Hypoponera aprora

Only known from a few collections, specimens labels indicate individuals were captured by winkler sampling of leaf litter from primary forest. Nothing else is known about the biology of Hypoponera aprora.

Identification
Bolton and Fisher (2011) - This species is immediately distinguished from all its Afrotropical and West Palaearctic congeners by its lack of the prora on the first gastral sternite, both laterally and anteroventrally. It belongs in the occidentalis complex of the abeillei group, notes on the species of which are given under occidentalis. See also under Hypoponera dis, which appears to be its closest relative.

Key to Afrotropical and West Palaearctic Hypoponera

Distribution
This taxon was described, and is only known, from Tanzania.

Castes
Known only from the type specimens. Workers and a queen have been collected but the queen was not described.

Nomenclature

 *  aprora. Hypoponera aprora Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 26, figs. 4-6 (w.q.) TANZANIA.

Worker
(holotype in parentheses). Measurements: HL 0.51–0.53 (0.51), HW 0.40–0.41 (0.40), HS 0.455–0.470 (0.455), SL 0.34–0.36 (0.34), PrW 0.30–0.32 (0.31), WL 0.65–0.68 (0.66), HFL 0.34–0.35 (0.34), PeNL 0.15–0.16 (0.15), PeH 0.30–0.32 (0.31), PeNW 0.26–0.27 (0.26), PeS 0.240–0.250 (0.240) (8 measured). Indices: CI 77–79 (78), SI 83–88 (85), PeNI 84–87 (84), LPeI 49–53 (49), DPeI 163–173 (173).

Conforming to the general description given for dis but lacking a prora. In aprora, with the first gastral seg-ment in profile, the anterior and lateral surfaces of first gastral sternite meet in a blunt angle; there is no prominent raised proral crest or rim separating the two surfaces below the level of the helcium. Similarly, there is no trans-verse raised margin or lip separating the anterior and ventral surfaces of the first sternite. Full adult colour glossy dark brown to blackish brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Tanzania: Tanga Region, Kilindi Forest Reserve, 1015 m., 27-30.viii.2005, CEPF-TZ-3.2-F09, 5.57934S, 37.57971E, primary forest leaf litter, Winkler (P. Hawkes, J. Makwati, R. Mtana). Paratypes. 7 workers and 1 dealate queen, with same data as holotype.