| Genus List | Species List | Genus Overview |

Key to Wasmannia

This is a key to all species. Costa Rican species are marked with an asterisk.

Workers (The worker of Wasmannia villosa is unknown.)

10a. Petiolar node strongly quadrate in lateral view, with nearly vertical anterior face and forming sharp right angle with dorsal face; petiolar peduncle about as long as node; setae on mesosomal dorsum erect, long, about 0.1mm or longer; antennal scrobe narrow, not extending to side of head, ventral margin defined by preocular carina that runs from dorsal margin of eye to margin of vertex; side of head posterior to eye rounded; color red brown to orange: auropunctata*

10b. Petiolar node more rounded, with sloping anterior and posterior faces, and without sharply differentiated dorsal face, or clypeus strongly projecting and box-like and dorsal pilosity composed of a very short stubble; petiolar peduncle longer or shorter than node; antennal scrobe various; color various: 20

20a Scape strongly flattened; clypeus strongly projecting and box-like, sharply divided into equal dorsal and anterior faces that meet at a right angle; setae on mesosomal dorsum abundant, straight, filiform, short (about 0.04mm long), forming a stubble; propodeal spines very short, about same length as setae on mesosomal dorsum: scrobifera*

20b. Scape more terete, less flattened; clypeus not strongly box-like, rounded from posterior to anterior margins; setae on mesosomal dorsum longer and/or curved, clavate; propodeal spines various: 30

30a First gastral tergite lacking erect setae; petiolar peduncle longer than node; dorsal setae on mesosoma and face thin, flexuous; color yellow orange: iheringi*

30b. First gastral tergite with abundant erect setae; petiolar peduncle equal to node or shorter; dorsal setae stiff to slightly clavate; color various: 40

40a Antennal scrobe narrow, not extending to side of head, ventral margin defined by preocular carina that runs from dorsal margin of eye to margin of vertex; side of head posterior to eye dorsoventrally rounded, not angulate: 50

40b. Antennal scrobe broad and flat, extending to side of head, ventral margin formed by angular side of head posterior to eye: 80

50a Face between frontal carinae with about 12 distinct longitudinal striae overlaying strong punctate sculpture; propodeal spiracle small, diameter less than width of base of propodeal spine (Argentina): 60

50b. Face between frontal carinae with fewer and more irregular longitudinal rugae, overlaying opaque but not as strongly punctate sculpture; propodeal spiracle large and conspicuous, diameter about equal to width of base of propodeal spine: 70

60a Head width less than 0.50mm; longitudinal striae on face very regular to margin of vertex; color yellow red; posterior face of petiole rounded, anterior face slightly angulate: sulcaticeps

60b. Head width greater than 0.54mm; striae on face somewhat less parallel, becoming irregular near margin of vertex; color uniformly dark maroon, abdomen black; anterior and posterior faces of petiolar node similarly rounded: williamsoni

70a Dorsal setae on mesosoma and gaster straight to weakly curved, thin, not clavate; head relatively long, CI about 0.90; propodeal spines relatively long and upturned; eyes relatively larger (OI 0.26): sigmoidea*

70b. Dorsal setae on mesosoma curved and clavate; head relatively short, CI 0.95-1.00; propodeal spines short and directed posteriorly; eyes shorter (OI 0.21-0.24): rochai*

80a Postpetiole in dorsal view subquadrate to slightly trapezoidal, with widest portion anterior to midlength; postpetiolar dorsum strongly punctate and opaque; propodeal spines relatively long and robust, in dorsal view about as long as distance between their tips: lutzi

80b. Postpetiole in dorsal view elliptical, widest portion at or posterior to midlength; postpetiolar dorsum feebly punctate, sublucid medially; propodeal spines shorter, in dorsal view shorter than distance between tips: affinis

Queens

10a. Body covered with abundant, long, appressed pilosity; propodeal spine robust, short, forming nearly a right angle; length about 4mm: villosa

10b. Pilosity erect; propodeal spine long or short but usually more spiniform, acute; length various: 20

20a Clypeus strongly projecting and box-like, sharply divided into equal dorsal and anterior faces that meet at a right angle: scrobifera*

20b. Clypeus not strongly box-like, rounded from posterior to anterior margins: 30

30a Head width less than 0.65mm: 40

30b. Head width greater than 0.65mm: 70

40a Petiolar peduncle longer than node: iheringi*

40b. Petiolar peduncle about as long as node: 50

50a Mesosomal dorsum almost uniformly punctate, with faint longitudinal striae on mesonotum; striae on face weak: sigmoidea*

50b. Mesosomal dorsum strongly longitudinally striate, on both mesonotum and scutellum; striae on face strong: 60

60a Cephalic striae continuous, not mixed with other sculpture; color yellow red; posterior face of petiole rounded, anterior face slightly angulate: sulcaticeps

60b. Cephalic striae mixed, appearing rugo-reticulated at least near vertex margin; color uniformly dark maroon, abdomen black; anterior and posterior faces of petiolar node similarly rounded: williamsoni

70a Antennal scrobe broad and flat, extending to side of head, ventral margin formed by angular side of head posterior to eye; outer margin of frontal carinae not strongly convex, diverging at level of ocelli; propodeal spines spiniform, longer than width at base; anteroventral postpetiolar teeth short, inconspicuous: 80

70b. Antennal scrobe narrow, side of head rounded, ventral margin of scrobe defined by preocular carina that runs from dorsal margin of eye to margin of vertex or ventral margin not defined; frontal carinae, propodeal spines, and ventral postpetiolar teeth variable: 90

80a Head in face view strongly trapezoidal, with widest portion of head behind eyes; rugae on face fading posteriorly, weak on cephalic dorsum near margin of vertex: lutzi

80b. Head in face view less trapezoidal, widest across eyes; rugae on face continuing to margin of vertex: affinis

90a Antennal scrobe a distinct longitudinal trough, with defined ventral margin; propodeal spines subtriangular, about as long as width at base; head width greater than 0.75mm: auropunctata*

90b. Antennal scrobe weakly impressed, ventral margin not defined; propodeal spines spiniform, longer than width at base; head width about 0.75mm or less: rochai*

Page authors:

John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu

Fernando Fernández, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Apartado 7495, Bogotá D.C., COLOMBIA

Date of this version: 26 September 2007.

Previous versions of this page:

Go back to top

Go to Ants of Costa Rica Homepage