Lioponera

This is the most species-rich genus that is revived from synonymy under Cerapachys. Lioponera occurs only in the Old World and all species observed thus far prey on other ants.

Distribution
This is the most species-rich lineage outside the true army ants, distributed throughout the Old World, from Africa to Oceania, with a major radiation in Australia.

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Biology
Members of this lineage have been observed both in the field and in the laboratory (Brown 1975, Clark, 1924a and 1924b, Hölldobler 1982, Wilson 1958). As with most other dorylines, they are predators of other ants and a variety of prey species have been reported. Hölldobler (1982) studied an Australian Lioponera species near turneri under laboratory conditions. He showed that scouts recruit nest mates to raids via a pheromone trail, the species exhibited a preference for Pheidole when presented with a variety of other ants, and that the brood of the prey was paralyzed by stinging and stored alive for up to two months. Brood production is apparently not synchronized, at least in some species. Clark (1924a, 1924b) observed the Australian species Lioponera clarki and Lioponera punctatissima foraging singly around its nest but did not mention any prey; he reported that the workers were peculiar in holding their abdomens over the mesosoma when foraging in both species. Some Australian species are said to be crepuscular foragers, active in either morning or evening, while others are capable of raiding during the hottest parts of the day (Clark 1924b). Lioponera nests are found in a variety of micro-habitats, including soil, under stones, in rotting logs or arboreally in hollow twigs (Wilson 1958, Brown 1975).

The means of nest-founding of cerapachyines is unknown. In southwestern Australia, Clark (1923, 1924) found solitary individuals of Lioponera angustata and Lioponera constricta under a stone and a log respectively, and thought that the latter, at least, was founding a nest. However, it is not even certain that these specimens were reproductives, let alone founding queens, since no brood was found with either one, and both are “ergatoid” (i.e., possibly worker) in form.

Nomenclature

 *  LIOPONERA  [Dorylinae]
 * Lioponera Mayr, 1879: 666. Type-species: Lioponera longitarsus, by monotypy.
 * Lioponera subgenus of Cerapachys: Forel, 1892l: 244.
 * Lioponera revived status as genus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 17.
 * Lioponera junior synonym of Cerapachys: Brown, 1975: 19.
 * Lioponera as genus: Borowiec, 2016: 156.
 * NEOPHYRACACES [junior synonym of Cerapachys]
 * Neophyracaces Clark, 1941: 76. Type-species: Phyracaces clarus, by original designation.
 * Neophyracaces junior synonym of Cerapachys: Brown, 1975: 19.
 * Neophyracaces junior synonym of ''Lioponera": Borowiec, 2016: 156.
 * PHYRACACES [junior synonym of Cerapachys]
 * Phyracaces Emery, 1902c: 23. Type-species: Cerapachys mayri, by original designation.
 * Phyracaces junior synonym of Cerapachys: Brown, 1975: 19.
 * Phyracaces junior synonym of ''Lioponera": Borowiec, 2016: 156.