Key to Bothroponera talpa species complex

This key to the Bothroponera talpa group is based on Joma & Mackay (2020).

1

 * Anterior medial area of clypeus broadly convex to “v” shaped; relatively small, total length of workers ranges from 6.00 mm to 7.40 mm and for females ranges from 7.10 mm to 7.85 mm (HW 1.15-1.35)
 * Anterior medial area of clypeus straight, “v” shaped to slightly concave; relatively large, total length of workers ranges from 8.10 mm to 14.95 mm and for females ranges from 9.90 mm to 15.90 mm (HW 1.58-2.50)

2

 * Mandibles with 7 teeth; carina on anterior medial area of clypeus poorly developed; yellow-brown (HL 1.30 – 1.50, HW 1.15 – 1.35) Bothroponera zumpti


 * Mandibles with 6 teeth; carina on anterior medial area of clypeus well developed

3

 * Clypeal carina sharp and present along entire length of clypeus; erect hairs present on surfaces of head and body; anterior medial border of clypeus strongly curved, convex, forming “v” shape; queen only known; red-brown (Queen: HL 1.41 – 1.65, HW 1.23 – 1.50) Bothroponera rubescens


 * Carina sharp but not continuous; without erect hairs on surfaces of body and head; anterior medial border of clypeus broadly curved, slightly concave, not forming “v” shape; brown to dark brown (HL 1.50, HW 1.30) Bothroponera fugax

4

 * Striae absent on surface of frons, sides of head and body surface, with poor evidence of fine striae on metapleuron; entire surface yellow (HL 1.95, HW 1.75) Bothroponera cribrata


 * Striae present on frons, sides of head, body, top of pronotum, mesonotum, dorsopropodeum, petiole, postpetiole and gastral segments; with strong evidence of fine striae on metapleuron; surfaces pale brown, dark yellowish brown, to reddish brown

5

 * Anterior medial area of clypeus straight; all surfaces with coarse, large, deep foveolae and punctae (HL 1.70 – 1.80, HW 1.60 – 1.80) Bothroponera sculpturata
 * Anterior medial area of clypeus slightly concave; surfaces less coarsely sculptured, with small to large, shallow foveolae and punctae

6

 * Moderately smaller eyes (0.17 – 0.25 mm width, 0.15 – 0.25 mm length, OI 9.49 – 12.50); shallower foveolae to punctae on surfaces; smaller body size (8.10 – 9.95 mm for workers, 10.40 – 11.60 mm for females) (HL 1.65 – 2.10, HW 1.58 – 2.00) Bothroponera talpa
 * Moderately larger eyes (0.25 – 0.35 mm width, 0.30 – 0.45 mm length, OI 13.95 – 18.00); slightly deeper foveolae on surfaces; larger body size (10.70 – 14.95 mm for workers, 11.55 – 15.90 mm for females)

7

 * Larger head (2.30 – 2.70 mm length, 2.15 – 2.50 width, CI 92.59 – 93.47); larger size (worker TL 10.90 – 13.75 mm, female 11.55 – 15.90 mm, male 9.55 mm); larger eyes (0.30 – 0.45 mm length, 0.20 – 0.40 mm width for worker); well defined fine striae on top of head, frons, cheeks, top of pronotum, mesopropodeum, mesopleuron, metapleuron, petiole, postpetiole and 4th to 7th tergites of gastral segments; dark brown; common, widely distributed (HL 2.30 – 2.70, HW 2.15 – 2.50) Bothroponera pachyderma
 * Smaller head (2.15 mm length, 1.95 mm width, CI 90.69); smaller size (worker TL 10.70 mm, female and male unknown); smaller eyes (0.30 mm length, 0.25 mm width); poorly defined fine striae on top of head, frons, cheeks, top of pronotum, meso–propodeum, mesopleuron, metapleuron, petiole, postpetiole and 4th to 7th tergite of gastral segments; red; rarely collected (HL 2.15, HW 1.95) Bothroponera sanguinea