Neoponera bugabensis

A widely ranging central American and South American species that inhabits the canopy and subcanopy of various tropical forest habitats.

Identification
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): Pachycondyla bugabensis is nearly identical to Pachycondyla villosa, but differs in being smaller (head width usually less than 2 mm). Pachycondyla bugabensis can be separated from the similar Pachycondyla foetida and Pachycondyla theresiae as it lacks striae on the side of the petiole (the surface is coriaceous or finely punctate). It is smaller (total length < 10 mm) than other similar species in the genus such as Pachycondyla insignis and Pachycondyla dismarginata. Pachycondyla bugabensis can be separated from P. unidentata by the depression at the metanotal suture, which is not depressed in P. unidentata.

Distribution
NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA, PANAMA, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR, PERU. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

This taxon was described from Panama.

Habitat
Lowland rain forest, wet forest, primary forest and secondary forest to rocky wet canyons, from 50 - 1650 m elevation. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Biology
Workers inhabit the canopy and subcanopy, where they are encountered on low vegetation, in treefalls and in fogging samples (Longino 1997); foragers are often found on vegetation.

Longino (1997) encountered a nest in a canopy Guarea tree. It was a small chamber under an epiphyte mat on the side of a trunk about 10 m high. Longino reported another nest high in a canopy tree, which consisted of large chambers under an orchid clump. Brood was abundant, but there were only about 20 workers. A third small nest was found in dead wood suspended in low vegetation along a trail in mature forest (Longino 1997).

The collection in Colombia was nesting in bamboo (Guadua), others in the stems of Cecropia insignis. Longino found two nests embedded in the larger nests of Cyphomyrmex cornutus. The C. cornutus nest consisted of a 30 cm long mass of accreted soil suspended from a low branch.

Worker
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The anterior border of the clypeus is broadly convex and the malar carina is well developed, but does not extend to the anterior edge of the eye. The eyes are located slightly posteriorly to the midline of the length of the head (measured from the anterior tip of the clypeus). The scape extends nearly the first two funicular segments past the posterior lateral corner of the head. The pronotal carina is well developed and sharp. The mesosoma is broadly depressed at the metanotal suture, which passes over the dorsum of the mesosoma and breaks the sculpture. The propodeal spiracle is elongated and the posterior lateral edges of the propodeum are marked by a sharp carina. The petiole is thick when viewed in profile with a vertical slightly concave anterior face and a broadly rounded posterior face that meets the anterior face at a right angle.

Erect hairs are present on the dorsum of the head, the scapes, dorsum of the mesosoma, all surfaces of the legs, dorsum of the petiole and all surfaces of the gaster. Most surfaces are covered with dense appressed golden pubescence, which partially hides the surface, especially on the dorsum of the head, dorsum of the mesosoma, posterior face of the petiole and the dorsum of the gaster.

The mandibles are finely striated with scattered punctures, but much of the surface is smooth and shining. The dorsum of the head, dorsum and side of the mesosoma, side and posterior face of the petiole and the gaster are finely punctate and dull, with only the gaster being somewhat shining.

Most surfaces are dark reddish brown to black; the tarsi are brown as is the apical ⅔ of the funiculus.

Queen
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The female (undescribed) is a moderately sized (total length 14 mm) dark brown ant. The head length is 2.5 mm and the head width is 2.2 mm. The eyes are relatively large (0.65 mm maximum diameter) located about 1 diameter from the anterior edge of the head (side view). The malar carina is sharp and well developed. The scape (2.55 mm) extends about two funicular segments past the posterior lateral corner of the head. The pronotal carina is sharp and overhangs the side of the pronotum. The propodeal spiracle is elongated. The anterior face of the petiole is vertical and slightly concave and meets the broadly rounded posterior face at angle near the anterior edge of the petiole.

Long (up to 0.7 mm in length) hairs are abundant on all surfaces, including the scapes. Most surfaces are covered with fine appressed golden pubescence. Erect hairs are abundant on the mandibles, clypeus, sides of the head, posterior margin of the head, dorsal and ventral surfaces of the head, dorsum of the mesosoma, dorsum of the petiole and all surfaces of the gaster, the hairs on the coxae are suberect and a few hairs on the femur and tibiae are suberect.

The mandibles of the female are finely striate and partially smooth, the head is densely punctate, forming weak striae; the mesosoma is finely punctate and partially smooth as is the petiole and gaster. The dorsum of the head is densely punctate and moderately shining, most of the mesosoma and petiole have similar sculpture, the gaster has scattered punctures and is mostly smooth and glossy.

Male
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The male (undescribed) is a relatively large (total length about 10 mm) black specimen. The head length is 1.29 mm; the head width is 1.26 mm. The eye is large (maximum diameter 0.73 mm) separated from the lateral ocellus by a distance of 0.35 mm. The ocelli are relatively small (maximum diameter of median ocellus 0.18 mm) the medial ocellus is separated from the lateral ocellus by slightly less then one diameter. The propodeal spiracle is slit-shaped. The petiole is broad when viewed in profile with a straight anterior face and a broadly sloping posterior-dorsal face, which meets the posterior face near the anterior edge.

Type Material
Lectotype designated, MHNG; Mackay and Mackay (2010)

Type Locality Information
Panamá: Bugaba

Etymology
This species was named for the locality where it was first collected, Bugaba, Panamá. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)