Harpegnathos

A small genus restricted to Southeast Asia. These ants are notable for their remarkable morphological traits, foraging behaviors, complex nest architecture, and unusual reproductive behaviors.

Identification
Schmidt and Shattuck (2012) - Workers of Harpegnathos are virtually impossible to confuse with those of any other genus. They are among the most morphologically unique of all ponerines, and their scythe-shaped mandibles and huge anteriorly set eyes instantly identify them. Other diagnostic characters (in combination) include the presence of ocelli, an obsolete metanotal groove, a laterally opening metapleural gland orifice, toothed tarsal claws, prominent arolia, a long nodiform petiole, a short rounded anterior face of A3, and a strong girdling constriction between pre- and postsclerites of A4.

Species richness
The range of Harpegnathos encompasses the area bounded by India, the Philippines, southern China, and Java (Donisthorpe, 1937).

Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Nomenclature

 * '' HARPEGNATHOS [Ponerinae: Ponerini]
 * Harpegnathos Jerdon, 1851: 116. Type-species: Harpegnathos saltator, by monotypy.
 * [Harpegnathos description duplicated in Jerdon, 1854b: 100.]
 * Harpegnathos subgenus of Drepanognathus: Smith, F. 1871a: 320.
 * [Harpegnathos incorrectly as junior synonym of Drepanognathus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 22; Bingham, 1903: 49.]
 * Harpegnathos senior synonym of Drepanognathus: Roger, 1861a: 32; Roger, 1863b: 22; Forel, 1893a: 166; Forel, 1900c: 63.
 * DREPANOGNATHUS [junior synonym of Harpegnathos]
 * Drepanognathus Smith, F. 1858b: 81. Type-species: Harpegnathos saltator, by subsequent designation of Bingham, 1903: 49. [Unnecessary replacement name for Harpegnathos.]
 * Drepanognathus incorrectly as senior synonym of Harpegnathos: Dalla Torre, 1893: 22; Bingham, 1903: 49.
 * Drepanognathus junior synonym of Harpegnathos: Roger, 1861a: 32; Roger, 1863b: 22; Forel, 1900c: 63; Emery, 1911d: 58.

Description
Schmidt and Shattuck (2012):

Worker
Large to very large (TL 14–20 mm) ants with the standard characters of Ponerini, except that the anterior face of A3 is short and rounded, not vertical. Mandibles long, upturned and scythe-shaped, with a small ventral edge bearing a few teeth and a long medial edge bearing two rows of small denticles. Clypeus shallow and with a nearly straight anterior margin. Frontal lobes very small. Eyes greatly enlarged, nearly half the length of the head, and located at the extreme anterolateral corners of the head. Ocelli present. Metanotal groove obsolete dorsally. Propodeum broad dorsally. Propodeal spiracles slit-shaped. Metapleural gland orifice opening laterally within a deep depression. Tarsal claws with a single preapical tooth. Arolia prominent and bright white. Metatibial spur formula (1s, 1p). Petiole longer than wide, becoming wider dorsally and posteriorly. Anterior face of A3 short and rounded, not vertical. Gaster with a strong girdling constriction between pre- and postsclerites of A4. Stridulitrum present on pretergite of A4. Head and mesosoma foveate and striate, the gaster punctate or foveolate. Head and body with abundant short pilosity and little to no pubescence. Color variable, orange to black.

Queen
Very similar to worker, but winged and slightly larger (Peeters et al., 2000).

Male
See descriptions in Bingham (1903), Emery (1911), and Donisthorpe (1942).