Key to Hypoponera of India

Key to Indian species of Hypoponera based on the worker caste (from Bharti, H., Akbar, S.A. et al., 2015).

1

 * Eyes absent => 2
 * Eyes present => 3

2

 * Metanotal groove absent; in dorsal view the mesosoma surface is not clearly interrupted by a depressed transverse groove between mesonotum and propodeum => Hypoponera assmuthi
 * Metanotal groove present; in dorsal view the mesosoma surface is sharply and conspicuously interrupted by a depressed transverse groove between mesonotum and propodeum => Hypoponera kashmirensis

3

 * Base of cinctus of second gastral tergite (Abd. IV) strongly cross-ribbed => 4
 * Base of cinctus of second gastral tergite (Abd. IV) smooth, without cross-ribs => 5

4

 * Mesosomal profile discontinuous, interrupted at the deep metanotal groove; eyes well developed with 4-7 distinct facets, brown colored => Hypoponera schmidti
 * Mesosomal profile continuous, metanotal groove very shallow; eyes reduced without any distinct facets, yellow colored => Hypoponera confinis

5

 * Petiole short, nodiform; mesonotalmesopleural suture absent => Hypoponera ragusai
 * Petiole squamiform; mesonotal-mesopleural suture present => '6

6

 * In profile pro-mesonotum strongly convex, discontinuous at the deep metanotal groove; dorsum of propodeum oblique and lower than pro-mesonotum; emargination of vertex deep => Hypoponera shattucki
 * In profile mesosoma nearly flat, continuous, metanotal groove very shallow; dorsum of propodeum nearly straight and level with promesonotum; emargination of vertex shallow => 7

7

 * Smaller species, HL 0.52-0.55, HW 0.41-0.43, HS 0.46-0.49; petiole node shorter in profile LPeI 27-31 => Hypoponera aitkenii
 * Larger species, HL 0.55-0.59, HW 0.44-0.48, HS 0.50-0.53; petiole node longer in profile LPeI 34-40 => Hypoponera wroughtonii