Dinoponera grandis

This species has the smallest colonies (average of 14 workers) in the genus. Reproduction via gamergates, with the complete loss of the queen caste.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay.

Nomenclature

 * . Ponera grandis Guérin-Méneville, 1838: 206 (w.) BRAZIL (Minas Gerais).
 * Type-material: holotype (?) worker.
 * [Note (i): no indication of number of specimens is given. Note (ii): Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22, imply that a lectotype was designated by Diller, 1990: 70, but this designation refers only to gigantea Perty, not to grandis Guérin-Méneville.]
 * Type-locality: Brazil: Minas Gerais (“dans la province des Mines”).
 * Type-depository: MNHN.
 * Emery, 1911a: 220 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986a: 387 (l.).
 * Combination in Dinoponera: Roger, 1861a: 38.
 * Synonym of gigantea: Roger, 1861a: 38; Mayr, 1863: 407; Roger, 1863b: 19; Dalla Torre, 1893: 31; Forel, 1895b: 113; Emery, 1911d: 63; Borgmeier, 1923: 63.
 * [Note: these authors all gave grandis as senior synonym, but gigantea would have priority.]
 * Junior synonym of gigantea: Borgmeier, 1937b: 225; Kempf, 1971: 371; Kempf, 1972a: 97; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 139.
 * Status as species: Smith, F. 1858b: 95; Roger, 1861a: 38; Mayr, 1862: 730; Mayr, 1863: 407; Roger, 1863b: 19; Dalla Torre, 1893: 31; von Jhering, 1894: 380; Forel, 1895b: 113; Emery, 1896h: 625; Emery, 1901a: 47; Forel, 1904b: 369; Forel, 1908e: 64; Emery, 1911d: 63; Mann, 1916: 408; Luederwaldt, 1918: 35; Borgmeier, 1923: 63; Santschi, 1939f: 160; Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22 (redescription).
 * Senior synonym of australis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
 * Senior synonym of brevis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
 * Senior synonym of bucki: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
 * Senior synonym of nigricolor: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
 * Senior synonym of snellingi: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
 * Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay.
 * australis. Dinoponera grandis subsp. australis Emery, 1901a: 48 (w.) BRAZIL (São Paulo), ARGENTINA (Misiones), PARAGUAY.
 * Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Borgmeier, 1937b: 227 (in text)).
 * Type-locality: lectotype Brazil: São Paulo, Avanhandava (no collector’s name) (by restriction of Borgmeier, 1937b: 227).
 * [Note: Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135, record 5 syntypes from the type-locality; other original syntypes are from Argentina: Misiones, 1881 (Berg), Misiones, Giabibiri, iii.1884 (G. Bove), and Paraguay: Rio Apa (Balzan).]
 * Type-depositories: MZSP (lectotype); MSNG (paralectotypes).
 * Santschi, 1921g: 85 (m.); Borgmeier, 1937b: 228 (q.).
 * Subspecies of grandis: Forel, 1907e: 1; Forel, 1909a: 266; Emery, 1911d: 63; Santschi, 1912e: 521; Bruch, 1914: 214; Gallardo, 1918b: 51 (redscription); Santschi, 1921g: 85; Borgmeier, 1923: 63; Santschi, 1929a: 416.
 * Status as species: Borgmeier, 1937b: 227; Kempf, 1971: 382 (redescription); Kempf, 1972a: 96; Zolessi, et al. 1988: 2; Brandão, 1991: 340; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Wild, 2007b: 39; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135 (redescription); Feitosa, 2015c: 98; Guénard & Economo, 2015: 228; Escárraga, et al. 2017: 134 (in key).
 * Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
 * brevis. Dinoponera australis var. brevis Borgmeier, 1937b: 227.
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Paraguay: (no further data) (Reichensperger).
 * Type-depository: NHMB.
 * [First available use of Dinoponera grandis subsp. australis var. brevis Santschi, 1929a: 416 (w.) PARAGUAY; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
 * Junior synonym of australis: Kempf, 1971: 382; Kempf, 1972a: 96; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135.
 * Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
 * bucki. Dinoponera australis subsp. bucki Borgmeier, 1937b: 228, figs. 7, 9 (w.m.) BRAZIL (Rio Grande do Sul).
 * Type-material: lectotype male (by designation of Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 23), 2 paralectotype workers.
 * Type-locality: lectotype Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul, Palmeira das Missões, 27.i.1929, no. 4.826 (P. Buck); paralectotypes with same data.
 * Type-depository: MZSP.
 * Subspecies of australis: Kempf, 1971: 386; Kempf, 1972a: 97; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135.
 * Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
 * nigricolor. Dinoponera australis subsp. nigricolor Borgmeier, 1937b: 228, figs. 5, 6, 8 (w.q.m.) BRAZIL (Goiás).
 * Type-material: lectotype male (by designation of Kempf, 1971: 387), 6+ paralectotype workers, 1 paralectotype “ergatoid queen”.
 * [Note: Kempf, 1971: 387, points out that the “ergatoid queen” is in fact a mermithergate.]
 * Type-locality: lectotype Brazil: Goyaz (= Goiás), Campinas, 5.v.1933, at light (P.J.S. Schwarzmaier); paralectotypes: 6 workers, 1 “ergatoid” Brazil: Goyaz (= Goiás), Campinas, 6.ii.1936 (R. Spitz), and “several workers from the same locality (Campinas), taken at different times” (P.J.S. Schwarzmaier).]
 * Type-depository: MZSP.
 * Subspecies of australis: Kempf, 1971: 387; Kempf, 1972a: 97; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135.
 * Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
 * snellingi. Dinoponera snellingi Lenhart, et al. 2013: 152, figs. 4D, 4I, 4N, 5B, 7, 9B, 10B, 11B, 13 (m.) BRAZIL (Mato Grosso do Sul).
 * Type-material: holotype male, 2 paratype males.
 * Type-locality: holotype Brazil: Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, 12.x.1989, #12404 (W.P. Mackay); paratypes with same data but 8.x.1989, #12359.
 * Type-depositories: MZSP (holotype); MCZC, WEMC (paratypes).
 * Status as species: Feitosa, 2015c: 98; Escárraga, et al. 2017: 134 (in key).
 * Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.

Type Material

 * Dinoponera australis: Lenhart et al. (2013) -Worker. BRAZIL: S. Paulo: Avanhandava [5 syntypes workers examined, ]; additional syntypes from PARAGUAY: Rio Apa, (leg.) Balzan, (leg.); ARGENTINA: Missiones, 1881, Berg (leg.), Giabibiri, Misiones, marzo 1884 G. Bove (leg.)
 * Dinoponera snellingi: Holotype deposited in, BRAZIL, Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, 12 Oct 1989, W.P. Mackay #12404, 2 paratypes, same locality, 8 Oct 1989, #12359 collected at house light (deposited in the and ).

Taxonomic Notes
Lenhart et al. (2013), discussing Dinoponera australis bucki - The male coloration difference is the basis for the designation of the subspecies D. australis bucki and D. a. nigricolor. These may be separate species or the product of intra-specific variation, but this cannot be diagnosed here as the types designated by Borgmeier (1937) were not available to us and the extent of intra-specific variation could not be determined from the limited sample size available.

Lenhart et al. (2013), discussing Dinoponera australis nigricolor - The male coloration difference is the basis for the designation of the subspecies D. australis bucki and D. a. nigricolor. These may be separate species or the product of intra-specific variation, but this cannot be diagnosed here as the types designated by Borgmeier (1937) were not available to us and the extent of intra-specific variation could not be determined from the limited sample size available.

Lenhart et al. (2013), discussing Dinoponera snellingi - Male. Specimens of this species are distinct in several respects. The combination of a bicolored body and head possessing bulging compound eyes and ocelli is unique to this species. More definitive is the shape of the aedeagus which possesses a large ventral lobe and finger-like serrated flange. The short broad digitus volsellaris with finely toothed basal lobe is distinctive, as well as the paramere shape.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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