Anochetus

Shattuck, Steven O. & Slipinska, Ewa, 2012, Revision of the Australian species of the ant genus Anochetus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 3426, pp. 1-28 : 5

Key to Australian Anochetus species based on workers

1. Propodeal angles produced as spines...................................................................... 2

- Propodeal angles more or less rounded and lacking spines..................................................... 5

2. Sculpture on front of head extending only slightly beyond eyes (approximately half head length); eye larger (EL> 0.27mm); scapes surpassing posterolateral corners ('lobes') of head (SI> 100) ( Fig. 4 ); numerous erect hairs on scapes............. 3

- Sculpture on front of head extending well beyond eyes (greater than half head length); eye smaller (EL <0.22mm); scapes not reaching posterolateral corners ('lobes') of head (SI <100) ( Fig. 4 ); scapes with limited number of erect hairs............ 4

3. Smaller body (HL <1.62mm, HW <1.44mm); scapes shorter (SL <1.50mm) ( Fig. 4 ); sides of propodeum with coarse striations; mesonotum smooth and shining; petiolar node in side view with posterior surface less convex; pubescence on scapes limited, some areas devoid of hairs, the individual hairs only slightly overlapping........................... veronicae

- Body larger (HL> 1.78mm, HW> 1.53mm); scapes longer (SL> 1.60mm) ( Fig. 4 ); sides of propodeum smooth and shining; mesonotum with a few transverse, irregular ridges or striations; petiolar node in side view with anterior surface more convex; pubescence on scapes abundant and covering the entire scape, the individual hairs strongly overlapping.............. alae

4. Pronotum shining but with shallow, weakly defined oval punctures; propodeal spines directed slightly posteriorly so that in profile they form an angle with the posterior propodeal face at their bases; dorsum of propodeum with appressed hairs; hind tibiae with decumbent hairs which are restricted to the inner surfaces.................................. paripungens

- Pronotum smooth and shining; propodeal spines pointed anteriorly and forming a continuous surface with the posterior propodeal face in profile; dorsum of propodeum with erect hairs; hind tibiae with erect hairs on all surfaces............ wiesiae

5. Sculpture on front of head extending well above eyes and reaching (or nearly reaching) the posterior margin of head..... 6

- Sculpture on front of head extending only slightly beyond eyes and ending well before posterior margin............... 7

6. Sculpturing on dorsal surface of pronotum variable, ranging from punctate medially and striate-rugulose laterally to entirely striate-rugulose, sometimes with arching striations anteriorly (which are developed to varying degrees); mesonotum striaterugulose; sides of propodeum smooth and shining anteriorly, sculptured posteriorly; eyes smaller (EL <0.16mm)... graeffei

- Dorsal surface of pronotum with distinct longitudinal striations (never rugulose); mesonotum smooth, without sculpture; sides of propodeum with coarse striation on entire surface; eyes larger (EL> 0.22mm)............................ victoriae

7. Petiolar node in front view tapering upwards into a narrowly rounded point................................. isolatus

- Petiolar node in front view narrowing only slightly dorsally, the apex broad...................................... 8

8. Mesonotum with transverse striations; propodeum with dorsal surface rounding into sides and posterior face, the angle obscured; in side view petiolar node swollen basally and with a strong angle just below mid-height............... turneri

- Mesonotum smooth and without sculpturing; propodeum with dorsal surface more or less flattened and with distinct propodeal angle; in side view anterior face of petiolar node weakly concave and never angled near mid-height................... 9

9. Entire pronotum and sides of propodeum smooth and shining; dorsal surface of propodeum with weak transverse striations (nearly absent in some specimens); hairs on dorsal surface of propodeum very short, scattered and appressed.......... 10

- Pronotum partially to completely sculptured; sides of propodeum with coarse striations, dorsal surface coarsely sculptured with combination of irregular rugosity and striations; hairs on dorsal surface of propodeum longer, erect or semi-erect... 12

10. Eyes small (EL <0.25mm, EI <20) ( Fig. 7A ); scapes shorter (SL <1.00mm) ( Fig. 7 B); legs shorter (MTL <0.80mm, HFL <1.10mm) (restricted to the northern Kimberley Region)................................................... avius

- Eyes large (EL> 0.30mm, EI> 22) ( Fig. 7A ); scapes longer (SL> 1.05mm) ( Fig. 7 B); legs longer (MTL> 0.85mm, HFL> 1.18mm).......................................................................................... 11

11. Propodeum with transverse striations extending slightly laterally onto the sides to at least the level of the spiracle; scapes longer, reaching posterolateral corners ('lobes') of head (SL> 1.40mm); erect hairs on hind tibiae uniformly distributed on all surfaces; eyes expanded laterally so that in full face view they form outer margin of head........................ renatae

- Propodeum with weak transverse striations dorsally which rarely extend onto the sides (when present laterally they are separated from the dorsal sculpturing by a smooth gap); scapes shorter, not reaching posterolateral corners ('lobes') of head (SL <1.35mm); erect hairs on hind tibia reduced on outer surface compared to inner surface; eyes narrower so that in full face view they do not extend beyond head capsule........................................................... armstrongi

12. Petiolar node in side view tapering gradually to apex in the form of an inverted “V”, with the striations fading towards the summit; propodeal angle sharply rounded........................................................... rectangularis

- Petiolar node in side view narrowing only slightly towards the apex, trapezoid-shaped, with distinct striations along entire height; propodeal angle more gently rounded............................................................. 13

13. Dorsum and sides of pronotum with distinct longitudinal striations; head shorter (HL <1.04mm); petiolar node narrower (maximum width <0.28mm)........................................................................ rufostenus

- Dorsum of pronotum smooth and shining, sides with distinct striations; head longer (HL> 1.11mm); petiolar node wider (maximum width> 0.28mm)......................................................................... rufolatus

Figures

FIGURE 4. Scape length versus head width for A. alae, A. renatae, A. paripungens, A. veronicae and A. wiesiae.

FIGURE 7. A. Eye length versus head width for A. armstrongi, A. avius, A. renatae and A. veronicae; B. Scape length versus head width for A. armstrongi, A. avius, A. renatae and A. veronicae.