Holcoponera luzonensis

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - This species is similar in appearance to Gnamptogenys epinotalis. Gnamptogenys epinotalis and Gnamptogenys luzonensis are both among the smallest Gnamptogenys, but G. epinotalis has a metanotal sulcus that is lacking in G. luzonensis. The propodeum of ''G. luzonensis may have partially effaced sculpture, but longitudinal strigulae and foveolae are usually present. The only other known species of the epinotalis group from the Philippines is Gnamptogenys cribrata, which usually has a dark brown mesosoma and a rectangular-shaped petiolar node in lateral view. The posterior mesosomal sides of G. cribrata have more strigulae and undulations, compared with the mostly smooth to longitudinally carinulate cuticle in G. luzonensis. The punctae on the postpetiole of G. cribrata are abruptly impressed anterad and gradually slope posterad compared with the uniformly impressed punctae in G. epinotalis. G. cribrata is on average larger, but there is some overlap at the higher range of dimensions for G. cribrata. Only ergatoid queens are known for this species.

Distribution
This taxon was described and is only known from the Philippines.

Castes
Males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  luzonensis. Rhopalopone luzonensis Wheeler, W.M. 1929g: 30 (w.q.) PHILIPPINES. Combination in Gnamptogenys: Brown, 1958g: 228. See also: Lattke, 2004: 170.

Lattke (2004) - Clypeal lamella bluntly angular laterally and medially projecting as blunt, very obtuse angle; propodeal declivitous face mostly with faint longitudinal undulations. Petiolar node shaped as apically truncated triangle in lateral view.

Worker
Lattke (2004) - Metrics (n = 6): HL 0.52-0.59, HW 0.43-0.47, ML 0.23-0.30, SL 0.38-0.41, ED 0.03-0.06, WL 0.65-0.72 mm. CI 0.78-0.92, SI 0.82-0.88, MI 0.52-0.65, OI 0.07-0.13. Head with anterior clypeal margin mostly convex in frontal view, lamella laterally bluntly angular and medially projecting as obtuse blunt angle; clypeus with posteromedian longitudinal carinulae, laterally rugulose-punctate, mostly smooth anteromedially; vertex mostly smooth with anterior punctate margin and brief posteromedian longitudinal strigulae; eye approximately four ommatidia in diameter. Pronotal dorsum longitudinally strigulose-punctate, medially impunctate with shallow strigulae; promesonotal suture absent or weakly impressed; lateral pronotal face dorsally longitudinally strigulose to undulate with punctae, ventrally mostly smooth; anepisterum undulate with some punctae; katepisternum longitudinally strigulose; metapleuron posteroventrally with longitudinal carinulae, anterodorsally depressed, mostly smooth; mesometanotum ranging from strigulose to medially smooth with strigulose-punctate sculpturing limited to sides and toward propodeum; propodeal declivity mostly with faint longitudinal undulations, posterolaterally with low triangular ridge, lateral propodeal face longitudinally strigulose. Petiolar node forms apically truncated triangle in lateral view; postpetiolar dorsum mostly smooth with abundant piligerous punctae, punctae usually sparser posterad; postpetiole strigulose-punctate in lateral view, sculpturing denser anterad than posterad; abdominal tergite 4 dorsally like postpetiole but with smaller depressions; fourth abdominal sternite mostly smooth laterally with scattered, scalloped punctae. Dorsum of thorax and abdominal segments 1-4 with scattered erect to subdecumbent hairs. Head, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster ferruginous brown; mandibles, antennae, legs ferruginous.

Queen
Lattke (2004) - Metrics (n = 1): HL 0.61, HW 0.54, ML 0.28, SL 0.45, ED 0.08, WL 0.78 mm. CI 0.82, SI 0.89, MI 0.55, OI 0.55. Ergatoid. Pronotal dorsum with arching rugulose-punctate sculpturing; mesoscutum with median narrow band of longitudinal carinulae, laterally longitudinally strigulose; scutellum smooth; propodeum rugulose-punctate; mesometapleuron and lateral propodeal face longitudinally strigulose. Punctae on postpetiolar dorsum shallower and smaller in diameter posterad.

Type Material
Lattke (2004) - Syntype workers, queen: Philippines, Luzon Island, Los Baños [Examined].