Brachyponera

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Brachyponera
Brachyponera croceicornis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Alliance: Odontomachus genus group
Genus: Brachyponera
Emery, 1900
Type species
Euponera (Brachyponera) croceicornis, now Brachyponera croceicornis
Diversity
25 species
(Species Checklist, Species by Country)

Pachycondyla croceicornis casent0172432 profile 1.jpg

Pachycondyla croceicornis casent0172432 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Brachyponera is a small genus with 25 described species. Most are solitary epigeic generalist predators and scavengers (Teranishi, 1929; Matsuura & Nishida, 2002), although Brachyponera sennaarensis is both a hunter and a seed-eater. Brachyponera chinensis and Brachyponera sennaarensis are the only species known to be invasive and thus occurring outside their native ranges. Nests are generally constructed under stones, in soil or rotting wood (Wilson, 1958; Lachaud & Déjean, 1994; Matsuura & Nishida, 2002; Yamane, 2007; Gotoh & Ito, 2008) and at least some species are polydomous (Gotoh & Ito, 2008); colonies average between 30 and 2,000 workers (Lachaud & Déjean, 1994; Gotoh & Ito, 2008). Some species are known as poisonous ants (in Japan: Fukuzawa et al., 2002; in Korea: Cho et al., 2002; in the United States: Nelder et al., 2006). Interestingly, Brachyponera lutea shows the highest size dimorphism between workers and queens in the subfamily Ponerinae. Species occur from Africa through southern Asia to Australia, with peak diversity in Southeast Asia.

Photo Gallery

  • Brachyponera worker. Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Photo by Yathumon M A.

Identification

Workers of Brachyponera can be differentiated from those of other ponerine genera by the following combination of characters: Mandibles usually with a basal pit (obsolete or vestigial in some species), eyes small and placed near the mandibular insertions, metanotal groove deep, propodeum at a lower elevation than the thorax and usually strongly narrowed dorsally, propodeal spiracle small and round, petiole squamiform, prora reduced and not externally visible, gaster with only a slight girdling constriction, and metatibiae with two spurs. None of these characters is autapomorphic within the Odontomachus group, but this combination of characters is unique. Brachyponera is most likely to be confused with species of Pseudoponera, but Pseudoponera lacks the mandibular pits, deep metanotal groove, and lowered propodeal elevation of Brachyponera. (Schmidt and Shattuck 2014)

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Keys including this Genus

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

Distribution

Brachyponera is widespread from Africa through southern Asia to Australia. It is most species-rich in Southeast Asia. Brachyponera chinensis was accidentally introduced to the southeastern United States and is now locally abundant (Nelder et al., 2006); it has also been introduced to New Zealand. (Schmidt and Shattuck 2014)

Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

Afrotropical Region Australasian Region Indo-Australian Region Malagasy Region Nearctic Region Neotropical Region Oriental Region Palaearctic Region
Species 3 4 13 1 1 0 9 7
Total Species 2841 1736 3045 932 835 4379 1741 2862

Fossils

Fossils are known from: Zhangpu amber, Zhangpu County, Fujian Province, China (Miocene) (an unidentified species, Wang et al., 2021).

Biology

Brachyponera workers are among the smallest of the Odontomachus group, but like most members of the group are solitary epigeic generalist predators and scavengers. Nests are generally constructed in soil or rotten wood (Brachyponera chinensis: Ogata, 1987; Matsuura, 2002; Matsuura et al., 2002; Gotoh & Ito, 2008; Brachyponera croceicornis: Wilson, 1958c; Brachyponera lutea: Wheeler, 1933b; Haskins & Haskins, 1950; Brachyponera luteipes: Kikuchi et al., 2007; Brachyponera pilidorsalis: Yamane, 2007). Brachyponera is unusual among ponerines in that it displays a marked reproductive dimorphism between workers and queens, with the workers having completely lost their reproductive organs and queens having a large number of ovarioles (Ito & Ohkawara, 1994; Gotoh & Ito, 2008). Brachyponera also has the distinction of containing some of the only ponerine species considered to be pests: B. chinensis and B. sennaarensis, which are invasive and have potentially dangerous stings (see below).

Due to its pest ant status, Brachyponera chinensis has received more attention than most Brachyponera species. It seems to be fairly representative of the genus. B. chinensis is a generalist predator and scavenger, (Teranishi, 1929; Matsuura, 2002; Matsuura et al., 2002; Matsuura & Nishida, 2002), its nests are apparently polydomous (Gotoh & Ito, 2008), and its colonies average between 30 and 100 workers (Gotoh & Ito, 1998; Matsuura, 2002). Colony founding in B. chinensis is apparently semi-claustral (Koriba, 1963), and both monogynous and polygynous colonies have been observed (Gotoh & Ito, 1998). It is an invasive pest ant in the southeastern United States, having been accidentally introduced sometime before 1932 (Smith, 1934). The species is a public health concern due to the relative frequency of life-threatening anaphylaxis and other reactions to its venom (in Japan: Fukuzawa et al., 2002; in Korea: Cho et al., 2002; in the United States: Leath et al., 2006; Nelder et al., 2006).

Brachyponera sennaarensis is another invasive Brachyponera species. It is widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa and has recently been spreading northeastward through the Middle East (reaching as far as Iran), where it takes advantage of the relatively cooler and wetter climatic conditions provided by urban areas (Collingwood et al., 1999; Tirgari & Paknia, 2005; Paknia, 2006; Wetterer, 2012b). The species is very adaptable, occurring in both dry and humid habitats in its native range and having a very flexible diet (Déjean & Lachaud, 1994; L, 1994; Déjean et al., 1999). B. sennaarensis is a generalist omnivore but like many other Brachyponera species (and unusually for ponerines) will utilize seeds for food (Arnold, 1925; Lévieux & Diomande, 1978; Lévieux, 1979; Déjean & Lachaud, 1994; Lachaud & Déjean, 1994). Workers forage individually and will only recruit nestmates in times of general starvation (Lachaud & Déjean, 1994). B. sennaarensis is notable for the large size of its colonies (about 1,000 workers on average) and the striking size dimorphism between workers and queens (Déjean & Lachaud, 1994). Even more unusual is the presence of size polymorphism within the worker caste, which is rare among ponerines (Déjean & Lachaud, 1994). B. sennaarensis nests are constructed in soil and are multichambered, the chambers being connected by tunnels (Déjean & Lachaud, 1994). Tandem-running is used during emigrations to new nest sites (Lachaud & Déjean, 1994). Like B. chinensis, the sting of B. sennaarensis can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis (Dib et al., 1992). Longhurst et al. (1978) examined the mandibular gland secretions of B. sennaarensis.

The abundant and adaptable Australian species. Brachyponera lutea displays even more extreme size differences between the workers and queens than does B. sennaarensis (Wheeler, 1933b). The workers are tiny and hypogeic (unlike most Brachyponera). The large size of the queens enables claustral colony founding, though semiclaustral founding also occurs, as is the case with B. sennaarensis (Haskins & Haskins, 1950; Lachaud & Déjean, 1991b; Déjean & Lachaud, 1994). B. lutea has large colonies of over 2,000 workers, and is apparently largely predacious (Wheeler, 1933b; Haskins & Haskins, 1950).

Very little has been reported about other species of Brachyponera. Brachyponera luteipes is polygynous and may be polydomous or unicolonial, though the data on this are not conclusive (Takahashi et al., 2005; Kikucho et al., 2007). Interestingly, B. luteipes workers are aggressive toward queens of foreign colonies but not toward foreign workers (Kikucho et al., 2007). Like B. sennaarensis, B. luteipes is known to feed on seeds (Zhou et al., 2007). Wilson (1958c) reports that Brachyponera croceicornis is one of the most abundant and widespread ants in New Guinea, inhabiting a wide array of habitats; its colonies have about 100 workers.

Association with Other Organisms

All Associate Records for Genus

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Taxon Relationship Associate Type Associate Taxon Associate Relationship Locality Source Notes
Brachyponera chinensis host cestode Raillietina kashiwarensis parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode secondary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Brachyponera lutea host mutillid wasp Ponerotilla clarki parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode independent; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Brachyponera lutea host mutillid wasp Ponerotilla crinata parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode independent; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Brachyponera sennaarensis host cestode Raillietina tetragona parasite Sudan Mohammed et al., 1988; Laciny, 2021

Flight Period

All Flight Records for Genus

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Taxon Month Source Notes
Brachyponera chinensis May • Jun • Jul antkeeping.info

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: 30-2000 (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Nest site: hypogaeic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Morphology

Worker Morphology

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 • Eyes: 11-100 ommatidia • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: none or weak • Sting: present • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: present

Karyotype

Species Uncertain

  • near Brachyponera obscurans: 2n = 44 (Indonesia) (Imai et al., 1985) (near Pachycondyla obscurans, now is Brachyponera obscurans).
  • Brachyponera: n = 11, 2n = 22 (Malaysia) (Goni et al., 1982; Mariano et al., 2015).

All Karyotype Records for Genus

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Taxon Haploid Diploid Karyotype Locality Source Notes
Brachyponera 44 Indonesia Imai et al., 1985 near ''Pachycondyla obscurans'', now is ''Brachyponera obscurans''
Brachyponera 11 22 Malaysia Goni et al., 1982; Mariano et al., 2015
Brachyponera chinensis 11 22 20M + 2A Japan Imai & Kubota, 1972; Mariano et al., 2015 as ''Brachyponera sinensis''
Brachyponera luteipes 11 22 2A+20M India; Japan Imai, 1969; Imai et al., 1984; Imai & Yosida, 1964; Mariano et al., 2015

Phylogeny

Ponerinae

Platythyrea  (40 species, 6 fossil species)

Pachycondyla group
⊞(show genera)
⊟
Ponera group
⊞(show genera)
⊟

Harpegnathos  (13 species, 0 fossil species)

Hypoponera  (177 species, 1 fossil species)

Plectroctena group
⊞(show genera)
⊟
Odontomachus group
⊞(show taxa)
⊟

See Phylogeny of Ponerinae for details.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • BRACHYPONERA [Ponerinae: Ponerini]
    • Brachyponera Emery, 1900c: 315 [as subgenus of Euponera]. Type-species: Euponera (Brachyponera) croceicornis, by monotypy.
    • [Brachyponera also described as new by Emery, 1901a: 43. Type-species not Ponera sennaarensis, unjustified subsequent designation by Emery, 1901a: 43, repeated in Wheeler, W.M. 1911f: 160, Emery, 1911d: 84, Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 777, Donisthorpe, 1943g: 628, Wilson, 1958d: 346; Bolton, 1973a: 335 and Taylor & Brown, D.R. 1985: 23.]
    • Brachyponera as subgenus of Euponera: Emery, 1911d: 83; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 649.
    • Brachyponera raised to genus: Bingham, 1903: 101; Wilson, 1958d: 346.
    • Brachyponera junior synonym of Pachycondyla: Snelling, R.R. 1981: 389; Brown, in Bolton, 1994: 164.
    • Brachyponera revived from synonymy: Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014: 77.

Yamane (2007) - Brachyponera has the following recognition characteristics (W: worker, Q: queen, M: male): 1) Eye relatively large compared with those in Ponera and Hypoponera, located near the anterior margin of cranium (W/Q), 2) basal portion of mandible with shallow and elliptical fovea (but the fovea obsolete or absent in some species from Borneo, Bali, Krakatau and Sumatra) (W/Q), 3) mandible rather slender, boomerang shaped (M), 4) anterior margin of clypeus weakly and roundly produced, and medially shallowly emarginate (W/Q), 5) first funicular segment (pedicel) longer than second in W and Q, but much shorter than second in M, 6) palpal formula 3, 3 (W/Q), 7) mesonotum completely surrounded by suture/groove, i.e., promesonotal suture and metanotal groove deep and complete (W/Q), 8) mesopleuron with a transverse furrow always in Q and sometimes also in W, 9) propodeum compressed, seen from back narrowed dorsally (W/Q), 10) dorsum of propodeum distinctly lower than promesonotum (this condition also occurs in some Hypoponera species of similar size) (W/Q), 11) propodeum in profile demarcated from metanotum by a groove that passes near propodeal spiracle (rarely this groove is obsolete) (W/Q), 12) subpetiolar process with a backward-directed projection (Ogata described this projection as a pair of teeth for P. chinensis, but actually it is generally a single process, which is flat with a round apical margin, and in profile acute apically) (W/Q/M), 13) pygidium ending as a sharp spine posteriorly (M).

Schmidt and Shattuck (2014) - Worker Small to medium (TL 3–7 mm) ants with the standard characters of Ponerini. Mandibles triangular and usually with a small basal groove/pit. Frontal lobes small. Eyes small and placed far anterior near the mandibular insertions. Mesopleuron sometimes fully or partially divided by a shallow transverse groove. Metanotal groove deeply impressed. Propodeum at a lower elevation than the thorax, and usually strongly narrowed dorsally. Propodeal spiracle small and round. Metatibial spur formula (1s, 1p). Petiole squamiform. Girdling constriction between pre- and postsclerites of A4 apparent. Stridulitrum sometimes present on pretergite of A4. Head and body shiny to lightly punctate, sometimes with lateral striations on the mesosoma. Head and body with sparse pilosity and patchy pubescence. Color orange to black.

Queen Similar to worker but larger (sometimes much larger, as in Brachyponera lutea; Wheeler, 1933b), winged, with a wider and broader petiole, and with the other caste differences typical in ponerines. See description by Ogata (1987) for further details.

References

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