Australian ants of the genus Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Author Shattuck, Steven O text Zootaxa 2008 1677 25 45 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.180328 cb574e34-2a2e-4dea-8cd2-e9b6785860d6 1175-5326 180328 Key to species of Australian Aphaenogaster based on workers 1. Majority of hairs on venter of head located laterally and forming a distinct psammophore, only scattered hairs on central portion (Fig. 4) ................................................................................................................... 2 - Hairs on venter of head randomly distributed and not forming a distinct psammophore (Fig. 2) .............. 4 2 Eye relatively large (EI greater than 21, Fig. 19 ); scape relatively long (SI greater than 106, Fig. 20 )........ ...................................................................................................................................................... mediterrae - Eye relatively small (EI less than 21, Fig. 19 ); scape relatively short (SI less than 106, Fig. 20 ) .............. 3 3. Petiolar node (in dorsal view) wider than long; mandibular sculpture composed of irregularly sized stria- tions (Fig. 6) (occurring in Western Australia ) ................................................................................. poultoni - Petiolar node (in dorsal view) approximately square; mandibular sculpture composed of regularly sized striations (Fig. 5) (occurring in South Australia and eastward) ...................................................... barbigula 4. Posterior margin of head nearly flat in full face view, extending laterally of the occipital collar before passing through a distinct posterolateral corner into the lateral margin of the head ( Fig. 15 ) .................... 5 - Posterior margin of head broadly arched in full face view, the arch beginning at the occipital collar and with at most a weak angle separating the posterior and lateral margins of the head (often posterior and lateral margins forming a continuous surface) ( Fig. 9 ) ................................................................................... 6 5. Scape relatively short (SI less than 125, Fig. 23 ) (occurring in e. Queensland and ne. New South Wales ) ............................................................................................................................................................. pythia - Scape relatively long (SI greater than 135, Fig. 23 ) (occurring in Northern Territory) .................. reichelae 6. Shorter erect hairs on mesosomal dorsum (especially those on mesonotum) with blunt tips; dorsal surfaces of propodeum and propodeal spines connected through a gentle concavity (so that the base of each spine is at approximately the same level as the dorsal surface of the propodeum) ( Fig. 10 ) .................. longiceps - Erect hairs on mesosomal dorsum tapering to sharp points; dorsal surfaces of propodeum and propodeal spines connected through a gentle concavity followed by a gentle convexity (so that the base of each spine is raised slightly above the dorsal surface of the propodeum) ( Fig. 8 )........................................................ 7 7. Head relatively narrow ( Fig. 21 ), scape relatively long ( Fig. 22 ) (occurring in n. Northern Territory and n. Western Australia ) .................................................................................................................. kimberleyensis - Head relatively broad ( Fig. 21 ), scape relatively short ( Fig. 22 ) (occurring in Queensland) ........... barbara