Aphaenogaster

Shattuck, Steven O, 2008, Australian ants of the genus Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 1677, pp. 25-45 : 27-28

Key to species of Australian Aphaenogaster based on workers

1. Majority of hairs on venter of head located laterally and forming a distinct psammophore, only scattered hairs on central portion (Fig. 4) ................................................................................................................... 2

- Hairs on venter of head randomly distributed and not forming a distinct psammophore (Fig. 2) .............. 4

2 Eye relatively large (EI greater than 21, Fig. 19 ); scape relatively long (SI greater than 106, Fig. 20 )........ ...................................................................................................................................................... mediterrae

- Eye relatively small (EI less than 21, Fig. 19 ); scape relatively short (SI less than 106, Fig. 20 ) .............. 3

3. Petiolar node (in dorsal view) wider than long; mandibular sculpture composed of irregularly sized stria- tions (Fig. 6) (occurring in Western Australia) ................................................................................. poultoni

- Petiolar node (in dorsal view) approximately square; mandibular sculpture composed of regularly sized striations (Fig. 5) (occurring in South Australia and eastward) ...................................................... barbigula

4. Posterior margin of head nearly flat in full face view, extending laterally of the occipital collar before

passing through a distinct posterolateral corner into the lateral margin of the head ( Fig. 15 ) .................... 5 - Posterior margin of head broadly arched in full face view, the arch beginning at the occipital collar and with at most a weak angle separating the posterior and lateral margins of the head (often posterior and lateral margins forming a continuous surface) ( Fig. 9 ) ................................................................................... 6 5. Scape relatively short (SI less than 125, Fig. 23 ) (occurring in e. Queensland and ne. New South Wales) ............................................................................................................................................................. pythia

- Scape relatively long (SI greater than 135, Fig. 23 ) (occurring in Northern Territory) .................. reichelae

6. Shorter erect hairs on mesosomal dorsum (especially those on mesonotum) with blunt tips; dorsal surfaces of propodeum and propodeal spines connected through a gentle concavity (so that the base of each spine is at approximately the same level as the dorsal surface of the propodeum) ( Fig. 10 ) .................. longiceps

- Erect hairs on mesosomal dorsum tapering to sharp points; dorsal surfaces of propodeum and propodeal spines connected through a gentle concavity followed by a gentle convexity (so that the base of each spine is raised slightly above the dorsal surface of the propodeum) ( Fig. 8 )........................................................ 7

7. Head relatively narrow ( Fig. 21 ), scape relatively long ( Fig. 22 ) (occurring in n. Northern Territory and n. Western Australia) .................................................................................................................. kimberleyensis

- Head relatively broad ( Fig. 21 ), scape relatively short ( Fig. 22 ) (occurring in Queensland) ........... barbara

Figures

FIGURE 23. Scape length versus head width measurements for A. pythia and A. reichelae.

FIGURES 19 – 20. Fig. 19, eye length versus head width measurements for A. barbigula, A. mediterrae and A. poultoni; Fig. 20, scape length versus head width measurements for A. barbigula, A. mediterrae and A. poultoni.

FIGURES 13 – 18. A. poultoni Crawley, worker: Fig. 13, front of head; Fig. 14, lateral view of body. A. pythia Forel, neotype worker: Fig. 15, front of head; Fig. 16, lateral view of body. A. reichelae sp. n., holotype worker: Fig. 17, front of head; Fig. 18, lateral view of body.

FIGURES 7 – 12. A. kimberleyensis sp. n., holotype worker: Fig. 7, front of head; Fig. 8, lateral view of body. A. longiceps (Smith), worker: Fig. 9, front of head; Fig. 10, lateral view of body. A. mediterrae sp. n., holotype worker: Fig. 11, front of head; Fig. 12, lateral view of body.

FIGURES 21 – 22. Fig. 21, head length versus head width measurements for A. barbara and A. kimberleyensis; Fig. 22, scape length versus head width measurements for A. barbara and A. kimberleyensis.