Neoponera schoedli

The type series was extracted from forest litter. Individual foragers were collected in June and November.

Identification
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The worker of N. schoedli is very similar to the worker of Neoponera carbonaria. The two species can be separated as N. schoedli lacks the extensive bluish reflections of N. carbonaria and is less sculptured, specifically the upper half of the mesopleuron (anepisternum) mostly lacks the obliquely horizontal striae, which are present in N. carbonaria.

Pachycondyla schoedli is also similar to Neoponera aenescens. It can be easily separated as the mesopleuron is mostly smooth and glossy, not roughly sculptured and dull as in N. aenescens. The extensive and golden appressed pubescence of N. schoedli could cause confusion with the worker of Neoponera eleonorae. It can be easily separated by the straight anterior face of the petiole, which is convex and somewhat angulate anteriorly in N. eleonorae.

Two workers in the LACM (Venezuela, Trujillo) are similar and intermediate between N. schoedli and N. aenescens, but the punctate head and the completely sculptured mesopleuron of these workers suggest that they are more closely related to N. aenescens.

Distribution
ECUADOR (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador.

Habitat
This species was found in a montane forest at 1978 - 2150 meters elevation. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  schoedli. Pachycondyla schoedli Mackay & Mackay, 2006: 49, figs. 1  3 (w.) ECUADOR. Combination in Neoponera: Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014: 151. See also: Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 508.

Worker
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The worker is a moderate sized (total length 10 mm) black mostly shiny ant with some bluish or greenish reflections. The mandibles have approximately 10 teeth. The anterior border of the clypeus is broadly convex but concave medially. The malar carina is absent, but a small raised area is located near the posterior edge of the clypeus and the surface is slightly raised at the position where the carina would be expected to be present. The head is 2.35 mm long and 2.15 mm wide. The sides of the head are broadly convex, the posterior margin is concave. The eyes are small (maximum diameter 0.48 mm) located about one maximum diameter from the anterior margin of the head. The scape is long (length 2.5 mm) and extends about two funicular segments past the posterior lateral corner of the head. The pronotal shoulder has a slightly developed margin; the metanotal suture is depressed below the level of the remainder of the mesosoma and breaks the sculpture on the dorsum of the mesosoma. The propodeal spiracle is slit-shaped. The petiole is moderately thickened when viewed in profile with poorly developed spiracular horns, a straight anterior face and a broadly rounded posterior face, which meets the anterior face near the anterior edge. The posterior lateral edges of the petiole are sharp. The subpetiolar process is poorly developed and consists of a tiny ventrally directed anterior angle and a thick posterior process, which gradually diminishes in width. The anterior surface of the postpetiole is weakly angulate between the two faces, the stridulatory file is well developed on the second pretergite, but the arolia are weakly developed. The lobes of the metasternal process are triangular-shaped and widely spaced, similar to the condition in P. aenescens and Neoponera fauveli.

Erect hairs are abundant on the mandibles and clypeus (up to 0.6 mm in length), absent on the shaft of the scape except at the apex. A few scattered hairs are present on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the head, but are generally absent on the sides and the posterior margin, the dorsum of the mesosoma has a few scattered short (0.2 mm) erect hairs, as does the petiole and the gaster. The coxae and femora have a few erect hairs, the tibiae are without erect hairs, except near the region of the spur. Golden appressed pubescence is present on most surfaces, but is not especially dense and does not hide the sculpturing.

Most surfaces are moderately to strongly shining, but with punctures, including the head, dorsum of the mesosoma, sides of the mesosoma, petiole and gaster. Moderate bluish reflections are present, especially on the head and the mesosoma.

Type Material
ECUADOR: Pichincha, Bellavista Reserve. Holotype worker, 10 paratype workers (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Etymology
This species was named in honor of the memory of Stefan Schödl of the Naturhistorisches Museum in Wien, Vienna, Austria, friend and myrmecologist, recognizing all of his assistance of our work. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)