The key to global Paratopula species is modified and updated based on the keys and species descriptions provided in Bolton (1988), Sheela & Narendran (2008) and Xu & Xu (2011). 1 a) Dorsal surfaces of middle and hind tibiae with short stout erect to suberect hairs and short decumbent to appressed pubescence (see Figure 2 in Bolton 1988) (Borneo: Brunei & E. Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand).............. P. macta Bolton 1 b) Dorsal surfaces of middle and hind tibiae lacking standing hairs, at most with short decumbent to appressed pubescence........................... 2 2 a) In profile view, propodeal spines long stout, downcurved along their length. Propodeal lobes sharply hooked upwards apically, their apices directed vertically (see Figure 1 in Bolton 1988) (Borneo: Brunei) ................... P. ankistra Bolton 2 b) In profile view, propodeal spines either straight or weakly curved. Propodeal lobes not sharply hooked, if hooked, only slightly so....... 3 3 a) In dorsal view, pronotal humeri angulate. Median portion of the anterior margin of the pronotum angular (Figure 8 a) (Indonesia, E. Malaysia) ................................................. P. demeta Bolton 3 b) In dorsal view, pronotal humeri not angular in appearance. Median portion of the anterior margin of the pronotum round. (Figure 8 b)........... 4 4 a) In dorsal view, postpetiole round or squarish in shape (Figure 9 a). Propodeal spines straight - if curved they are slightly curved downwards...... 5 4 b) In dorsal view, postpetiole broader than long or longer than broad, not round or squarish (Figure 9 b). Propodeal spines straight- if curved they are slightly curved upward............................... 6 5 a) In dorsal view, postpetiole more nearly globular (see Figure 4 in Bolton 1988). In profile view, propodeal spines straight. Postpetiole in profile with tergite relatively long low and shallowly convex. Sternite of postpetiole elongate and narrow in profile (Indonesia: Sulawesi).................................................................... P. catocha Bolton 5 b) In dorsal view, postpetiole squarish (see Figure 5 in Bolton 1988). In profile view, propodeal spines straight to feebly down curved. Postpetiole in profile view with tergite relatively short and more strongly convex. Sternite of postpetiole short and deep in profile. (Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan) ................................................... P. ceylonica (Emery) 6 a) In dorsal view, postpetiole longer than broad (see Figure 4 in Sheela & Narendran 2011). In full face view frontal carinae indistinct behind frontal lobes. Propodeal lobes angulated apically. (India).......... P. intermedia Sheela & Narendran 6 b) In dorsal view, postpetiole broader than long (Figure 5), trapezoidal in shape. In full face view frontal carinae fine and continuous, about as long as scapes. Propodeal lobes truncated apically... 7 7 a) In profile view, propodeal spines slender and acute, slightly curved upwards (see Figure 2 in Xu & Xu 2011). In dorsal view, propodeal spines tapering to a point (Figure 7 a). Mandibles with 9 teeth. Dorsum of body with short, blunt hairs (China)................................. P. zhengi Xu & Xu 7 b) In profile view, propodeal spines straight. In dorsal view, propodeal spines not tapering and round at the tip (Figure 7 b). Mandibles with 10 teeth. Dorsum of body with apically acute hairs. (Hong Kong)...................... P. bauhinia sp. nov

Published as part of Ying Y. Luo & Benoit Guénard, 2016, Descriptions of a new species and the gyne in the rarely collected arboreal genera Paratopula and Rotastruma (Hymenopytera: Formicidae) from Hong Kong, with a discussion on their ecology, pp. 1-16 in Asian Myrmecology 8 on page 10, DOI: 10.20362/am.008016, http://zenodo.org/record/270012

{"references": ["Bolton B., 1988. A review of Paratopula Wheeler, a forgotten genus of Myrmicine ants (Hym., Formicidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 125 - 143.", "Xu Z. H., & Xu G. L., 2011. A new species of the genus Paratopula Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Acta Zootaxonomica, 36 (3): 595 - 597."]}