Key to Malagasy Bothroponera wasmannii group workers

This worker key is based on: Rakotonirina, J.C. & Fisher, B.L. 2013. Revision of the Pachycondyla wasmannii-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Malagasy region. Zootaxa 3609, 101-141.

The following key also identifies ergatoid and winged queens to species as long as the form of the mesosoma and the presence of the mesopleural sulcus are not applied.

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 * Bothroponera
 * Madagascar

1

 * Larger species (HW: 2.49–3.13 mm); with head in full-face view, antennal scape surpassing the posterior margin of the head (SI: 94–104) (Figs 1, 3); dorsum of head and mesosoma finely striate and interspersed with scattered punctures; dorsum of the body covered with erect stout hairs . . . . . 2


 * Smaller species (HW: 1.19–2.58 mm); with head in full-face view, antennal scape not surpassing the posterior margin of the head (SI: 70–87) (Fig. 2); dorsum of head and mesosoma variably sculptured but not finely striate, dorsum of the body with erect slender hairs and pubescence . . . . . 3

2
return to couplet #1
 * With head in full-face view, anterior margin of clypeus broadly rounded or medially triangular; eye breaking the outline of the side of the head (Fig. 3); hairs on the dorsum of the mesosoma and petiole node distinctly erect relative to the body surface . . . . . Bothroponera tavaratra


 * With head in full-face view, anterior margin of clypeus truncate; eye not breaking the outline of the side of the head (Fig. 4); hairs on the dorsum of the body decumbent and much more inclined to the body surface . . . . . Bothroponera comorensis

3
return to couplet #1
 * Basal half of the antennal scape dorsoventrally flattened, the leading edge very thin (Fig. 5); basitarsus of the hind leg laterally compressed, basal half of its inner surface concave . . . . . Bothroponera planicornis


 * Basal half of the antennal scape subcylindrical, not dorsoventrally flattened; the leading edge rounded (Fig. 6); basitarsus of the hind leg generally rounded, without concavity . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * With petiole in dorsal view, the node flattened, about twice as broad as long (Fig.7); higher than long in profile; erect hairs on dorsum of propodeum most frequently absent, if present then reduced in number . . . . . Bothroponera masoala


 * With petiole in dorsal view, the node thick, approximately as long as broad (Fig. 8), about as high as long in profile; erect hairs on dorsum of propodeum numerous or rarely absent . . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * Anterior half of the fourth abdominal tergite (gastral tergite 2) covered with numerous and very dense small punctures between larger ones (Fig. 9) which become moderate on mesosoma and petiole node; integument usually matte; mostly found in dry forest habitats . . . . . 6


 * Anterior half of the fourth abdominal tergite (gastral tergite 2) mostly smooth and shiny between large punctures, sometimes with randomly scattered small punctures (Fig. 10); mesosoma and petiole node sparsely punctulate between coarse punctae; integument mostly shiny; humid forest species . . . . . 7

6
return to couplet #5
 * Larger species (HW: 1.72–2.21 mm); mesopleural sulcus usually distinct and complete (Fig. 11); dorsum of mesosoma and petiole node covered with more robust and longer standing hairs; antennal segments 6, 7, and 8 nearly as wide as long; with petiole in dorsal view, the posterior margin straight or with weak median notch; outer surface of the hind tibia with erect hairs . . . . . Bothroponera wasmannii


 * Smaller species (HW: 1.38–1.5 mm); mesopleural sulcus indistinct or incomplete (Fig. 12); dorsum of mesosoma and petiole node with short and thin erect hairs; antennal segments 6, 7, and 8 nearly twice as wide as long; with petiole in dorsal view, the posterior margin broadly concave; outer surface of the hind tibia usually without erect hairs . . . . . Bothroponera vazimba

7
return to couplet #5
 * With mesosoma in profile, the dorsal outline forming a continuous convexity with a nearly rounded junction between the propodeal dorsum and the declivitous margin (Fig. 13), which is short and strongly inclined posteriorly; in full-face view, head heart-shaped, with the posterior margin strongly concave, and anterior clypeal margin strongly excised medially; larger species (HW: 2.34–2.58 mm) . . . . . Bothroponera perroti


 * With mesosoma in profile, the dorsal outline not forming a continuous convexity, propodeal dorsum meeting the declivity at a distinct angle (Fig. 14); propodeal declivity nearly vertical, but not distinctly inclined posteriorly; in full-face view head not heart-shaped, the posterior margin usually straight or slightly concave; smaller species (HW< 2.3 mm) . . . . . Bothroponera cambouei