Key to Myrmica species in or possible in MS and AL (from Creighton 1950) |
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| 1 | Frontal lobes narrow, barely or not at all projecting above the antennal fossae; the insertions of the antennae exposed when the head is viewed from above (base of scape with spatulate flange) |
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Frontal lobes strongly projecting over the antennal fossae; the insertions of the antennae are hidden when viewed from above |
...2 |
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| 2(1) | The scape abruptly bent at base, the upper surface forming a right angle, lamina present, small and diagonally transverse on the upper surface of the scape and continued as a prominent transparent flange along the inner surface of scape below bend | ...3 |
| The scape gradually and evenly bent at base, the upper surface never forming a right angle at the bend; lamina, if present, forming a low and inconspicuous ridge at the side of the bend and never prolonged onto the upper surface of the scape | ...4 |
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| 3(2) | Ventral surface of postpetiole, in profile, flat, or nearly so, not forming an anterior projection | |
| Ventral surface of postpetiole, in profile, convex or forming a prominent anterior projection that thrusts forward under anterior peduncle | ||
| 4(2) | Scapes surpassing occipital margin by an amount equal to their greatest thickness; propodeal spines about 1.5 times as long as the distance which separate their bases and slightly deflected downward; color piceous brown; length 4.0-4.7 mm |
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| Scapes barely surpassing occipital margin; propodeal spines only slightly longer than the distance which separate their bases and not deflected downward; color brownish yellow; smaller species, length 3.5-4.0 mm | ||
