Hypoponera assmuthi

This species seems to be widespread in India although infrequent in collections. It has been found in leaf litter and soil samples.

Identification
Bharti et al. (2015) - Hypoponera abeillei is characterized by presence of distinct cross-ribs at base of cinctus of second gastral tergite, which are absent in Hypoponera assmuthi.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  assmuthi. Ponera abeillei r. assmuthi Forel, 1905b: 182 (w.) INDIA. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 213. Raised to species: Bolton & Fisher, 2011: 24 (in text).

Worker
Bharti et al. (2015) - HL 0.55-0.58, HW 0.43-0.46, HS 0.49-0.52, SL 0.37-0.41, PrW 0.30-0.33, WL 0.68-0.72, HFL 0.36-0.40, PeNL 0.17-0.19, PeH 0.32-0.33, PeNW 0.23-0.24, PeS, 0.24-0.25, CI 77-79, SI 86-90, PeNI 71-78, LPeI 52-55, DPeI 129-140 (19 measured).

Eyes absent. In full-face view apex of scape, when laid straight back from its insertion, fails to reach the midpoint of the posterior margin; SI 86-90. Impression that extends back along midline of head from the frontal lobes fails to reach the midlength of the vertex. Cephalic dorsum minutely reticulate-punctate. Mesonotal-mesopleural suture absent; pronotal dorsum with minute punctulae, almost smooth. Lateroventral surfaces of head almost smooth, only with widely separated minute punctulae. With mesosoma in dorsal view the metanotal groove absent. Propodeal declivity rounds into the sides through a blunt angle, without a carina or sharp margin separating them. Mesosoma laterally unsculptured. Petiole in profile with a weakly convex dorsum; the anterior and posterior faces vertical, straight and parallel, not converging dorsally; dorsal surface almost flat. Subpetiolar process with a small, shallow ventral angle. Posterior surface of petiole node smooth and shiny. Maximum width of first gastral tergite in dorsal view distinctly less than the width of the second tergite at its midlength. First gastral tergite in dorsal view as long as or slightly broader than long, much narrower across the anterior margin than across the posterior margin and with the sides distinctly divergent posteriorly. Base of cinctus of second gastral tergite smooth without any cross-ribs. Sides of second gastral segment straight and parallel for most of their length in dorsal view; narrowing extremely feebly only at the cinctus anteriorly and the apex posteriorly. Post-tergite of second gastral segment, from posterior margin of cinctus to apex, as long as broad to slightly broader than long. Disc of second gastral tergite shallowly punctate. Full adult colour light brownish yellow.

Queen
Bharti et al. (2015) - HL 0.61-0.62, HW 0.49- 0.50, HS 0.55-0.56, SL 0.39-0.40, PrW 0.37-0.38, WL 0.76-0.77, HFL 0.39-0.40, PeNL 0.17-0.19, PeH 0.33-0.34, PeNW 0.25-0.26, PeS 0.25-0.26, CI 80-81, SI 79-80, PeNI 67-68, LPeI 53-56, DPeI 137-147 (4 measured).

Characters as in worker, with modifications expected for caste and the following differences: colour brownish, darker than her workers. Punctulae more pronounced and petiole node more slender than in workers. Eyes relatively small, short setae project between the ommatidia. Ocelli prominent however, lateral ocelli reduced and barely visible in one of the queens.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
 * Dad J. M., S. A. Akbar, H. Bharti, and A. A. Wachkoo. 2019. Community structure and ant species diversity across select sites ofWestern Ghats, India. Acta Ecologica Sinica 39: 219–228.