Promyopias silvestrii

The only known species in the genus, Promyopias silvestrii is an uncommon but widely distributed species. Its diet, presumably termites but not actually demonstrated, may be more restricted or specialised than in Centromyrmex.

Identification
The morphology of the mandible is unique and readily separates silvestrii from other Ponerinae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Cameroun, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mozambique.

Castes
Males have not been collected.

Nomenclature

 *  silvestrii. Myopias (Promyopias) silvestrii Santschi, 1914d: 324, fig. 10 (w.) GUINEA. Combination in Promyopias: Emery, 1915g: 26; in Pseudoponera (Promyopias): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 779; in Centromyrmex: Bolton, 1995b: 140. Revived combination in Promyopias: Bolton & Fisher, 2008c: 31. Senior synonym of asili: Brown, 1963: 10.
 * asili. Promyopias asili Crawley, 1916a: 30, fig. (q.) MALAWI. Combination in Pseudoponera (Promyopias): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 779. Junior synonym of silvestrii: Brown, 1963: 10.

Worker
Bolton and Fisher (2008) - TL 6.0-6.3, HL 1.05-1.16, HW 1.00-1.12, CI 95-99, ML 0.62-0.68, MI 55-61, SL 0.62-0.64, SI 57-62, PW 0.74-0.86, WL 1.78-1.90 (5 measured).

With characters of the genus and the following. Dorsum of head densely punctulate-costulate, the sculpture stops near the posterior margin so that the occipital surface is mostly smooth and shining. Ventral surface of head longitudinally striolate and with scattered small punctures. Head capsule deep, in profile the maximum depth about 0.75 × HL. Scapes and cephalic dorsum with dense long pubescence that may be elevated, but without long setae such as are present on the clypeus and inner mandibular margins. Pronotum bluntly and obtusely marginate anteriorly and laterally. Metanotal groove vestigial to distinct across the dorsum, not impressed in profile. Pronotal dorsum broadly and densely punctate except for the median strip, which is smooth. Punctate sculpture on mesonotum weaker and more widely spaced than on pronotum; on propodeal dorsum the punctures weaker still, very sparse and almost effaced posteriorly. Sides of mesosoma finely striolate everywhere, or at most with posterior portion of mesopleuron smooth. PW about 1.85 × the maximum width of the propodeal dorsum. Gastral tergites with scattered small punctures. Dorsal surfaces of body with conspicuous pubescence or very short standing hairs everywhere. Occasionally one or two longer setae may occur on the petiole and gastral tergites 1–3, but long conspicuous setae are mostly confined to the apical gastral segment and the gastral sternites.

Queen
Bolton and Fisher (2008) - TL 7.6, HL 1.14, HW 1.17, CI 103, OI 21, ML 0.72, MI 63, SL 0.68, SI 58, PW 0.97, WL 2.32. All main morphological characters of the worker are duplicated in the queen caste; see under diagnosis of the genus.

Type Material
Bolton and Fisher (2008) - Syntype workers, GUINEA: Mamou, 24.viii.1913 (F. Silvestri) [examined]. Holotype queen, MALAWI: Mlanje, 15.xi.1913 (S.A. Neave) [examined].