Melikertini Engel

(modified from Engel, 2001a)

Note that this key is somewhat artificial and merely meant as a heuristic tool given that only males are known for the new taxon, while only female workers are known for the remainder. Thus, it is unknown to what degree some of the unique features are gender specific.

1. Clypeal protrusion absent......................................................................................... 2

—. Clypeal protrusion present, i.e., base of clypeus produced into variously modified facial prominences, prominence bending upward over fronto-clypeal portion of epistomal sulcus and supraclypeal area, ending between antennal toruli and sometimes projecting strongly forward at that point (only workers known)............................................................................................................. Succinapis Engel

2(1). Mesoscutellum without tongue-like medioapical extension............................... 3

—. Mesoscutellum with prominent, tongue-like medioapical extension projecting over metanotum, propodeum, and portions of metasoma (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 9–11), dorsal surface of extension densely setose (Figs. 9–11) (only male known).......................................................................................................... Mochlomelikertes, n. gen.

3(2). Mesoscutellum bulging, overhanging metanotum and propodeum; apical margins of metasomal terga distinctly lighter than remainder of metasoma, thus metasoma appears banded; anterior and posterior margins of metabasitarus distinctly converging toward apex.......................................................................... 4

—. Mesoscutellum not bulging, not overhanging metanotum or propodeum; metasomal terga uniformly colored; anterior and posterior margins of metabasitarsus approximately parallel (genus Melikertes Engel, s.l.)....................................... 5

4(3). Forewing with anterior margin of first submarginal cell approximately equal to length of anterior margin of second submarginal (i.e., r-rs as long as immediately succeeding abscissa of Rs); compound eyes converging ventrally; second flagellomere distinctly shorter than third flagellomere, first flagellomere distinctly shorter than combined lengths of second and third flagellomeres (only workers known)................................................................................ Melissites Engel

—. Forewing with anterior margin of first submarginal cell many times longer than length of anterior margin of second submarginal cell (i.e., r-rs many times longer than immediately succeeding abscissa of Rs); compound eyes approximately parallel; second and third flagellomeres approximately equal in length, first flagellomere approximately equal to combined lengths of second and third flagellomeres (only workers known)....................................... Roussyana Manning

5(3). Forewing with two submarginal cells (1rs-m absent) (only workers known)............................................................................... Paramelikertes Engel & Ortega-Blanco

—. Forewing with three submarginal cells (1rs-m present) (only workers known)....................................................................................................... Melikertes Engel, s.str.