Bothroponera pumicosa

Ama JOma & Wp MacKay, 2015, Revision of the African Ants of the Bothroponera pumicosa Species Complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae), Sociobiology 62 (4), pp. 538-563 : 543

Key to the Bothroponera pumicosa species complex based on the workers

1. Hairs on entire mesosoma and gaster long (up to 0.55 mm) curly, anterior medial raised area of clypeus “u” shaped without carina ………………………………….... pumicosa - Hairs on entire surface relatively short (0.10 – 0.25 mm) erect moderately long, straight (not curly); anterior medial raised area of clypeus “u” or “v” shaped with or without carina ………………...........………………………………. 2

2(1). Anterior border of clypeus “u” shaped, broadly rounded ………………………….……………..............................… 3 - Anterior border of clypeus “v” shaped with sharp anterior medial point …….....................….............……………..…. 6

3(2). Anterior medial area of clypeus raised from surface (best seen in side view) to form sharp carina, which extends from between frontal lobes to anterior border of clypeus ...... 4 - Anterior medial area raised but does not form sharp carina, if carina partially present, not complete as described above or not sharp ………….…….……..…………………….……...…. 5

4(3). Posterior border of petiolar node (seen from above) with deep medial depression; mandibles with several deep coarse grooves ...............…………..………………… cariosa - Posterior border of petiolar node with little evidence of impression; with smooth shiny mandibles .....……. strigulosa

5(3). Body smooth, shiny, black, fourth abdominal segment smooth, shiny …………….…… laevissima

- Body strongly sculptured by dense foveolae, fourth abdominal segment foveolate .....…………....……. berthoudi

6(2). Anterior medial area of clypeus raised to form sharp carina …………………………........................……. granosa - Anterior medial area raised but does not form carina..…....7

7(6). Propodeal spiracle nearly horizontal; fourth abdominal segment smooth, partially glossy....................... umgodikulula - Propodeal spiracle nearly vertical, usually nearly parallel with posteropropodeum; fourth abdominal segment smooth to slightly rough or sculptured …….................................…. 8

8(7). Head and mesosoma with sparse punctures, moderately shiny, black ……………………..............................… aspera - Head and mesosoma sculptured with dense foveolae ….... 9

9(8). Scapes longer, extending slightly past posterior lateral corner of head (SI 78), short (0.10 up to 0.20 mm) erect golden hairs cover entire surface ………………........…... cavernosa - Scapes barely reaching posterior lateral corner of head (SI 79.59 – 81.25), short (0.10 – 0.15 mm) erect silver hairs cover entire surface .....………………….… montivaga