Hypoponera ursa

Nothing is known about the biology of Hypoponera ursa.

Identification
Answers the description of Hypoponera jeanneli and apparently is only separated from it by the proportions of the funicular segments. In ursa the sum of the lengths of funicular segments 7–10, divided by the sum of their widths, gives a ratio of about 1.68 in the syntype. In jeanneli and the closely related Hypoponera quaestio the ratio is 1.20–1.46.

A member of the abeillei group.

Key to Afrotropical and West Palaearctic Hypoponera

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya.

Nomenclature

 *  ursa. Ponera ursa Santschi, 1924b: 197 (w.q.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Combination in P. (Hypoponera): Santschi, 1938b: 79; in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 216. See also: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 110.

Worker
Bolton and Fisher (2011) - Measurements: HL 0.62, HW 0.51, HS 0.565, SL 0.44, PrW 0.38, WL 0.80, HFL 0.42, PeNL 0.18, PeH 0.39, PeNW 0.26, PeS 0.277. Indices: CI 82, SI 86, PeNI 68, LPeI 46, DPeI 156.

Answers the description of Hypoponera jeanneli and apparently is only separated from it by the proportions of the funicular segments, as noted in the key. This is not satisfactory because the degree of telescoping and variation of this character in ursa cannot be assessed, and also the view of its funiculus is somewhat distorted by the glue in which it is embedded. For the present it is regarded, somewhat arbitrarily, as dividing the two taxa and this status will have to suffice until the fauna is better known. In ursa the sum of the lengths of funicular segments 7–10, divided by the sum of their widths, gives a ratio of about 1.68 in the syntype. In jeanneli and the closely related Hypoponera quaestio the ratio is 1.20–1.46.

Type Material
Syntype workers and queen, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Ruwenzori, 2000 m (Bequaert) [examined]. Both syntype workers of ursa are damaged. The head and prothorax of one is broken from the remainder of the mesosoma and petiole and mounted separately. The gaster of this specimen is on a separate card, mounted above the second syntype. The latter has the head detached, with much of the right hand side embedded in glue. The only funiculus that remains for examination is on this second specimen and is in the glue, which has probably saved it from damage.