Key to Solenopsis molesta species complex

The following is based on: Pacheco, J.A. & Mackay, W.P. 2013. The systematics and biology of the New World thief ants of the genus Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, New York. 501 pp. [[Media:Pacheco, J.A. & Mackay, W.P. 2013. The systematics and biology of the New World thief ants of the genus Solenopsis.pdf|PDF]]

This is a group of New World thief ants in the genus Solenopsis.

There are two keys to workers. The northern species, which follows just below, and a South American key that is found further down the page. Key to workers (north of Colombia) of species of the molesta Complex 

1

 * Relatively large, total length 1.4-2.0 mm, head length 0.40-0.54 mm; concolorous yellow to black; moderately hairy; cephalic punctures fine to semicoarse; clypeal teeth less developed, typically lateral teeth angulate (occasionally bent inward) or reduced; eye with 3-5 ommatidia; head quadrate to slightly elongated; scape relatively long, 0.28-0.40 mm; minor funicular segments relatively long, 0.12-0.18 mm; mesopleuron occasionally striated, metapleuron always striated; posterior propodeal margin rounded; petiolar peduncle typically with ventral tooth; posterior tibiae with erect to suberect hairs . . . . . 2 (molesta subgroup)


 * Smaller; total length 1.0-1.5 mm; head length 0.32-0.44 mm; concolorous yellow; very pilose; cephalic punctures always fine; clypeal teeth more developed, typically lateral teeth angulate to well developed; eye usually smaller, with 3-5 ommatidia; head quadrate; scape length shorter 0.21-0.30 mm; minor funicular segments relatively short, 0.08-0.12 mm; mesopleuron without sculpturing, always smooth and shiny; metapleuron typically striated; posterior propodeal margin rounded to angulate; petiolar peduncle with or without ventral tooth; posterior tibiae typically with appressed hairs (with few suberect hairs) . . . . . 9 (pollux subgroup)


 * Smaller, total length 1.0-1.6 mm, head length (0.30-0.46 mm); concolorous yellow to medium brown; sparsely to moderately pilose; cephalic punctures always fine; clypeal teeth less developed, typically lateral teeth reduced to angulate; eye 3-7 ommatidia; scape length 0.22-0.30 mm; minor funicular segments relatively short, 0.08-0.12 mm; mesopleuron without sculpturing, always smooth and shiny; metapleuron typically striated); posterior propodeal margin typically rounded (few exceptions of being angulate); petiolar peduncle lacking ventral tooth; posterior tibiae typically with appressed hairs (with few sub erect hairs) . . . . . 14 (tenuis subgroup)

 It is possible that some species listed as monomorphic are actually dimorphic and the majors have not yet been collected.