Key to Nearctic Nylanderia Males

This key to males is based on: Kallal, R.J. & LaPolla, J.S. 2012. Monograph of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the World, Part II: Nylanderia in the Nearctic. Zootaxa 3508, 1-64.

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 * Nylanderia
 * Key to Prenolepis Group Genera

1

 * Gaster elongate and cylindrical . . . . . 2


 * Gaster not elongate or cylindrical . . . . . 3

2
return to couplet #1
 * Parameres long and digitiform; digiti without extra structures or projections . . . . . Nylanderia bruesii


 * Parameres triangular with tapered apices; digiti with unique dorsal projections at approximately midlength . . . . . Nylanderia magnella

3
return to couplet #1
 * Digiti and cuspides elongate . . . . . 4


 * Digiti and cuspides not elongate . . . . . 5

4
return to couplet #3
 * Overall dark brown in color; scapes with no more than 5 macrosetae (typically scapes with 1–2 macrosetae); digiti and cuspi-des relatively straight; cuspides nearly as long as digiti . . . . . Nylanderia arenivaga


 * Overall light brown in color; scapes completely lacking macrosetae; digiti curved outward from aedeagal valves, cuspides curved inward toward aedeagal valves; cuspides shorter than digiti . . . . . Nylanderia phantasma

5
return to couplet #3
 * Parameres subquadrate with a dorsal notch . . . . . Nylanderia bourbonica


 * Parameres triangular without a dorsal notch . . . . . 6

6
return to couplet #5
 * Scapes with 0–2 macrosetae; if with 2 macrosetae, then scape length less than 0.55 mm. . . . . . 7


 * Scapes with 2 or more macrosetae; if with 2 macrosetae, then scape length greater than 0.55 mm . . . . . 9

7
return to couplet #6
 * Scapes with 1–2 macrosetae; 9th sternite 0.15 mm wide or less . . . . . Nylanderia wojciki


 * Scapes without macrosetae; 9th sternite greater that 0.15 mm wide . . . . . 8

8
return to couplet #7
 * Overall yellow in color; 9th sternite triangular, broadening proximally, with long ventral apodeme and short, thin lateral apo-demes . . . . . Nylanderia trageri


 * Overall dark brown in color; 9th sternite not triangular; lateral apodemes short and broad . . . . . Nylanderia parvula

9
return to couplet #6
 * Segment IV of antennae is distinctly bent . . . . . 10


 * Segment IV of antennae in line with remainder of funicular segments . . . . . 11

10
return to couplet #9
 * Parameres curving strongly inward; digiti and aedeagal valves not tapering then broadening into rounded tip; 9th sternite broadening proximally with large, digitiform medial apodeme . . . . . Nylanderia vividula


 * Parameres not strongly curving inward; digiti and aedeagal valves tapering then broadening into rounded tips; 9th sternite with tapering, nearly digitiform medial apodeme  . . . . . Nylanderia terricola

11
return to couplet #9
 * More than 12 macrosetae present on each scape . . . . . Nylanderia hystrix


 * Fewer than 12 macrosetae present on each scape . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * Body bicolored or with darker gaster . . . . . 13


 * Body uniform in color . . . . . 14

13
return to couplet #12
 * Body yellow; 9th sternite rectangular . . . . . Nylanderia querna


 * Body brown; 9th sternite triangular . . . . . Nylanderia faisonensis

14
return to couplet #12
 * Overall body yellow in color . . . . . Nylanderia guatemalensis


 * Overall body brown in color . . . . . 15

15
return to couplet #14
 * Mesocoxae and metacoxae always whitish, strongly contrasting with brown body . . . . . Nylanderia steinheili


 * Mesocoxae and metacoxae not whitish, not strongly contrasting with body . . . . . 16

16
return to couplet #16
 * 9th sternite spade-like, broadening proximally, with very short, broad lateral and ventral apodemes; scapes brown in color . . . . . Nylanderia concinna


 * 9th sternite not spade-like or triangular; scapes yellowish in color . . . . . 17

17
return to couplet #16
 * Mesosoma entirely covered in a dense layer of pubescence . . . . . 18


 * Mesosoma with a dense layer of pubescence on dorsum; remainder of mesosoma without pubescence . . . . . 19

18
return to couplet #17
 * Paramere apices triangular and weakly sclerotized (yellow to slightly darker coloration); macrosetae originating from the paramere margin scattered and not fan-like (see Nylanderia pubens for additional details and images) . . . . . Nylanderia fulva


 * Paramere apices rounded and well sclerotized (dark brown coloration); macrosetae originating from the paramere margin in a dense, fan-like configuration (see Nylanderia pubens for additional details and images) . . . . . Nylanderia pubens

19
return to couplet #17
 * Overall body dark brown to black with yellow legs . . . . . Nylanderia flavipes


 * Overall body medium brown to reddish brown with legs the same color as body . . . . . Nylanderia austroccidua