Key to Vombisidris workers

Based on: Bolton, B. 1991. New myrmicine genera from the Oriental Region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Syst. Entomol. 16:1-13 [[Media:Bolton 1991.pdf|PDF]]

Vombisidris genus page / Vombisidris Species Groups

1

 * Subocular groove incomplete or absent: at most the groove running from the mandibular insertion to the anteroventral margin of the eye, never continued beyond the eye to the lateroccipital margin . . . . . 2


 * Subocular groove complete; the groove running from the mandibular insertion to the anteroventral margin of the eye, then passing through a shallow angle and continuing along the side to the lateroccipital margin . . . . . 3

2

 * Subocular groove present from mandibular insertion to eye. Mesonotum without teeth. Dorsum of head without a rugoreticulum. Propodeal dorsum strongly sloping downward posteriorly so that the spines appear attached very low. Petiolar spiracle closer to base of peduncle than to node. SI<90. Legs short; length of hind tibia less than length of petiole and SL; hind femur length> HL. (Papua New Guinea) . . . . . Vombisidris bilongrudi

3

 * Legs relatively long; maximum length of hind femur >HW. Antennal scapes relatively long, SI 81-93; if SI <85 then the meta notal groove in profile is completely absent. Petiolar spiracle located at or behind the midlength of the peduncle . . . . . 4


 * Legs relatively short; maximum length of hind femur 0.80, SL>0.75, PW>0.60. Mesonotum unarmed, in dorsal view the sides not projecting laterally as a pair of triangular prominences, without a pair of short vertical teeth. Eyes in full-face view short and strongly prominent, dome-like. (East Malaysia: Sabah) . . . . . Vombisidris regina


 * Smaller species, either entirely yellow or yellow with a brown gaster; HW<0.80, SL<0.75, PW<0.60. Mesonotum armed, either the sides in dorsal view projecting laterally as a pair of triangular prominences, or with a pair of short vertical teeth. Eyes not prominent and dome-like in full-face view . . . . . 5

5

 * First gastral tergite heavily sculptured; basigastral costulae long and coarse, longer than the postpetiolar dorsum; elsewhere basal two-thirds of first gastral tergite longitudinally rugulose with punctulate to shagreenate interspaces. Dorsum of mesonotum at each side with a short vertical sharp tooth. (Indonesia: Sulawesi) . . . . . Vombisidris philax


 * First gastral tergite glassy smooth or at most with very faint superficial reticular patterning. Basigastral costulae extremely short, restricted to area immediately behind postpetiole and much shorter than the postpetiolar dorsum. Dorsum of mesonotum with sides angulate in dorsal view but without vertical teeth . . . . . 6

6

 * Propodeal declivity reticulate-punctate. Head and alitrunk yellow, gaster brown. (Australia: Queensland) . . . . . Vombisidris renateae


 * Propodeal declivity with 3-4 fine transverse rugulae between the spines and the petiolar foramen. Entirely yellow, the gaster paler than the head and alitrunk. (Indonesia: Sulawesi) . . . . . Vombisidris nahet

7

 * With alitrunk in profile the metanotal groove forming a very conspicuous broad deep indentation in the dorsal outline. . . . . . 8


 * With alitrunk in profile the metanotal groove entirely lacking or at most forming an inconspicuous shallow depression in the dorsal outline . . . . . 10

8

 * Spaces between basi gastral costulae finely and densely sculptured so that an opaque transverse arc is present on the first gastral tergite immediately behind the postpetiole. Eyes relatively small, 0.22 x HW. Hairs on first gastral tergite short thick and abruptly truncated apically. Propodeal spines long. (Brunei) . . . . . Vombisidris xylochos


 * Spaces between basigastral costulae smooth and unsculptured or the costulae minute; without an opaque transverse arc on the first gastral tergite immediately behind the postpetiole. Eyes relatively large, 0.27-0.29 x HW. Hairs on first gastral tergite elongate and slender, blunted but not abruptly truncated apically. Propodeal spines shorter . . . . . 9

9

 * With head in full-face view the sides immediately behind the eyes diverging posteriorly. Scapes shorter, SI 71. First gastral tergite finely superficially reticulate. Peduncle of petiole relatively short. (Indonesia: Sulawesi) . . . . . Vombisidris lochme


 * With head in full-face view the sides immediately behind the eyes approximately parallel. Scapes longer, SI 81. First gastral tergite almost completely smooth. Peduncle of petiole relatively long. (East Malaysia: Sarawak) . . . . . Vombisidris dryas

10

 * Propodeal dorsum abruptly downcurved after about one-third of its length, so that in profile the spines appear to be set very low down. Propodeal spiracle on same level as spine or slightly above. (Australia: Queensland) . . . . . Vombisidris australis


 * Propodeal dorsum convex to sloping but not abruptly downcurved; the spines set high. Propodeal spiracle below level of spine . . . . . 11

11

 * Longest hairs on dorsal alitrunk short stout and truncated apically. SI 69. Maximum diameter of eye 0.27 x HW. Entirely yellow species. Alitrunk in dorsal view with sides of mesonotum broadly but shallowly triangular and prominent. Anterior face of petiole node meeting dorsum in a blunt angle. (East Malaysia: Sarawak) . . . . . Vombisidris harpeza


 * Longest hairs on dorsal alitrunk elongate, fine and tapering apically. SI 76. Maximum diameter of eye 0.23 x HW. Head and alitrunk brown, gaster lighter brown. Alitrunk in dorsal view with sides of mesonotum extremely shallowly convex, not prominent. Anterior face of petiole node meeting dorsum through a broad, smooth curve. (India) . . . . . Vombisidris occidua