Key to Aphaenogaster workers of Europe

This worker key is based on: Boer, P. 2013. Revision of the European ants of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 156, 57–93. [[Media:Boer, P. 2013. Revision of the European ants of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa group.pdf|PDF]]

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Aphaenogaster 

1

 * Occiput not collar-shaped . . . . . 2


 * Occiput elongated, collar-shaped. Body shining black. Crete . . . . . Aphaenogaster cecconii

2
return to couplet #1
 * Scape stands well over of the occiput. Middle funicular segments longer than broad . . . . . 3


 * Scape from just below to protruding just above the occiput. Middle funicular segments as broad as long, or slightly longer . . . . . A. pallida-group (Aphaenogaster pallida, Aphaenogaster lesbica, Aphaenogaster dulcineae, Aphaenogaster finzii, Aphaenogaster holtzi, Aphaenogaster subterraneoides) . . . . . and A. obsidiana-group (Aphaenogaster obsidiana, Aphaenogaster epirotes)

3
return to couplet #2
 * Second funicular segment > 1.5 longer than wide.Hind tibia more than eight times longer than broad . . . . . 4


 * Second funicular segment < 1.5 longer than wide (except festae?). Hind tibia circa five times longer than broad. Largely shiny. Yellowish red to dark brown. Front of head feeble rugulose (except A. subterraneosplendida) . . . . . A. subterranea-group (Aphaenogaster subterraneosplendida, Aphaenogaster graeca, Aphaenogaster festae, Aphaenogaster crocea, ''Aphaenogaster subterranea)

4
return to couplet #3
 * Gaster mainly smooth, sculpture, if present, restricted to basal part of first gasteral tergite. Head and mesosoma without punctuation . . . . . 5


 * At least anterior part of the dorsal side of the first gastral tergite finely and densely microstriate, often in a fingerprint-like pattern. Head and mesosoma punctate . . . . . 6

5
return to couplet #4
 * Occipital outline in frontal view straight to weakly convex. Colour shining blackish red brown to purple black. CI < 1.2. . . . . . A. gibbosa-group (Aphaenogaster striativentris, Aphaenogaster gibbosa, Aphaenogaster italica)


 * Head shape ovoid narrowing posteriorly. Colour yellowish red to dark reddish brown. CI > 1.2. . . . . . A. splendida-group (Aphaenogaster cardenai, Aphaenogaster ovaticeps, Aphaenogaster splendida)

6
return to couplet #4
 * Petiole swollen, spherical, relative width: PI-mean 89. Base of gaster on dorsal side with some transverse microstriae, other part without microstriae. Propodeum angulate or with short spines that resemble little thorns. Hind tibia ca. 8 times longer than wide. Head and mesosoma yellow brown red to light rust brown . . . . . Aphaenogaster sardoa


 * Petiole in dorsal view not spherical: PI-mean < 84. Base of gaster on dorsal side with longitudinal microstriae, sometimes (almost) lacking; if transverse microstriae then antennal club 5-segmented. Hind tibia ca. 9 times longer than wide. Darker . . . . . Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group