Key to Azteca aurita group queens

This worker key is based on: [[Media:Longino J 2007.pdf|Longino, J.T. 2007. A taxonomic review of the genus Azteca in Costa Rica and a global revision of the aurita group. Zootaxa. 1491:1-63. PDF]]

There is a Key to Azteca aurita group workers but worker polymorphism and similarities of worker characteristics can make workers of Azteca difficult to use for species determinations. Queens of Azteca generally exhibit more pronounced morphological differences and are often much more useful than workers for species identification. Details of the nests collections are made from, e.g., location, structure, etc. can also be useful. Nesting details can be found on most of the species pages for the species in the aurita group.

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Azteca

1

 * Color uniform orange; CI > 80 . . . . . 2


 * Color uniform brown; CI < 80 . . . . . 4

2
return to couplet #1
 * Pilosity absent on posterior and posterolateral borders of head, dorsum of mesosoma, petiole, and gaster (tibiae, scape, and all of face and mandibles below level of lower margin of eyes with dense, short, white erect pilosity); HW < 1.15mm . . . . . Azteca aurita


 * Short erect pilosity present on all margins of head and on dorsum of mesosoma, petiole, and gaster; HW > 1.15mm . . . . . 3

3
return to couplet #2
 * Dense, short, erect pilosity on scape and tibiae; head relatively narrower (CI < 92) . . . . . Azteca pilosula


 * Scape and tibiae lacking erect pilosity; head relatively broader (CI > 92) . . . . . Azteca lallemandi

4
return to couplet #1
 * Gastral dorsum lacking erect setae; HLA > 1.35mm . . . . . Azteca schimperi


 * Gastral dorsum with erect setae; HLA < 1.35mm . . . . . 4

5
return to couplet #4
 * HLA about 1.3mm . . . . . Azteca lanuginosa


 * HLA about 0.86mm . . . . . Azteca nanogyna