Key to Ant Genera of the Navajo Reservation

This key to workers is based on At present 24 ant genera are known within the Navajo Reservation, as additional ant genera are discovered, they will be added to the key below.
 * Ellison, A. M.; Gotelli, N. J.; Farnsworth, E. J.; Alpert, G. D. 2012. A field guide to the ants of New England . New Haven: Yale University Press, xv + 398 pp
 * Fisher, B. L.; Cover, S. P. 2007. Ants of North America. A guide to genera. Berkeley: University of California Press, xiv + 194 pp. [2007-09]
 * [[Media:Newmexicoants.pdf|MacKay, W.P. & MacKay, E.E. 2002. The Ants of New Mexico: 400 pp. Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, N.Y. PDF]]

1

 * Petiole and postpetiole present (pedicel has two segments) . . . . . 2


 * Petiole present (pedicel has one segment), postpetiole absent or not well separated from remainder of gaster . . . . . 3

2 (1)

 * Antennal sockets completely exposed in full-face view, not covered by frontal lobes. Antennal sockets positioned close to each other and inserted at the anterior margin of the head. Eyes absent or extremely small (Subfamily Ecitoninae) . . . . . Neivamyrmex (2 species)
 * In full-face view antennal sockets covered at least in part by frontal lobes. Antennal sockets well separated and set back from the anterior margin of the head. Eyes present with several facets or more. (Subfamily Myrmicinae) . . . . . 5

3 (1)

 * No postpetiole, petiole clearly separated from remainder of gaster; sting absent. . . . . . 4
 * Postpetiole with a slight separation from remainder of gaster; sting present; Subpetiolar process simple lobe, never with fenestra or paired posterolateral teeth. Anterior border of clypeus without teeth; mandible relatively small (Subfamily Ponerinae). . . . . Hypoponera opacior (1 species)

4 (3)

 * Acidopore absent, no ring of hairs at apex of gaster (Subfamily Dolichoderinae) . . . . . 16


 * Acidopore at apex of gaster round and usually surrounded by ring of hairs (Subfamily Formicinae) . . . . . 20

5 (2)

 * Antennae with 10 segments, last 2 segments forming a distinct club; propodeum without spines; either dimorphic species or very small monomorphic species . . . . . Solenopsis (2 species)


 * Antennae with 11 or 12 segments . . . . . 6

6 (5)

 * Antenna consisting of 11 segments . . . . . 7


 * Antenna consisting of 12 segments . . . . . 10

7 (6)

 * Postpetiole connected to dorsal surface of gaster; gaster, when seen from above, heart shaped with pointed apex; pronotum without spines or bumps . . . . . Crematogaster (3 species)


 * Postpetiole not connected to upper surface of gaster; gaster not heart shaped . . . . . 8

8 (7)

 * Eyes with short, erect hairs emerging from facets (use high magnification)...Formicoxenus (1 species)


 * Eyes lacking erect hairs..... 9

9 (8)

 * Mandible with six teeth. Clypeus not forming welt; frontal carinae do not extend to posterior border of head . . . . . Leptothorax


 * Mandible with five teeth. ...Temnothorax

10 (6)

 * Middle and hind tibial spurs pectinate (with tiny hairs, difficult to see without at least 60x magnification) . . . . . 11


 * Middle and hind tibial spurs not pectinate . . . . . 12

11 (10)

 * Metanotal constriction (between mesonotum and propodeum) absent, propodeum often with spines or teeth, psammophore (long curved hairs on underside of head) usually present; common in arid ecosystems . . . . . Pogonomyrmex
 * Metanotal constriction present between mesonotum and propodeum, propodeum always has spines; psammophore absent; common in pine forests and mountainous areas. . . . . . Myrmica

12 (10)

 * Propodeum without spines; antennal club composed of 3 segments; usually small, shiny, black ants . . . . . Monomorium


 * Propodeum with spines, or if not, ants not small, shiny and black; antennal club configuration varies . . . . . 13

13 (12)

 * ... Messor


 * Antenna without club or club with more than 3 segments . . . . . 14

14 (13)

 * Workers dimorphic or polymorphic; major with head longer than gaster; petiole with long peduncle; scape of antenna of minor often extends past posterior border of head; mandible with 2 well defined teeth at apex (47); very common ants . . . . . Pheidole


 * Monomorphic species; scape does not extend past posterior lateral border of head . . . . . 15

15 (14)

 * Clypeus usually with pair of longitudinal carinae; mesosoma thickened with little constriction between mesonotum and propodeum; rarely collected ants . . . . . Stenamma


 * Clypeus without carinae or with more than 1 pair; mesosoma slender; common ants in numerous habitats . . . . . Aphaenogaster

16 (4)

 * Propodeum in form of cone; maxillary palps very long . . . . . Dorymyrmex


 * Propodeum never in form of cone . . . . . 17

17 (16)

 * Node of petiole poorly developed; monomorphic ants, widely distributed in mesic areas . . . . . Tapinoma sessile


 * Node of petiole obvious, although it may be small; common ants . . . . . 18

18 (17)

 * Workers polymorphic; mesosoma in profile without impression before posterior edge of propodeum; ocelli present at least in larger workers; gaster with gray pubescence; nests usually in oak trees or under stones in mountainous areas . . . . . Liometopum


 * Erect hairs on clypeus long, extending to near tips of mandibles, when mandibles are shut; pronotum with at least I pair of long, erect hairs (may be missing in some specimens in nest series); Workers monomorphic; ocelli absent; nesting in soil most common in desert regions (also common in urban areas) . . . . . Forelius

19 (4)

 * Antenna with 9 segments; small, light colored, inconspicuous ants, not commonly collected . . . . . Brachymyrmex depilis


 * Antenna with more than 9 segments; common ants . . . . . 20

20 (19)

 * Mandibles long, sickle shaped; red ants, not commonly collected . . . . . Polyergus


 * Mandibles not long and sickle shaped, common ants . . . . . 21

21 (20)

 * Insertions of antennae located far from posterior border of clypeus; mesosoma convex (except for C. hyatti) in profile . . . . . Camponotus


 * Insertions of antennae located near posterior border of clypeus; mesosoma not convex in profile . . . . . 22

22 (21)

 * Maxillary palps very long, segment 4 as long as segments 5 and 6 combined; psammophore present . . . . . Myrmecocystus


 * Maxillary palps shorter, segment 4 not unusually long; psammophore absent . . . . . 23

41
return to couplet #40
 * Frontal carinae prominent, lateral margins slightly reflected upward; ocelli often distinct; mostly large, polymorphic . . . . . Formica


 * Frontal carinae poorly marked, lateral margins flat; ocelli indistinct or absent; smaller monomorphic ants . . . . . 42

42
return to couplet #41
 * Antennal scapes surpassing posterior margin of head by at least 1/[?] their length, often much longer; erect hairs often coarse, long and usually black in color and are especially noticeable on dorsum of pronotum . . . . . 43


 * Antennal scapes not surpassing posterior lateral margin, or at least not by amount greater than length of first funicular segment; erect hairs not coarse, are short and golden . . . . . 44

44
return to couplet #42
 * Maxillary palps short and composed of 3 segments, difficult to see . . . . . Acanthomyops


 * Maxillary palps longer and composed o f 6 segments, very obvious . . . . . Lasius