Dolioponera fustigera

Distribution
Known from Cameroon, Central African Republic and Gabon.

This taxon was described from Gabon.

Biology
Fisher (2006) - This species was previously known only from the type specimen. A total of three new specimens were collected from leaf litter samples from Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

Nomenclature

 *  fustigera. Dolioponera fustigera Brown, 1974e: 32, figs. 1-4 (w.) GABON. See also: Fisher, 2006: 116.

Fisher (2006) - This species was previously known only from the type specimen. A total of three new specimens were collected from leaf litter samples from Cameroon and the Central African Republic. The two specimens in Dzanga-Sangha match the type in size and shape. The specimen from Park National Campo in Cameroon, however, is much smaller (HW 2.2) and lacks eyes. I did not observe any additional differences in morphology that would justify describing a new species at this time. The three specimens with large eyes (type specimen and the two specimens from Dzanga-Sangha) may represent ergatoid queens. Ergatoid queens that are similar to workers except for a larger eye and A3 - A4 are known in the Ponerinae (Peeters and Ito 2001).

One of the specimens from the Central African Republic was dissected to examine palp formula and petiole structure. Dissection of the mouthparts revealed a palp formula 2,2 (maxillary 2 and labial 2 segmented). In species examined, Loboponera is also 2,2, while Plectroctena is 3,4, 2,3, and 2,2 and Psalidomyrmex is 3,4 (Bolton & Brown 2002; B.L. Fisher, pers. obs.). The palps were not visible in Boloponera.

The articulation of the petiole is similar to Boloponera vicans. Thus, Dolioponera has a generalized Ponerini articulatory surface rather than the specialized Plectroctena group form. This supports Bolton's placement of Dolioponera outside the Plectroctena group (Bolton & Brown 2002). The similarities in petiole structure point to the possibility that Dolioponera and Boloponera are sister to the Plectroctena group. Additional evidence is needed to evaluate this relationship.

Type Material
Fisher (2006) - Holotype worker, Gabon: Plateau forestier d'Impassa, near Makoou, 1966 - 1967, leg. J.A. Barra, berlesate of soil, 0 to 5 cm deep on hill spur covered with primary forest; (MCZC).

Additional References

 * [[Media:Brown 1974g.pdf|Brown, W. L., Jr. 1974g. Dolioponera fustigera species nov. Pilot Regist. Zool. Card No. 32. PDF]]