Loboponera species groups

Bolton and Brown (2002) divided this small Afrotropical genus into 3 species groups.

obeliscata group

 * Loboponera obeliscata
 * Loboponera politula

Mandible with 1–2 teeth between apical tooth and basal angle.

Median portion of clypeus, anterior to frontal lobes, narrow but not strongly bilaterally compressed; without a median longitudinal carina.

Propodeal declivity with a simple lamella on each side that extends its entire height; without a projecting lobe or tooth close to the base of the declivity.

Sculpture between punctures on dorsal alitrunk and gaster mostly to entirely effaced; surfaces between punctures mostly to entirely smooth and shining.

Dorsal surfaces of head behind frontal lobes, alitrunk, petiole node and first gastral tergite without standing hairs; second gastral tergite with standing hairs restricted to apical quarter.

Scape with projecting hairs on the leading edge.

trica group

 * Loboponera trica

Mandible with 3 teeth between apical tooth and basal angle.

Median portion of clypeus, anterior to frontal lobes, strongly bilaterally compressed, narrow and with a nearly vertical longitudinal carina.

Propodeal declivity with a rounded lobe near base, without a lamella above the lobe.

Sculpture between punctures everywhere on dorsal head and body fine and very dense.

Dorsal surfaces of head behind frontal lobes, alitrunk, petiole node and first gastral tergite without standing hairs; second gastral tergite without standing hairs.

Scape without projecting hairs on the leading edge.

vigilans group

 * Loboponera basalis
 * Loboponera edentula
 * Loboponera nobiliae
 * Loboponera nasica
 * Loboponera subatra
 * Loboponera vigilans

Mandible with 3–5 teeth between apical tooth and basal angle.

Median portion of clypeus, anterior to frontal lobes, usually with a low median longitudinal carina.

Propodeal declivity with a lobe or triangular tooth near base; margin above this either unarmed, or with a narrow lamella, or with a small tooth, or with a lamella and a tooth.

Sculpture coarse and dense on dorsal alitrunk and gaster, basically of coarse foveolae with rugulose or costate-striate interspaces.

Dorsal surfaces of head behind frontal lobes, alitrunk, petiole node and first gastral tergite with numerous short suberect to erect hairs; second gastral tergite with standing hairs everywhere.

Scape with projecting hairs on the leading edge.

Related Pages

 * Loboponera
 * Key to Loboponera Species