Key to Dorylinae World Genera

Key based on Borowiec (2016)

1

 * Last visible abdominal tergite, the pygidium, not armed with numerous modified setae, at most with only one or two pairs of thick setae or cuticular projections (Figures A, B). Propodeal lobes short or absent .....2
 * Pygidium armed with numerous specialized, peg-like or spiniform setae much thicker than surrounding fine hairs (Figure C); setae more than four in number, often more numerous. If pygidium small or with few specialized setae, then propodeal lobes conspicuous .....11

2
return to couplet .....1
 * Propodeal spiracles positioned low on propodeum, at or below mid-height of the sclerite (Figure A).....3
 * Propodeal spiracles positioned high on propodeum, above mid-height of the sclerite (Figures B, C).....4

3
return to couplet .....2
 * Pygidium large. Propodeal lobes present (Baltic amber)..... Procerapachys
 * Pygidium small. Propodeal lobes absent (Nearctic, Neotropical)..... Leptanilloides

4
return to couplet .....2
 * Abdominal segment II (petiole) and segment III differentiated and both segments much smaller than the succeeding segment IV. Abdominal segment IV always conspicuously the largest segment (Figure A)......5
 * Only abdominal segment II (petiole) differentiated and smaller than succeeding segments III and IV (Figure B). If abdominal segment III attached to segment IV through a strong constriction and somewhat differentiated, then abdominal segment IV not conspicuously the largest segment......9

5
return to couplet .....4
 * Antennae with 8–10 segments. Old World species (Figure A) (Palearctic, Afrotropical, Indomalayan, Australasian)..... Aenictus
 * Antennae with 12 segments (Figure B). New World species.....6

6
return to couplet .....5
 * Tarsal claws simple, without teeth (Figure A) (Nearctic, Neotropical, Dominican amber)..... Neivamyrmex
 * Tarsal claws armed with teeth (Figure B).....7

7
return to couplet .....6
 * Inner (flexor) surface of hind tibiae without any sign of differentiated pale cuticle (Figure A) (Nearctic, Neotropical)..... Nomamyrmex
 * Inner surface of hind tibiae with differentiated surface of pale cuticle (metatibial gland), from elongately oval patch near tibial spur to a narrow stripe spanning much of the length of tibia (Figure B).....8

8
return to couplet .....7
 * Propodeum armed with cuticular lamellae or spines (Figure A) (Neotropical)..... Eciton
 * Propodeum unarmed, dorsal propodeal surface rounding into propodeal declivity (Figure B)(Nearctic, Neotropical) ..... Labidus

9
return to couplet .....4
 * Constrictions present at anterior end of abdominal segments V and VI (Figure A) (Afrotropical)..... Aenictogiton
 * Constrictions absent from anterior end of abdominal segments V and VI (Figure B).....10

10
return to couplet .....9
 * Promesonotal Pronotomesopleural suture conspicuous (Figure A). Pygidium large and impressed at apex, armed with one or two cuticular teeth or spines on each side (Figure C). Pretarsal claws unarmed (Palearctic, Afrotropical, Indomalayan) ..... Dorylus
 * Promesonotal Pronotomesopleural suture absent (Figure B). Pygidium small and convex at apex, unarmed or with one or two peg-like setae on each side (Figure D). Pretarsal claws armed with teeth (Neotropical) ..... Cheliomyrmex

11
return to couplet .....1
 * Waist consisting only of abdominal segment II (petiole) and abdominal segment III broadly attached to segment IV, without conspicuous constrictions between pre- and postsclerites of abdominal segment IV (Figure A) (Indomalayan) ..... Yunodorylus
 * Waist with abdominal segment III at least weakly differentiated from segment IV; the latter with a constriction between its pre- and postsclerites (Figure B).....12

12
return to couplet .....11
 * Mid and hind tibiae each with two spurs (Figure A).....13
 * Middle tibiae with a single spur (Figure B) or without spurs (Figure C) and hind tibiae always with a single spur.....14

13
return to couplet .....12
 * Antennal sockets at least partly concealed in full face view (Figure A). Pretarsal claws simple (Figure C). Maxillary palps 2-segmented, labial palps 3-segmented (Neotropical, Dominican amber) ..... Cylindromyrmex
 * Antennal sockets exposed in full face view (Figure B). Pretarsal claws armed with a tooth (Figure D). Maxillary palps 5-segmented, labial palps 3-segmented (Malagasy, Indomalayan, Baltic amber) ..... Chrysapace

14
return to couplet .....12
 * Pretarsal claws of hind leg armed ventrally with a tooth or at least a small denticle (Figure A); teeth can be difficult to discern below 50× magnification .....15
 * Pretarsal claws of hind leg simple (Figure B).....18

15
return to couplet .....14
 * Middle tibiae always with a pectinate spur. Hind tibiae with a patch light cuticle near distal end (Figure A; metatibial gland) (Indomalayan) ..... Cerapachys (part)
 * Middle tibiae without spurs. Hind tibiae without a patch differentiated cuticle, but a conspicuous sulcus or groove on hind basitarsus may be present (Figure B; metabasitarsal gland) .....16

16
return to couplet .....15
 * Antennae with 11 segments (Figure A). Longitudinal glandular groove (metabasitarsal gland) present on basal half of ventral surface of hind basitarsi (Afrotropical, Malagasy, Indomalayan, Australasian) ..... Simopone
 * Antennae with 12 segments (Figures B, C). Longitudinal glandular groove (metabasitarsal gland) absent from basal half of ventral surface of hind basitarsi......17

17
return to couplet .....16
 * Ocelli absent. Posterior margin of eyes anterior to midlength of head capsule (Figure A). Maxillary palps 3-segmented and labial palps 2-segments. Maxillary palps short and often not exposed in pinned specimens. When palps extended, the maxillary palp terminates well before occipital foramen (Figure C) (Afrotropical) ..... Vicinopone
 * Ocelli present. Posterior margin of eyes behind midlength of head capsule (Figure B). Maxillary palps 6-segmented and labial palps 4-segmented. Maxillary palps very long, when extended almost reaching occipital foramen (Figure D) (Malagasy) ..... Tanipone

18
return to couplet .....14
 * At least anterior dorsolateral portions of abdominal segment II (petiole) marginate (Figure B) and often entire length of petiolar tergite with pronounced margins (Figure A). Hind coxa usually with posterior flange drawn into a vertical, opaque or semi-translucent lamella (Figure D). Metatibial gland pore plate usually in a depression or invagination of the cuticle, appearing as a slit (Figure F) or, more rarely, a circular opening (Figure G) or inconspicuous (Palearctic, Afrotropical, Malagasy, Indomalayan, Australasian) ..... Lioponera
 * No segment of body conspicuously dorsolaterally marginate although lateral crest immediately above abdominal segment II (petiolar) spiracle may be present (Figure C). If abdominal segment II appearing marginate, hind coxae without posterior vertical lamella (Figure E). Metatibial gland pore plate not in a depression, either an oval whitish patch (Figure H), or not discernable (Figure I) .....19

19
return to couplet .....18
 * In lateral view pronotomesopleural Pronotomesopleural suture either completely or partially fused, never a curved cut in cuticular surface approaching dorsolateral margins of promesonotum (Figures A, B). Sometimes in place of Pronotomesopleural suture a groove (especially Neocerapachys and Sphinctomyrmex) or a row of punctures present, or the Pronotomesopleural suture short; there is never a lining of short pubescence .....20
 * In lateral view pronotomesopleural Pronotomesopleural suture present as a deep cut in the cuticle, often curved below dorsolateral margins of mesosoma and with inside lined with short pubescence (Figures C, D) .....24

20
return to couplet .....19
 * Helcium circumference large relative to abdominal segment II (petiole) and placed above midheight of the segment, resulting in low, undifferentiated posterior face of abdominal segment II and low anterior face of abdominal segment III (Figure A) (Malagasy) ..... Lividopone
 * Helcium circumference small relative to abdominal segment II (petiole) and placed at about midheight of segment, resulting in pronounced posterior face to abdominal segment II and conspicuous anterior face of abdominal segment III (Figure B) .....21

21
return to couplet .....20
 * Metapleural gland trench an inconspicuous narrow slit, with posterior opening smaller than the diameter of propodeal spiracle (Figure A) (Neotropical) ..... .....22
 * Metapleural gland trench conspicuous, throughout its length broader than the diameter of propodeal spiracle opening (Figure B). If the posterior opening of the trench narrow (rarely), it is through a constriction made by an elevated ventral flange of the trench, the latter being broad and deep anteriorly to the constriction (Old World) .....23

22
return to couplet .....21
 * Constrictions present at anterior end of abdominal segments V and VI (Figure A). No patches of differentiated cuticle on abdominal tergite IV (Figure C) (Neotropical) ..... Sphinctomyrmex
 * Constrictions absent from anterior end of abdominal segments V and VI (Figure B). Circular porous and pubescent patches differentiated from surrounding cuticle (occasionally indistinct) present laterally on abdominal tergite IV, just medial to the spiracles (Figure D) (Neotropical) ..... Neocerapachys

23
return to couplet .....21
 * Constrictions present at anterior end of abdominal segments V and VI (Figure A) (Afrotropical, Australasian) ..... Zasphinctus
 * Constrictions absent from anterior end of abdominal segments V and VI (Figure B) (Palearctic, Afrotropical, Malagasy, Indomalayan, Australasian) ..... Parasyscia

24
return to couplet .....19
 * Helcium circumference large relative to abdominal segment II (petiole) and placed above midheight of the segment, resulting in very low, undifferentiated posterior face of petiole and low anterior face of abdominal segment III (Figure A) .....25
 * Helcium circumference small relative to abdominal segment II (petiole) placed at about midheight of segment, usually resulting in differentiated posterior face to abdominal segment II and conspicuous anterior face of abdominal segment III (Figure B) .....26

25
return to couplet .....24
 * Pronotal flange not separated from collar by distinct ridge (Figure A). Eyes small, composed of few weakly differentiated ommatidia (Nearctic, Neotropical, Dominican amber) ..... Acanthostichus
 * Pronotal flange separated from collar by distinct ridge (Figure B). Eyes composed of more than 20 well-defined ommatidia (Indomalayan) ..... Cerapachys

26
return to couplet .....24
 * Constrictions present at anterior end of abdominal segment V and abdominal segment VI (similar to couplet 23, Figure A) (Indomalayan) ..... Eusphinctus
 * Constrictions absent from anterior end of abdominal segment V and abdominal segment VI (similar to couplet 23, Figure B).....27

27
return to couplet .....26
 * Antennae with 12 segments (Figure A). A pale oval or finger-like patch of cuticle often conspicuous in the middle at posterior margin of abdominal sternite IV (Figure D) (Afrotropical, Malagasy) ..... Eburopone
 * Antennae with 9 to 11 segments (Figures B, C). No visible glandular patch in the middle at posterior margin of abdominal sternite IV (Figure E).....28

28
return to couplet .....27
 * Abdominal segment III relatively narrow in dorsal view and similar in size to the preceding abdominal segment II segment (petiole). In lateral view, abdominal tergite IV not folding over sternite and the anterior portion of the sternite visible (Figure A). Hind basitarsi not dilating distally, circular in cross-section (Figure C). Metabasitarsal glands absent (Indomalayan, Australasian, O. biroi is a pantropical tramp species) ..... Ooceraea
 * Abdominal segment III relatively wide in dorsal view and larger than the preceding abdominal segment II segment (petiole). In lateral view, abdominal tergite IV folding over sternite and the anterior portion of sternite at least partly obscured (Figure B). Hind basitarsi swollen at about two thirds of their length, oval in cross-section (Figure D). Metabasitarsal glands present in addition to metatibial glands, although difficult to discern under magnification lower than 100× (Nearctic, Neotropical, Palearctic, Indomalayan) ..... Syscia