Hypoponera occidentalis

Distribution
This taxon was described from Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  occidentalis. Ponera (Hypoponera) occidentalis Bernard, 1953b: 205, fig. 3 (w.) GUINEA. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 215. Senior synonym of intermedia: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 78.

Worker
Bolton and Fisher (2011) - Measurements: HL 0.61–0.75, HW 0.48–0.60, HS 0.545–0.670, SL 0.44–0.55, PrW 0.38–0.48, WL 0.84–1.08, HFL 0.46–0.58, PeNL 0.20–0.24, PeH 0.42–0.52, PeNW 0.32–0.39, PeS 0.310–0.377 (40 measured). Indices: CI 76–82, SI 86–96, PeNI 76–89, LPeI 40–48, DPeI 150–180.

Eyes variably developed; sometimes absent, sometimes a vague eye spot, but frequently with 1 and less commonly with 3–4 small ommatidia discernible. Apex of scape, when laid straight back from its insertion, just fails to reach, or less commonly just touches, the midpoint of the posterior margin in full-face view; SL/HL 0.68–0.75. 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 or at most with a faint impression. Mesonotal-mesopleural suture feebly present to absent on side of mesosoma. Propodeum weakly 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, with the anterior and posterior faces parallel or very nearly so and the dorsum convex. Subpetiolar process with a distinct ventral angle. Maximum width of first gastral tergite in dorsal view 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 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.

Additional References

 * Bolton, B. & Fisher, B.L. 2011. Taxonomy of Afrotropical and West Palaearctic ants of the ponerine genus Hypoponera Santschi. Zootaxa 2843: 1-118.