Stictoponera, Mayr, 1887

Dhadwal, Tarun & Bharti, Himender, 2022, A new species of ant genus Stictoponera Mayr, 1887 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India, Asian Myrmecology (e 016002) 16, pp. 1-8 : 6-7

Identification key:

An Identification key to the known Indian species of genus Stictoponera based on worker castes:

1. Fourth abdominal tergite (II gastral tergite) with abundant costae, striae and strigulae (Fig: A)...... ................................................ S. coxalis (Roger) Fourth abdominal tergite (II gastral tergite) mostly smooth and with scattered punctate (Fig: B) ..... 2

2. Fourth abdominal sternite (II gastral sternite) mostly smooth, scattered punctae or punctulae may be present but do not form ridges or strigulae .. S. binghamii (Forel) (in part) Fourth abdominal sternite (II gastral sternite) with transverse rugae or rugulae on most of surface.3

3. Occipital lobes posteroventrally protuberant; eyes separated from posterior cephalic margin, excluding lobes, by one ED or less (Fig: A) ......4 Occipital lobes modest, usually more ventrally protuberant; eyes separated from posterior cephalic margin by more than one ED (Fig: B)..... 6

4. Mesosoma without standing hairs in lateral view, one or two at most; metacoxal spine robust and curved (Fig: A) ............................................ 5 Mesosoma with abundant, scattered standing hairs in lateral view; metacoxal spine usually straight and slender (Fig: B) ............................................. ............................................... S. bicolor (Emery)

5. Body mostly foveolate; Subpetiolar process polygonal ventrally produced into denticle (Fig: A) ............................................. S. lattkei sp. nov. Pronotum and mesonotum areolate, foveate-reticulate and mesosomal dorsum has a smooth median strip; Subpetiolar process subquadrate or lobe like (Fig: B)............................ S. menadensis (Mayr)

6. Antennal scapes are devoid of longitudinal strigae, and the occipital lobes are absent. (Fig: A) .................................... S. meghalaya (Lattke) Antennal scapes frequently include strigae; occipital lobes are small but distinct (Fig: B).......... ............................................ S. binghamii (Forel)