Key to the Subfamilies of the Neotropical Region
This worker key is based on:
1 Body with a single isolated or reduced segment (petiole, pe) between the mesosoma and the gaster or metasoma (Figs. 14.1, 14.2, 14.3); first segment of the gaster entirely confluent with or separated from the second by a slight constriction (c, Figs. 14.2 and 14.3); in the latter case, the first segment of the gaster is not markedly reduced (Figs. 14.1, 14.2, 14.3) ........... 2
1' Body with two isolated or reduced segments (petiole and post-petiole) between mesosoma and gaster (Figs. 14.4, 14.5, pd); Post-petiole as small as or larger than the petiole, but in both cases noticeably smaller than the first segment of the gaster and separated from it by a very prominent constriction (c) (Figs. 14.4, 14.5) ............. 11
2(1) Spiracles of gaster segments three to five (abdominal segments five to seven) exposed, not covered by the tergium of the preceding segments and visible without the need to distend the abdomen (Fig.14.6, ea); opening of the metapleural gland dorsally covered by a long cuticular flank (Fig. 14.6, fc), parallel to the main axis 2 of the body; sternum of large helcium, convex in its ventral part and visible laterally (Fig. 14.6, st); metatibial gland generally present (Fig. 14.7, gm) ....... Dorylinae (in part)
2' Spiracles of segments three to five of the gaster not exposed, hidden under the tergo of the preceding segments and only visible with abdominal distension (Fig.14.8); opening of the metapleural gland not dorsally covered by a long cuticular flank (Fig. 14.8, g); sternum of small helcium, not visible laterally (Fig. 14.8, st); metatibial gland absent (Fig. 14.9) ……………... 3
3(2). Sting present (Fig. 14.10, a); third abdominal segment (= first gaster segment) usually with a slightly marked posterior constriction (Fig. 14.11, c), otherwise the mandibles are long and linear, abruptly curved inward near their apex and inserted in the middle of the anterior cephalic margin(Fig. 14.12); fourth abdominal segment (second gaster segment) with tergosternal fusion, the two sclerites are rigidly fused and immobile with respect to each other (Fig. 14.10, s4) …….. 4
3' Stinger absent (Fig 14.13, 14.14, ac); third abdominal segment generally confluent with the fourth, without posterior constriction (Fig.14.13, c); mandibles of various shape, but never elongated and linear, generally as in Fig. 14.15; fourth abdominal segment without tergosternal fusion, the two sclerites are separated and mobile with respect to each other (Fig. 14.14, s4) .….... 10
4(3) Long and fine mandibles; anterior margin of the clypeus without denticles, with a dense fringe of hairs; eyes absent; fourth abdominal segment without tergosternal fusion (Figs. 14.16, 14.17); Brazil ......…Martialinae
4' Mandibles, if long and fine, variable, the anterior margin of the clypeus with denticles, with a dense fringe of hairs; eyes absent or present; fourth abdominal segment with tergosternal fusion ……………… 5
5(4) Articulation between the second abdominal segment (petiole) and the third (first tergo of the gaster) wide (Fig.14.18); anterior margin of the clypeus with a row of small teeth (14.19) …………………… Amblyoponinae
5' Articulation between the second abdominal segment (petiole) and the third (first tergo of the gaster) narrow (Fig. 14.20); anterior margin of the clypeus without teeth (14.21) ……………… 6
6(5) Orifice of the metapleural gland in profile in the form of a longitudinal to curved-oblique slit, delimited below with a convex cuticle border, in such a way that the orifice is oriented dorsally (Fig. 14.22)………….. Ectatomminae (in part)
6' Orifice of the metapleural gland in profile forms a simple elliptical or circular opening or foramen, which opens laterally or posteriorly, without the cuticular border as above (Fig. 14.23) …...... 7
7(6) Promesonotal suture present, well developed on the back of the mesosoma, flexible (Fig.14.24.1, SP) ........ 8
7' Promosonotal suture absent or present but always reduced and fused(Fig.14.24.2) ......…. 9
8(7) Torulus completely fused to the frontal lobe; anterior clypeal margin without a lamella-shaped extension; cephalic back without a longitudinal medial carena (Fig.14.25.1) ……. Ponerinae
8' Torulus not completely fused to the frontal lobe, anterior clypeal margin with a lamella-shaped extension; cephalic back with a longitudinal mid-carena(Fig.14.25.2, co) ……. Ectatomminae (in part)
9(7) Very exposed antennal alveoli, close to the anterior margin of the head (Fig.14.26, i); simple pretarsal nails, without preapical tooth; antennal scrobes absent; small to tiny…………. Proceratiinae
9' Antenal alveoli hidden by the frontal lobes, far from the anterior margin of the head (Fig. 14.27: e, antennal scrobes ; pr, pronotum; c, constriction)); pretarsal nails with preapical tooth; antennal scrobes present; Large ants …………. Paraponerinae
10(3) Apex of the gaster with a circular to semi-circular acidoporus that comes out of the hypopygium and which is usually projected in a tubular form and bordered by setae, sometimes covered by a projection of the pygidium (Fig.14.28, a); tergum of the fifth segment of the gaster (last abdominal segment) large and visible (Fig.14.28, t); Propodeum almost always rounded or slightly angled seen in profile (Fig. 14.28, p), rarely presents protuberances, laminae or spines ……..... Formicinae
10' Gaster apex with hypopygium (h) lacking acidoporus and forming a smooth posterior margin (Fig.14.29, h); tergum of the fifth segment of the small and usually not visible; Propodeum (p) sometimes markedly angled, with conical protuberances, blades or conspicuous spines (Figs. 14.29, 14.30), particularly in species larger than 5mm .......... Dolichoderinae
11(1) Eyes remarkably developed, occupying at least half of the sides of the head (Fig. 14.31); ocelli present (Fig. 14.32, oc) ............ Pseudomyrmecinae
11' Eyes never spanning more than half of the sides of the head; ocelli almost always absent .............. 12
12(11) Frontal lobes (l) generally well developed and sometimes remarkably expanded (Fig. 14.33), antennal insertions partially or completely covered by the frontal lobes; otherwise, the eyes are well developed and composed of more than one ommatidium; third abdominal segment (post-petiole, pp) without tergosternal fusion (Fig. 14.34); absent metatibial gland; spiracles of unexposed gaster segments two through four, hidden under the tergum of the preceding segments ............. 13
12' Vestigial or absent frontal lobes (Fig. 14.35), antennal insertions fully exposed in frontal view; eyes reduced to a single omatidium, vestigial or absent; third abdominal segment (post-petiole, pp) with tergosternal fusion (Fig. 14.36.1); metatibial gland present (Fig. 14.36.2, gm); spiracles of gastric segments two to four exposed and visible without the need to distend the abdomen (Figs. 14.36.3, 14.36.4) ….... Dorylinae (in part)
13(12) Eyes at the posterior end of the apex of the antennal groove and 7-segment antenna (Fig.14.37) ….. Agroecomyrmecinae
13' Eyes arranged differently (as in Figs. 14.38, 14.39), if there is an antennal groove and the eye is at its end, the antennas have more than 7 segments (Fig. 14.39) ......... Myrmicinae
