Diario de arman_ &middot; Archivos para junio 2022

Keep in mind that this key only includes species with known queens — which is most — but a couple species, most if not all which are from the West, still have not had their queens documented. It also is generally incomplete, but should cover the common species. I'm mostly making it for fun and practice.
A number of Acanthomyops species hybridize, some of the hyrbids of which are poorly known and elusive. The main common hybrid Lasius claviger × latipes is included, but to be entirely certain it may be worth checking the Key to Lasius-Nearctic Acanthomyops Queens which covers more.
The term "relatively" is used in the key in reference to the two options at its specific couplet, not between all species (e.g. subumbratus and interjectus both fall under "Funiculi not clavate or weakly so" under the first couplet, but between the two of them, interjectus falls under "funiculi relatively clavate" under the seventh couplet)

1.
Funiculi distinctly clavate (Acanthomyops) => 2

Funiculi not clavate or weakly so (Acanthomyops or Chthonolasius)=> 5

2.
Legs relatively lean; petiole with a pointed crest in profile; body without tangled hairs; flights typically occur in Fall, with queens overwintering and beginning founding in Spring => claviger (see possible subglaber queen here)

Legs relatively bulky; petiole with a blunt crest in profile; body without or with tangled hairs => 3

3.
Body pilosity long and tangled; funiculi relatively nonclavate; comparable to murphyi but with pilosity much less matte and funiculi slightly more clavate => pogonogynus

Body pilosity of varying length, but relatively short and not tangled; funiculi relatively clavate => 4

4.
Head relatively subquadrate and gaster relatively subelongate ; head pilosity relatively short and sparse; gaster and head usually concolorous with mesosoma => Lasius claviger × latipes (present with sympatry)

Head relatively quadrate and gaster relatively elongate; head pilosity relatively long and dense; gaster usually (and sometimes head) somewhat lighter than rest of body (or equivalently mesosoma) => latipes

5.
Body usually mostly concolorous orange or light brown, sometimes with darker blotches => 6.

Body usually mostly darker, sometimes with lighter blotches => tbd

6.
Body relatively elongate, with dense matte hairs; comparable to pogonogynus but with pilosity much more matte and funiculi slightly less clavate => murphyi

Body relatively subelongate, without dense matte hairs => 7

7.
Gastral pilosity relatively long and dense across all tergites; funiculi relatively nonclavate; variable across regions => subumbratus

Gastral pilosity relatively short, light, and mostly at tergal edges; funiculi relatively clavate => 8

8.
Almost entirely restricted to California; dark blotches often present, sometimes making entire body seem brownish => californicus

Elsewhere; relatively concolorous bright orange, usually without much darkening => 9

9.
Restricted to mostly Southwest US; mesonotal pilosity relatively sparse => arizonicus

Relatively widespread; mesonotal pilosity relatively abundant => interjectus