Ponera augusta

P. augusta occurs in sympatric association with Ponera elegantula at Aiyura; a single specimen of the latter was included in the Berlese funnel sample which yielded the augusta types.

Identification
Taylor (1967) - Known only from the eastern highlands of New Guinea. Easily distinguished from other Ponera species of similar size by the following set of characters: 1. Large eyes with 11 to 15 facets. 2. Broad head (cephalic index 90-93). 3. Long scapes, which clearly exceed the occipital border by a distance almost equal to their maximum thickness. 4. Coarsely punctate-opaque sculpturing on genae and on mesosomal dorsum. 5. Mesometanotal suture distinctly incised.

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

Biology
Nothing is known about the biology of Ponera augusta.

Castes
The sexual castes, larvae and pupae are not known (as reported by Taylor, 1967)

Nomenclature

 *  augusta. Ponera augusta Taylor, 1967a: 68, figs. 35, 59, 60 (w.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
HL .0.62 mm; HW 0.57 mm; SL 0.51 mm; CI 92; SI 89; PW 0.44 mm; PNL 0.22 mm; PH 0.43 mm; DPW 0.36 mm; PNI 82. General structure as shown in accompanying figures. Apical 1/2 of masticatory mandibular border with 3 strong teeth, remaining border with a series of 8 or 9 minute, irregular denticles. Clypeus slightly produced in center, but not dentate. Eyes relatively large, maximum diameter approximately 0.06 mm, composed of about 11 or 12 indistinct facets; situated about 0.93 X the distance from lateral occipital border to midpoint of anterior genal border. Scapes surpassing median occipital border by about 3/4 their maximum thickness. No antennal club differentiated, but funicular apex incrassate; apical antennomere about as long as the 2 preceding together.

Dorsal mesometanotal and lateral mesonotal sutures sharply incised. Posterolateral propodeal edges raised, forming angles of about 800, viewed from above. Node, from above, transverse, dorsal face forming much less than a half-circle, posterior border almost straight. Petiolar profile as in figure 60. Subpetiolar process low, fenestra small but distinct; posterolateral teeth obtuse, weakly developed.

Mandibles smooth and shining; front and sides of head and clypeus opaque, closely and coarsely punctate, the punctures almost contiguous, about 0.008 mm in diameter; scapes coarsely shagreened. Entire dorsal and lateral faces of mesosoma subopaque, coarsely and closely punctate; puncturation of sides of propodeum partly effaced. Punctures of pronotal dorsum about 0.008 mm in diameter, separated by distances about equal to 1/2 their maximum diameter. Mesonotal and propodeal punctures slightly larger and more dense; those of mesonotum more closely spaced than elsewhere on mesosoma but not as close as in P. alpha. Puncturation of sides of mesosoma finer and less dense than on dorsum, mesepisternum sub-opaque with a dense cover of irregular large punctures, especially on its lower 1/2, striation of metepisternal area indistinct, almost vestigial. Popodeal declivity strongly shining, with microsculpture as described above for P. alpha. Posterior face of node smooth and shining, its remaining surfaces, and gaster, moderately shining, with a close cover of fairly large pilosity-bearing punctures, less distinctly impressed than those of mesosoma.

Short erect to sub-erect pilosity sparse on mandibles, scapes, head and mesosomal dorsum; more abundant on clypeus, apex of node, subpetiolar process, and gaster, where the apical and ventral hairs are longest. Moderately dense, fine white pubescence everywhere abundant.

Color dark brown, almost black; subpetiolar process and apex of gaster infuscated yellowish brown. Scapes dull medium yellowish brown; mandibles and legs bright medium yellowish brown.

Paratypes. 5 paratype workers from the same berlesate as the holotype have the following dimensions: HL 0.60-0.61 mm; HW 0.55-0.56 mm; SL 0.49-0.50 mm; CI 90-93; SI 87-91; PW 0.42-0.44 mm; PNL 0.21-0.22 mm; PH 0.40-0.41 mm; DPW 0.35 mm; PNI 81-83. Agreeing with holotype in all general features, including details of mandibular, ocular and antennal structure. The eyes range from 0.06 to 0.07 mm in diameter and the scape may exceed the median occipital border by as much as its maximum thickness. Palpal formula: Maxillary 2: Labial 2 (1 specimen inspected).



Type Material
NE NEW GUINEA: Aiyura, Eastern Highlands, 1900 m. The type series was taken in a Berlese funnel sample of leafmold from the floor of disturbed rain forest, VI.1962 (R. W. Taylor, acc. 2130). Holotype and paratypes deposited in collection (Type No. 30922), additional single paratypes in,  and ).