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Hypoponera importuna
| Hypoponera importuna | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Ponerinae |
| Tribe: | Ponerini |
| Genus: | Hypoponera |
| Species: | H. importuna |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypoponera importuna Bolton & Fisher, 2011
| |
Collections have been made from rainforest leaf litter.
Identification
Bolton and Fisher (2011) - This species is very closely related to Hypoponera occidentalis. Their descriptions are very similar and most of their dimensions fall within the same ranges. However, the petiole node in importuna is usually strikingly transverse in dorsal view and averages broader both in relation to the width of the pronotum and to the length of the node. In occidentalis PeNI is 76–89 (mean value of 82), and DPeI is 150–180 (mean value of 165). By comparison, H. importuna has PeNI 85–95 (mean value of 91) and DPeI 182–200 (mean value of 190). Hypoponera comis also has a broad petiole, reminiscent of importuna, but the size and detailed structure of their petioles differ.
A member of the abeillei group.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Known from Central African Republic, Gabon, and Kenya.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 6.762079° to -2.217777778°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Central African Republic, Gabon (type locality), Kenya.
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
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Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- importuna. Hypoponera importuna Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 59, figs. 55-57 (w.,ergatoid q.,q.) GABON.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
The paratype intercaste has about 12 ommatidia in the eye compared to the holotype, where the eye is a mere spot, and to a genuine queen where the eye has > 50 ommatidia. Also, the intercaste has PeNI 100 (holotype 87, paratype queen 88), and maximum width of first gastral tergite in dorsal view 0.64 (holotype 0.59, paratype queen 0.64). The dealate queen has a full complement of flight sclerites, not developed in the intercaste.
Two Kenyan specimens from Bunyangu Nature Reserve (ZFMK, details below) are intercastes. One of them has eyes with 7–8 ommatidia but the other is odd, because the right eye is minute while the left is much larger and consists of an indeterminate number of fused ommatidia.
Description
Worker
Measurements: HL 0.66–0.72 (0.68), HW 0.52–0.58 (0.55), HS 0.590–0.650 (0.615), SL 0.48–0.52 (0.52), PrW 0.42–0.46 (0.46), WL 0.94–1.02 (0.96), HFL 0.52–0.58 (0.55), PeNL 0.20–0.22 (0.22), PeH 0.48–0.53 (0.49), PeNW 0.38–0.41 (0.40), PeS 0.360–0.383 (0.370) (14 measured). Indices: CI 79–83 (81), SI 86–96 (95), PeNI 85–95 (87), LPeI 40–46 (45), DPeI 182–200 (182).
Eyes absent or a small and inconspicuous eye spot present that is often difficult to see against the punctate side of the head. Apex of scape, when laid straight back from its insertion, just fails to reach the midpoint of the posterior margin in full-face view; SL/HL 0.70–0.76. Cephalic dorsum sharply reticulate-punctate. Pronotal dorsum almost smooth, with spaced, minute, superficial punctures, obviously much less strongly and densely sculptured than cephalic dorsum. Metanotal groove absent from dorsum of mesosoma. Mesonotal-mesopleural suture feebly present on side of mesosoma. Propodeum distinctly marginate between declivity and side. Posterior surface of petiole node without short cuticular ridges that radiate upward from the peduncle. Node of petiole in profile tall and relatively thick, the dorsum weakly convex. Subpetiolar process with a distinct ventral angle. Petiole node in dorsal view very broad. Maximum width of first gastral tergite in dorsal view distinctly greater than the width of the second gastral tergite at its midlength. Base of cinctus of second gastral tergite glossy and polished, without trace of cross-ribs. Midline length of second gastral posttergite, from posterior margin of cinctus to apex, is less than the width of the segment at its midlength. Disc of second gastral tergite with sharply incised, small punctures that are widely separated by areas of glossy cuticle; the diameters of the punctures are distinctly less than the distances that separate them. First and second gastral tergites dorsally pubescent and with a number of short standing setae that conspicuously project above the level of the pubescence in profile. Full adult colour dark reddish brown.
Type Material
Holotype worker, Gabon: Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Monts Doudou, 24.3 km. 307° NW Doussala, 2°13.4’S, 10°24.4’E, 375 m., 9.iii.2000, #2200(48)-6, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (California Academy of Sciences).
Paratypes. 8 workers (of which one is teneral and lacking its head), 1 worker-queen intercaste (teneral) and 3 dealate queens, with same data as holotype and all in series #2200; individual pins coded (10)-5, (11)-7 (queen), (11)-8, (13)-4 (queen), (14)-8, (15)-13, (23)-4, (45)-4 (worker and queen on one pin), (45)-6 (intercaste), (47)-4, (49)-4 (CASC, The Natural History Museum).
References
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bolton B. and B. L. Fisher. 2011. Taxonomy of Afrotropical and West Palaearctic ants of the ponerine genus Hypoponera Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2843: 1-118
- Bolton, B., and B. L. Fisher. "Taxonomy of Afrotropical and West Palaearctic ants of the ponerine genus Hypoponera Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Zootaxa 2843 (2012): 1-118.
- Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
- Ross S. R. P. J., F. Hita Garcia, G. Fischer, and M. K. Peters. 2018. Selective logging intensity in an East African rain forest predicts reductions in ant diversity. Biotropica 1-11.