . . . AFT-11