Neoponera zuparkoi

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The worker of N. zuparkoi is very similar to that of the common Neoponera villosa. They are of approximately the same size and the petiole is similar in shape, when viewed in profile. The head is essentially identical when viewed in full-face, including the presence of the malar carina. The gaster is identical with the well-developed stridulatory file. They are immediately separable as N. zuparkoi lacks the pronotal carina (present and sharp in N. villosa) and the mesonotum is longer and rounded convexly posteriorly (shorter and concave posteriorly in N. villosa). The shape of the petiole and the lack of the pronotal carina would separate it from all of the others in the foetida species complex.

Distribution
PERU (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Peru.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  zuparkoi. Pachycondyla zuparkoi Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 580, figs. 114, 267, 685-687 (w.) PERU. Combination in Neoponera: Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014: 152.

Worker
The worker is a relatively large (total length 14 mm) black ant with dark brown appendages. The mandibles have 14-15 teeth, the anterior margin of the clypeus is convex, but slightly concave medially, the head is narrowed anteriorly and posteriorly to the eye and posterior margin is strongly concave. The head length is 3.0 mm; the head width is 2.8 mm. The malar carina is well developed; the eye (0.80 mm in maximum diameter) is located more than one diameter from the anterior edge of the head (side view). The scape (2.96 mm) extends approximately the first two funicular segments past the posterior lateral corner of the head. The pronotum is slightly swollen at the shoulder, but does not form a carina and the side of the pronotum is noticeably concave and depressed below the swollen region. The mesonotum is nearly circular in shape (viewed from above) and the length is 1.7 mm. The propodeal spiracle is slit-shaped. The anterior face of the petiole is vertical and meets the posterior and dorsal faces near the anterior edge. The posterior face is swollen medially, making the outline of the petiole to appear rectangular-shaped. The subpetiolar process is well developed and forms an anterior ventrally directed angle, followed by a part of the process, which is gradually narrowed posteriorly. The stridulatory file is well developed on the second pretergite and the arolia are present between the tarsal claws, but are small. The metasternal process consists of two broad lobes.

Erect hairs are abundant on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the head, the mandibles, the entire shaft of the scape, the posterior margin, the dorsum of the mesosoma and dorsum of the petiole, the subpetiolar process and all surfaces of the gaster. The hairs on the legs are suberect to erect. Appressed pubescence is obvious on the dorsum and sides of the head, the mesosoma, petiole and all surfaces of the gaster.

The mandibles are dull and striate, the dorsum of the head is completely and coarsely punctate, the punctures are somewhat arranged in rows and form poorly defined striae. The dorsum of the mesosoma is mostly finely punctate and weakly shining, the sides of the mesosoma have similar sculpturing and the petiole and gaster are finely punctate and very weakly shining.\

Type Material
PERU: Monson Valley, Tingo Maria. Holotype worker

Etymology
Named in honor of Robert Zuparko of the California Academy of Science, in recognition of his continued support of our work.