Hypoponera punctatissima

A widespread ponerine tramp-species, this small ant can be found nesting in settings that vary from litter, soil, and rotten wood in forests to disturbed sites such as gardens and fields.

Identification
Reddish yellow to dark brown; alitrunk and gaster thickly pubescent, finely and closely punctured. Antennae with 12 segments gradually broadening to an indefinite club; scapes do not reach posterior border of head. Frontal furrow continued as a fine line to near occipital margin. Eyes minute, set forward close to mandibular insertions. Mandibles with 3-4 strong teeth towards apex and numerous smaller denticles posteriorly. Ventral lobe of petiole simple without tooth-like process: Length: 2.5-3.2 mm. (Collingwood 1979)

Distribution
Bolton and Fisher (2011) - H. punctatissima is without doubt the world’s most accomplished ponerine tramp-species. Its range incorporates all tropical and subtropical zoogeographical regions, including most oceanic islands, and it also penetrates well into the temperate zones of both hemispheres where it is frequently synanthropic; for a brief synopsis of world distribution see Delabie & Blard (2002); European distribution is summarised in Seifert (2003).

It is found in the United States, New Caledonia, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It has been introduced into New Zealand. It is also found in Philippines, Norfolk Island, New Guinea, Paraguay, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Canada, United States, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Bahamas, South Africa, Israel, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Comoros, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Seychelles, Réunion, Mayotte, Mauritius, Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, Morocco, Sudan, Botswana, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Togo, Japan, Armenia and Bulgaria.

Africa
Bolton and Fisher (2011) - H. punctatissima is very widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and appears relatively common. It is often retrieved from litter and topsoil samples in forests, and also from rotten wood, but it seems particularly frequent in areas disturbed by human activities, especially in gardens, plantations and crop fields.

Florida (USA)
Deyrup, David and Cover (unpublished) - This species occurs in small colonies in a variety of moist or well-drained habitats. In southern Florida it is often found in rotten logs and large grass tussocks, and especially in accumulations of organic matter, such as grass clippings or compost, often in open or disturbed sites. The key to the housefly-like success of H. punctatissima lies in its predilection for dung and various kinds of middens, which humans and their livestock supply in inexhaustible quantities. Delabie and Bland (2002) have compiled a whole series of breeding sites, ranging from earthworm cultures to heaps of chicken manure, and suggest that this ant emerged out of Asia following the domestication and extensive use of horses.

The tendency for H. punctatissima to produce disproportionately large numbers of dispersing females is appropriate for a species that colonizes resource-rich sites that are often ephemeral. This dispersal, in turn, leads to problems with stinging alates.

Fennoscandia, Denmark and the British Isles
This species is often imported with plant material. However, it has long been resident in North Europe and head capsules presumed to be of this species have been recorded from sewage mud deposited about 1500 years ago in North England. Most recorded occurrences are from heated premises such as bakehouses and conservatories. However, colonies have been recorded outside in England, Ireland, Denmark, Norway and Finland from fermenting rubbish dumps, waste tips, sawdust heaps and deep mines away from buildings. Queens and sometimes workers have also been captured individually by general herbage sweeping or in woodlands. Occurrences in Denmark and Fennoscandia have been summarised by Skott (1971). Colonies are often populous and many alate queens may be produced to fly out during August and September. The apterous males remain in the nest. This species, as with most Ponerini, is mainly carnivorous on small arthropods (Collingwood 1979).

Castes
Bolton and Fisher (2011) - As well as the usual workers and alate queens, it also produces worker-queen intercastes (ergatoids) and dimorphic large and small ergatoid males, but never the usual alate male form.

Nomenclature

 *  punctatissima. Ponera punctatissima Roger, 1859: 246, pl. 7, fig. 7 (w.q.) POLAND and GERMANY. Combination in Hypoponera: Taylor, 1967a: 12. Senior synonym of androgyna: Emery & Forel, 1879: 455, Seifert, 2003c: 69; of tarda: Dalla Torre, 1893: 41, Seifert, 2003c: 69; of kalakauae, mina, mumfordi: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 29 (in text); of ergatandria: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1343; of mina: Taylor, 1987a: 30; of exacta: Atanassov & Dlussky, 1992: 71, Seifert, 2003c: 69; of jugata: Seifert, 2003c: 69; of aemula, argonautorum, bondroiti, breviceps, brevis, cognata, durbanensis, incisa, mesoepinotalis, petri, schauinslandi, sordida, sulcitana, ursoidea: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87. Current subspecies: nominal plus indifferens. See also: Emery, 1916b: 110; Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 59; Collingwood, 1979: 30.
 * androgyna. Ponera androgyna Roger, 1859: 246 (footnote) (ergatoid m.) GERMANY. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Emery & Forel, 1879: 455; Seifert, 2003c: 69.
 * argonautorum. Ponera argonautorum Arnol'di, 1932b: 66, figs. 6, 7 (q.) RUSSIA. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 213. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * breviceps. Ponera breviceps Bernard, 1953b: 202, fig. 3 (q.) (m. excluded, see Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 88) GUINEA. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 213. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * brevis. Ponera brevis Santschi, 1921c: 113, fig. 1 (w.) BENIN. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 213. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * ergatandria. Ponera ergatandria Forel, 1893g: 365 (w.q. ergatoid m.) WEST INDIES. Combination in Hypoponera: Kempf, 1972a: 122. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Taylor, 1968a: 65. Revived status as species: Kempf, 1972a: 122. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1343; Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 86. See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 59.
 * bondroiti. Ponera ergatandria subsp. bondroiti Forel, 1911c: 285 (w.q. ergatoid m.) BELGIUM. Combination in Hypoponera: Onoyama, 1989b: 2. Raised to species: Santschi, 1937h: 364. Junior synonym of schauinslandi: Seifert, 2003c: 69; of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * cognata. Ponera ergatandria st. cognata Santschi, 1912b: 153 (w.) ANGOLA. [Unresolved junior primary homonym of Ponera cognata Emery, 1896g: 56 (now in Pachycondyla).] Bernard, 1953b: 202 (q.). Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 213. Raised to species: Bernard, 1953b: 202. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87. See also: Arnold, 1915: 81.
 * petri. Ponera ergatandria r. petri Forel, 1916: 397 (ergatoid q., not w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 216. Raised to species: Santschi, 1938b: 78. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * aemula. Ponera dulcis var. aemula Santschi, 1911c: 351 (w.) TANZANIA. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 213. Junior synonym of schauinslandi: Seifert, 2003c: 69; of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * incisa. Ponera incisa Santschi, 1914d: 320, fig. 8 (ergatoid m., not w.) NIGERIA. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 214. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * kalakauae. Ponera kalakauae Forel, 1899a: 115 (ergatoid q. (not w.), q.) HAWAII. Junior synonym of gleadowi: Wilson, 1958d: 328; of punctatissima: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 29 (in text).
 * mina. Ponera mina Wheeler, W.M. 1927i: 131, fig. 2 (w.q. ergatoid m.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in Hypoponera: Taylor & Brown, D.R. 1985: 31. Junior synonym of gleadowi: Wilson, 1958d: 329. Revived from synonymy: Taylor & Brown, D.R. 1985: 31. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 29 (in text); Taylor, 1987a: 30. See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 59.
 * mesoepinotalis. Ponera mesoepinotalis Weber, 1942a: 44, fig. 4 (w.) SUDAN. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 215. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * mumfordi. Ponera mumfordi Wheeler, W.M. 1933f: 141 (w.) FRENCH POLYNESIA (Marquesas Is). Wheeler, W.M. 1936f: 4 (q.). Junior synonym of gleadowi: Wilson, 1958d: 328; of punctatissima: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 29 (in text).
 * exacta. Ponera punctatissima var. exacta Santschi, 1923a: 134 (w.) TUNISIA. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Atanassov & Dlussky, 1992: 71; Seifert, 2003c: 69.
 * jugata. Ponera punctatissima r. jugata Forel, 1892l: 251 (q.) MADAGASCAR. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 215. Raised to species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 39. Subspecies of punctatissima: Emery, 1899f: 268. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Seifert, 2003c: 69.
 * schauinslandi. Ponera punctatissima subsp. schauinslandi Emery, 1899d: 439 (q.) HAWAII. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 28. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Seifert, 2003c: 69. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * sordida. Ponera ragusai var. sordida Santschi, 1914b: 54 (w.) KENYA. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 216. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * durbanensis. Ponera sulcatinasis r. durbanensis Forel, 1914d: 213 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Arnold, 1926: 206 (q.). Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 214. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * sulcitana. Ponera sulcitana Stefani, 1970: 1, figs. 1-12 (w.q. ergatoid m., l.) ITALY. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 216. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.
 * tarda. Ponera tarda Charsley, 1877: 162 (w.q.) GREAT BRITAIN. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Dalla Torre, 1893: 41; Seifert, 2003c: 69.
 * ursoidea. Ponera ursoidea Bernard, 1953b: 203, fig. 3 (ergatoid q., not w.) GUINEA. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 216. Junior synonym of punctatissima: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 87.

As noted above, this species has accumulated a large number of synonyms.

Worker
Bolton and Fisher (2011) - Measurements: HL 0.56–0.72, HW 0.46–0.60, HS 0.515–0.660, SL 0.35–0.48, PrW 0.33–0.43, WL 0.70–0.90, HFL 0.36–0.48, PeNL 0.14–0.20, PeH 0.30–0.39, PeNW 0.22–0.29, PeS 0.223–0.290 (60 measured). Indices: CI 79–87, SI 75–84, PeNI 63–74, LPeI 43–53, DPeI 140–165.

Eyes small but conspicuous, of 1–6 often poorly defined or partially fused ommatidia, located far forward on the side of the head. Impression that extends back along midline of head from the frontal lobes reaches at least the midlength of the vertex and usually further. Apex of scape, when laid straight back from its insertion, usually fails to reach or less commonly just touches the midpoint of the posterior margin in full-face view; SL/HL 0.62–0.70. Minute punctulate sculpture of cephalic dorsum extremely fine and superficial. Mesonotal-mesopleural suture absent. Metanotal groove deeply incised across dorsum of mesosoma; mesonotum with a well-defined posterior margin. Propodeal declivity rounds into the sides, without sharp marginations or carinae. In profile the anterior margination of the mesopleuron rounded to very bluntly angular behind base of anterior coxa; without a prominent sharp angle or tooth. Mesopleuron smooth and shining, at most with a few scattered punctures; usually with a small reticulate patch in the extreme posteroventral corner above the mesocoxa. Petiole in profile with the anterior and posterior faces of the node weakly convergent dorsally; node longer just above the anterior tubercle than at the dorsum. Sternite of petiole in profile a rounded lobe, without angles anteriorly or posteriorly. Maximum width of first gastral tergite in dorsal view less than the width of the second tergite at its midlength. Base of cinctus of second gastral tergite smooth and shining in dorsal view, without cross-ribs. Posttergite of second gastral segment, from posterior margin of cinctus to apex, much broader than long. Disc of second gastral tergite minutely punctulate, appearing weakly microreticulate in places. Full adult colour varies from dull brownish yellow to very dark brown or almost black. In general, workers at the bottom end of the size range given above tend to be lighter and the colour becomes darker with increasing size, but this is by no means an entirely consistent rule.

Queen
Fusca, pube adpressa cinereo-micans, ore, antennis pedibus et apice abdominis pallide rufis, oculis margini anteriori capitis proximis. - Long. 3 – 3 1/2 Mm.

Bolton and Fisher (2011) - True queens are alate, with much larger eyes (obviously >50 ommatidia) that have short setae projecting between the ommatidia, and have a full complement of flight sclerites on the mesosoma. Worker-queen intercastes are very worker-like but have larger eyes (usually 10 to about 20 ommatidia) and a developed mesonotal-mesopleural suture that is absent in the worker.

Male
Bolton and Fisher (2011) - Ergatoid males fall into major (larger, brown and with small eyes present) and minor (smaller, yellow and eyeless) categories (Yamauchi, et al. 1996) and are again very worker-like, especially in head structure, but have shorter scapes (SI 68–72), only 12-segmented antennae (as do workers, intercastes and queens), and of course fully developed but retractile male genitalia. Alate males have never been seen and it is probably now safe to say are never produced.

Type Material
Bolton and Fisher (2011):

Syntype workers and queen, POLAND: Rauden (now Rudy, Opole Prov.) and GERMANY: Berlin, in hothouses (Roger) (MNHN) [examined].

Ponera androgyna Syntype ergatoid males (not workers), POLAND: Rauden (now Rudy, Opole Prov.) (Roger) (ZMHB) [not seen].

Ponera tarda Syntype workers and queen, GREAT BRITAIN: Oxford, 1877 (R.S. Charsley) (OXUM) [not seen].

Holotype queen, MADAGASCAR: Prov. d’Imerina (Sikora) (MHNG) [not seen].

Ponera ergatandria Syntype workers, queens and ergatoid male, SAINT VINCENT I. (Antilles): 41b (H.H. Smith). (MHNG, BMNH) [BMNH ergatoid male examined].

Ponera kalakauae Syntype worker-queen intercaste (not worker) and queen, HAWAIIAN IS: Kauai I., Lahue, 2000 ft, vii.1896 (R.C.L. Perkins) (intercaste), and Honolulu (Oahu I.), xi.1896 (R.C.L. Perkins) (queen) (BMNH) [examined].

Syntype queens, HAWAIIAN IS: Laysan I. (now Laycan I.) (Schauinsland) (MSNG) [not seen].

Ponera ergatandria subsp. bondroit Syntype workers, queen and ergatoid male, BELGIUM: Bruxelles, Jardin Bot., xi.1909, 5.xi.1909, 15.xi.1909 (Bondroit) (MHNG) [not seen].

Ponera dulcis var. aemula Lectotype and paralectotype workers (designated by Seifert, 2003: 68), TANZANIA: Kilimandjaro, zone des cultures, Kiboscho, 1400 m, 1904 (Ch. Alluaud) (NHMB) [examined].

Ponera ergatandria st. cognate Syntype workers, ANGOLA: Benguela, Cucula (J. Cruchet) (NHMB) [examined].

Ponera ragusai var. sordida Holotype worker, KENYA: région côtière, Shimoni, st. no. 9, xi.1911 (Alluaud & Jeannel) (NHMB) [examined].

Ponera incise Holotype ergatoid male (not worker), NIGERIA: Lagos (F. Silvestri) (not in NHMB, presumably in DEUN) [not seen].

Ponera sulcatinasis r. durbanensis Syntype workers, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, Durban, 16.i.1914, no. 323 (G. Arnold) (MHNG) [examined].

Ponera ergatandria r. petri Holotype worker-queen intercaste (not worker), DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: St Gabriel (Kohl) (MHNG) [examined].

Ponera brevis Holotype worker, BENIN (Dahomey on label): Porto Novo (Le Moult) (NHMB) [examined].

Ponera punctatissima var. exacta Syntype workers, TUNISIA: Hammamet (Santschi) (NHMB, BMNH) [BMNH syntype examined].

Ponera mina Syntype workers, queens and ergatoid male, AUSTRALIA: Norfolk I., 1915 (A.M. Lea) (MCZC and possibly SAMA) [not seen].

Ponera argonautorum Holotype queen, RUSSIA: Black Sea Coast, Anapa, 26.viii.1925, Nr. 422 (K.V. Arnol’di) (probably in ZMUM) [not seen].

Ponera mumfordi Syntype workers, FRENCH POLYNESIA: Marquesas Is, Uapou; Kohepu (Tekohepu) summit, alt. 3000 ft, 3.xi.1931 (LeBronnec) (probably in MCZC) [not seen].

Ponera mesoepinotalis Holotype worker, SUDAN: Imatong Mts, 2.viii.1939, 6400 ft, no. 1395 (N.A. Weber) (not in MCZC, presumed lost).

Ponera breviceps LECTOTYPE dealate queen (by present designation) and two paralectotype dealate queens, GUINEA: Nimba (Lamotte) (MNHN) [examined].

Ponera ursoidea LECTOTYPE worker-queen intercaste (not worker) (by present designation), GUINEA: Crête de Nion, 1300 m. (no collector’s name, probably Lamotte) (MNHN) [examined].

Ponera sulcitana Holotype worker; paratype workers, queens and ergatoid male, ITALY: Sardinia, Grotta dei Fiori presso Carbonia (A. Serra) (IZUC) [not seen].

Additional References
Bolton, B. and B. L. Fisher. 2011. Taxonomy of Afrotropical and West Palaearctic ants of the ponerine genus Hypoponera Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa. 2843:1-118.