Male-based key to the subfamilies and genera of Malagasy ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

By

Ramamonjisoa, Manoa
Rasoamanana, Nicole
Fisher, Brian Lee, 1964-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1213

Pages

289--359

Subjects

Formicidae , Identification , Malagasy region , male ants , Morphology

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1213.120531

 

Abstract

The males of the family Formicidae of the Malagasy region, including the islands of the southwest Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Comoros, and Seychelles) are reviewed. A male-based synopsis of each subfamily and genera are provided. A richly illustrated male-based key to the eight subfamilies and 72 genera for which males are known are provided. The key is specific to the ant genera and species of the Malagasy region. Terminologies for morphology and wing cells are also reviewed. The keys are a product of three decades of collecting across the region. Despite efforts to collect males for all genera, males from five genera (Brachyponera, Chrysapace, Dicroaspis, Linepithema, Ochetellus) were included in the keys based on males from species collected outside the region, and males from one genus (Parvaponera) are unknown globally and not included in the key.