Distinguishing Nylanderia from Morphologically Similar Genera in the West Indies

A complete diagnosis of Nylanderia is provided by LaPolla et al. (2011a). An updated key to the genera of the Prenolepis genus-group is provided by Williams & LaPolla (2016). In the West Indies there are three Prenolepis genusgroup genera present: Nylanderia, Paratrechina, and Zatania LaPolla, Kallal & Brady, 2012 . The only Paratrechina species in the New World is P. longicornis, which is an invasive species from either Africa or Asia (LaPolla et al. 2013; LaPolla & Fisher 2014). It is easily separated from Nylanderia by possessing a uniquely elongated mesosoma with a low propodeum (typically reaching only the mesonotal height in lateral view) and a long scape that is without macrosetae. Zatania is native to the West Indies (LaPolla et al. 2012) and can be separated from Nylanderia based on mesosomal characteristics: Nylanderia possess deep and complete mesonotal and metanotal sutures that divide the posterior part of the mesosoma distinctly into the mesopleuron and propodeum; Zatania have shallow and incomplete mesosomal sutures (Williams & LaPolla 2016). Additionally, most of the West Indian Zatania have 5 mandibular teeth. The exception is Z. cisipa (Smith & Lavigne 1973), which possesses 6 teeth (LaPolla et al. 2012); all West Indian Nylanderia have 6 mandibular teeth.