Bothroponera

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 : 541-542

Key to the Afrotropical Bothroponera species complexes

1. Metatibial gland present ( Fig 3 ); scape extends at least length of first funicular segment past posterior lateral corner of head; lower margin of anterior medial area of clypeus convex; frontal lobes subquadrate ......................................... ...................................................... B. sulcata species complex

- Metatibial gland absent; scape shorter, barely reaches posterior lateral corner of head or extends past less than length of first funicular segment; lower margin of anterior medial area of clypeus convex, straight or slightly concave; frontal lobes rounded .......…….…………………………………………. 2 The legend for Map 1 (the terrestrial ecoregions of Africa, Burgess et al., 2004), used with permission from Island Press, Washington, D.C.

2(1). Anterior medial margin of clypeus convex, “u” or “v” shaped; eyes relatively large (eye width 0.30 – 0.45 mm, eye length 0.30 – 0.50 mm and malar space area length 0.38 – 0.75 mm) .....……………………… B. pumicosa species complex

- Anterior margin of clypeus straight or slightly concave or convex but not “v” or “u” shaped; eyes relatively small (eye width 0.10 – 0.35 mm, eye length 0.11 – 0.45 mm and malar space area length 0.12 – 0.51 mm)..... B. talpa species complex.

Figures

Map 1: The terrestrial ecoregions of Africa (Burgess et al., 2004) used with permission from Island Press, Washington, D. C.

Fig 3. The Metatibial Ggland on the posterior leg of Bothroponera crassior. f, femur; ti, tibia; mg, metatibial gland; ps, pectinate spur; ta, basitarsus.