Holcoponera solomonensis

Identification
Lattke (2004) - The only other Gnamptogenys with a trilobed sternal postpetiolar process is Gnamptogenys albiclava, which has a process with an anterior concave margin, with two lateral lobes and a small median denticle. The broad metanotal sulcus and bulging compound eyes with relatively large ommatidia of G. solomonensis make it easy to recognize.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Solomon Islands.

Castes
Male is unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  solomonensis. Gnamptogenys solomonensis Lattke, 2004: 69, fig. 15 (w.q.) SOLOMON IS.

Frons with longitudinal costulae; eyes subglobulose, ommatidia relatively large. Dorsal margin of mesosoma with anterior convexity in lateral view formed by promesonotum, abruptly ending at broad and concave metanotal sulcus. Postpetiolar process V-shaped in anterior view, with two lateral denticle-like lobes connected in varying degrees to lower intermediate lobe by ridges; metacoxal dorsum unarmed.

Worker
Metrics. [Holotype] Paratypes (n = 5): HL [0.81] 0.83-0.88, HW [0.61] 0.61-0.66, ML [0.39] 0.41-0.44, SL [0.89] 0.91-1.05, ED [0.16] 0.17-0.18, WL [1.05] 1.05-1.18 mm. CI [0.75] 0.73-0.76, SI [1.44] 1.49-1.60, MI [0.64] 0.64-0.67, OI [0.26] 0.26-0.31. Head elongate in frontal view, oval and wider posteriorly than anteriorly, posterior margin with median concavity; clypeal lamella angular medially; occipital ridge present, no lobe or lamella; vertex relatively flattened, mostly smooth with few small strigulae; frons longitudinally costulate with sparse piligerous punctae, medially with longitudinal sulci that anastomize laterally; frontal lobe with flattened dorsal surface, exposing dorsal lobe of torulus; scape surpasses posterior cephalic margin by more than two apical widths, shaft relatively straight with slight preapical thickening, dorsum smooth; first funicular segment approximately twice as long as wide; scape with subdecumbent hairs, pubescence absent; frons with longitudinal strigulae and some punctae; clypeus mostly smooth, with brief longitudinal strigulae posteriorly and anteriorly. Eye not reduced, cross section subglobulose, ommatidia large. Mandibular dorsum mostly smooth with sparse punctures, masticatory border finely denticulate.

Pronotum smooth, with sparse piligerous punctulae, anterolaterally with few strigulae; pronotum with bluntly angular anteroventral corner in lateral view, ventral sulcus present; mesonotum, sides and dorsum of propodeum with shallow transverse strigulae; anepisternum trapezoidal, relatively narrow, distinctly delimited; katepisternum mostly smooth with low rugulae. Dorsal margin of mesosoma with anterior convexity in lateral view formed by promesonotum, abruptly ending at broad and concave metanotal sulcus; promesonotal suture distinctly impressed as fine line; propodeal dorsal margin broadly convex in lateral view, declivity relatively straight; propodeal spiracle separated by less than one spiracular diameter from declivity in lateral view. Petiole erect in lateral view, dorsal margin shorter than height of anterior margin, spiracle slightly below anterolateral process, anterior crest present; subpetiolar process triangular, projecting anteriorly in lateral view, ventral edge narrow; petiole and gaster mostly smooth, some undulations and strigulae may be present on anterior dorsum of petiole; postpetiolar process V-shaped in anterior view, with two lateral denticle-like lobes connected in varying degrees to lower intermediate lobe by ridges, projecting anterad. Fore coxae smooth laterally; basal fore tarsal segment dorsally smooth, ventrally with single stout seta opposite of strigil; second fore tarsal segment with four stout apical setae; metacoxal dorsum unarmed. Dorsum of thorax, and abdominal segments 1-4 usually with scattered erect to subdecumbent hairs. Body ferruginous brown; mandibles and legs beige to pale yellow; antennae and coxae orange.

Queen
Metrics ( n=2 ): HL 0.80, 0.89; HW 0.59, 0.66; ML 0.35, 0.40; SL 0.84, 1.01; ED 0.17, 0.21; WL 1.00, 1.21 mm. CI 0.74, 0.61; SI 1.43, 1.54; MI 0.59, 0.61; OI 0.29, 0.31. Pronotum with low transverse strigulae along anterior margin, rest mostly smooth with sparse shallow punctae; meso- and metanotum longitudinally strigulose, axillae punctate; propodeal dorsum transversely strigulose, declivitous face smooth.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Solomon Islands, Kolombangara Island, E Kuzi, 305m, 3-9-1965, P.M. Greenslade. Deposited in. Paratypes. One worker and one dealate queen with same data as holotype deposited in ANIC.

Etymology
The species name is derived from the name of the collection locality.