<i>Dorylus</i> is characterized by the following derived traits (Bolton 2003):<ul><li>Distal margin of labrum not concave/cleft medially</li><li>Propodeal spiracle subtended by a longitudinal impression</li><li>Abdominal segments V-VII with strongly differentiated presclerites</li><li>Pygidium large, flattened to concave dorsally, lateral margin armed with a pair of teeth or short spines</li><li>Queen with bursa copulatrix permanently open</li><li>Queen hypopygium hypertrophied and bilobate posteriorly</li><li>Male submarginal cell of forewing extremely elongate</li></ul>