Carebara polita species group

Based on Fischer et al. 2014.

Species
Carebara urichi and Carebara brevipilosa are also included in the Neotropical Carebara concinna species complex.

Related Pages

 * Key to Carebara polita species group workers
 * General discussion of Carebara species groups
 * Carebara

Diagnosis
1. Antennae with usually eleven, but one species with nine segments; scapes, when laid back, never reaching or surpassing posterior head margin.

2. Eyes of minor workers small, in most specimens consisting of only one ommatidium, in major workers absent to multi-facetted, in all subcastes situated anterior to cephalic midlength and relatively close to anterior head margin.

3. Mandibles with four to six teeth, number in minor workers often one less than in major workers.

4. Posterior margin of head concave to weakly concave medially, or nearly straight.

5. Frons in minor workers medially smooth and shiny.

6. Minor workers with short to comparatively long propodeal spines present, in major workers sometimes reduced to a blunted angle (C. urichi).

7. Minor and/or major workers often with petiolar ventral process present as anteriorly directed small tooth, which is sometimes reduced or inconspicuous.

8. Petiole node in minor workers usually subangulate to rounded in profile, dorsally smooth and shiny, in major workers very well-developed and high, the dorsum rounded to angulate-subangulate and anterodorsally compressed.

9. Minor worker postpetiole relatively elongate, distincly longer than high (LPpI 131–173) and lower than petiole, major worker postpetiole compact, dorsally rounded, and in profile about as high as long (LPpI 83–107).