Loboponera vigilans

Specimens have been collected from forest litter and downed wood.

Identification
Bolton & Brown (2002) - A member of the vigilans species group. Apart from having the largest eyes known in the genus, vigilans is quickly identified by its unique sculpture.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast.

Nomenclature

 *  vigilans. Loboponera vigilans Bolton & Brown, 2002: 7, fig. 7 (w.q.) IVORY COAST.

Worker
Holotype. TL 6.3, HL 1.20, HW 1.15, CI 96, SL 1.10, SI 96, AL 2.10. Paratypes. TL 6.0–6.6, HL 1.16–1.23, HW 1.06–1.20, CI 91–98, SL 0.99–1.19, SI 95–103, AL 1.91–2.14 (10 measured). Maximum diameter of eye 0.15–0.20. Characters of vigilans group and the following. Maximum diameter of relatively large eye 0.19. First gastral sternite with a median longitudinal carina at least on the posterior half of the sclerite. First sternite at each side of the anteroventral median process forms a short projecting angle or low prominence. First gastral tergite in dorsal view with bluntly angular anterolateral corners; sides slightly constricted behind the corners. Propodeal declivity with a blunt tooth near base and another, smaller, tooth near apex; the basal teeth appear very broad and coarse in dorsal view. Petiole in dorsal view bluntly subtriangular, widest posteriorly. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with coarse broad foveolate punctures, separated by longitudinal costae or elevated narrow flat surfaces. The entirety, including bases of foveolae and surfaces that separate them, is completely covered with extremely fine dense microsculpture and is dull and opaque. This microsculpture also occurs on at least the upper half of the propodeal declivity and is present, though less intensely, on the scapes and legs.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ivory Coast: Abidjan, Banco National Forest, 17.vi.1958, rain forest (E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech).

Paratype workers. 4 workers with same data as holotype; 1 worker, Ivory Coast: Abidjan, Banco Nat. Pk, 14.iii.1977, dead wood sample (I. Löbl); 4 workers, Tai Forest, 17.x.1980 (V. Mahnert & J.-L. Perret); 1 worker, Agboville, Yapo Forest, nr Yapo-Gare, 21–22.iii.1977, forest litter (I. Löbl); 6 workers, Nigeria: Gambari, 16.vii.1969, rotten log (B. Bolton); 1 worker, nr Ibadan, IITA, 18.v.1981, secondary forest, no. 7 (A. Russell-Smith); 1 worker, Cameroun: Nkoemvon, 24.iv.1980 (D. Jackson) (CAS,, , ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B., and W. L. Brown Jr. 2002. Loboponera gen. n. and a review of the Afrotropical Plectroctena genus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the Natural History Museum. Entomology Series 71: 1-18.
 * Fisher B. L. 2004. Diversity patterns of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) along an elevational gradient on Monts Doudou in southwestern Gabon. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences 28: 269-286.
 * Fisher B. L. 2006. Boloponera vicans gen.n. and sp.n. and two new species of the Plectroctena genus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8: 111-118.
 * Yeo K., and A. Hormenyo. 2007. A Rapid Survey of Ants in Ajenjua Bepo and Mamang River Forest Reserves, Eastern Region of Ghana. Pp 27-29. In McCullough, J., P. Hoke, P. Naskrecki, and Y. Osei-Owusu (eds.). 2008. A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Ajenjua Bepo and Mamang River Forest Reserves, Ghana. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 50. Conservation International, Arlington, VA, USA.