Loboponera politula

Collected from litter and soil in rainforest and cocoa.

Identification
Bolton & Brown (2002) - A member of the obeliscata species group. This species is smaller than Loboponera obeliscata and, beside lacking the unique subpyramidal shape of the petiole node that characterises obeliscata, has much shorter scapes.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria.

Nomenclature

 *  politula. Loboponera politula Bolton & Brown, 2002: 5, figs. 2, 5 (w.) NIGERIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.7, HL 0.73, HW 0.64, CI 88, SL 0.52, SI 81, AL 1.09. Paratypes. TL 3.4–3.7, HL 0.70–0.73, HW 0.60–0.64, CI 85–90, SL 0.48–0.52, SI 79–82, AL 1.01–1.09 (3 measured). Characters of obeliscata group and the following. Eye minute, maximum diameter 0.03. Scape when laid back in full-face view distinctly fails to reach occipital margin. Propodeal lamella narrow at sides, petering out at dorsal angle and not continued onto dorsum; the latter separated from the declivity by an angle. Petiole in profile with anterior margin rising to a blunt anterodorsal angle, behind which the dorsum slopes posteriorly and is flat or very feebly convex. In posterior view the petiole node dorsum is broadly evenly rounded. First gastral tergite in profile or in dorsal view with its anterior face overhanging the helcium.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Nigeria: Ibadan, IITA no. 62, 16.vii.1974 (B.R. Critchley). Paratypes. 1 worker, Ivory Coast: Abidjan, Banco Nat. Pk, 18.iii.1977, primary forest litter (I. Löbl); 1 worker, Ghana: Mampong, 10.viii.1970 (P. Room); 1 worker, Nigeria: near Ibadan, 26.vii.1981, secondary forest, no. 10 (A. Russell-Smith) (BMNH, ).