Hemioptica

This is currently a subgenus of Polyrhachis. Please see Polyrhachis for further information.

Hemioptica Species Key
From Dorow and Kohout 1995:

1. Smaller (HL <1.47); body covered with appressed silvery pubescence; eyes more or less entire..... Polyrhachis bugnioni

Larger (HL >1.57); dorsal surfaces of body virtually without appressed pubescence; eyes posteriorly truncate..... 2

2. Dorsum of mesosoma highly polished; lateral angles of petiole broadly. obtusely dentate.....Polyrhachis boltoni

Dorsum of mesosoma closely sculptured, semi opaque; lateral angles of petiole acutely spinose.....Polyrhachis scissa

Nomenclature

 *  HEMIOPTICA [subgenus of Polyrhachis]
 * Hemioptica Roger, 1862a: 238. Type-species: Hemioptica scissa, by monotypy.
 * Hemioptica subgenus of Polyrhachis: Mayr, 1872: 138.
 * Hemioptica junior synonym of Polyrhachis: Forel, 1878: 368.
 * Hemioptica revived status as genus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 271; Emery, 1925b: 209.
 * Hemioptica subgenus of Polyrhachis: Dorow & Kohout, 1995: 95; Bolton, 1995b: 31; Dorow, 1995: 29.

Description
Distinctive Characteristics of the genus (Dorow and Kohout 1995):

The subgenus Hemioptica can be defined within the genus Polyrhachis by the possession of following characters:

1. Eyes posteriorly truncate in Polyrhachis boltoni and Polyrhachis scissa.

2. Sides of head with sharply defined longitudinal carinae separating the genae from the ventral parts of the head.

3. Anterior clypeal margin arcuate, entire.

4. Pronotum convex, shield-shaped, extending posteriorly and concealing the median portion of mesonotal dorsum.

5. Mesosoma lacking any traces of armament.

6. The metanotal groove deeply impressed and elaborate.