Holcoponera malaensis

The type series from Malaita Island came from beneath the bark of a dead tree. Another collection, from [Makira], was noted as being collected in sifted litter from primary rainforest. This is the only species of the epinotalis group known from the Solomon Islands.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - The only other species of the epinotalis group with extensive longitudinal parallel sculpturing on the fourth abdominal tergite is Holcoponera cribrata. In that species the sculpturing consists of more regularly parallel costulae and rarely extends over half the dorsal surface of the tergite, and the postpetiole is mostly smooth with scattered punctae, not rugulose-punctate.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Solomon Islands.

Castes
Males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 * . Rhopalopone malaensis Mann, 1919: 281 (w.) SOLOMON IS (Malaita I.).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Solomon Is: Malaita I., Auki, 1916 (W.M. Mann).
 * Type-depository: MCZC.
 * Lattke, 2004: 176 (q.).
 * Combination in Gnamptogenys: Brown, 1958g: 228;
 * combination in Holcoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
 * Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1924b: 242 (in key); Wheeler, W.M. 1935g: 10; Brown, 1958g: 228, 303; Bolton, 1995b: 209; Lattke, 2004: 175 (redescription); Sarnat, et al. 2013: 69; Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
 * Distribution: Solomon Is.

Lattke (2004) - Cephalic posterior margin concave with shallow median notch in frontal view, anterior clypeal margin uniformly convex. Postpetiolar dorsum rugose-punctate (usually transversely oriented), slightly smoother medially; abdominal sternite 4 mostly smooth with round punctae.

Worker
Lattke (2004) - Metrics (n = 5): HL 0.68-0.71, HW 0.53-0.55, ML 0.26-0.32, SL 0.47-0.49, ED 0.06-0.07, WL 0.79-0.89 mm. CI 0.75-0.80, SI 0.89-0.91, MI 0.47-0.60, OI 0.11-0.13. Posterior cephalic margin with shallow median concave notch in frontal view, anterior clypeal margin uniformly convex; clypeus medially with longitudinally costulae that extend onto lamella, laterally rugulose-punctate, with broad smooth sulcus just posterad of mandibular insertion; vertex mostly smooth with shallow punctae laterally. Lateral pronotal face with low longitudinal strigulae; anepisternum mostly smooth with some punctae, frequently separated by impressed line or abrupt elevation from depressed, mostly smooth anterodorsal metapleural surface; katepisternum and posteroventral metapleuron longitudinally strigulose; mesosomal dorsum longitudinally rugulose-punctate, mostly impunctate medially; promesonotal suture appears as fine transverse line of variable length; sculpture on mesonotum sometimes smooth; propodeal declivity laterally smooth with median longitudinal carinulae, posterolateral ridge lacking or weakly developed, propodeal dorsal margin joins straight declivitous margin through blunt obtuse angle in lateral view. Postpetiolar dorsum rugose-punctate, slightly smoother medially; postpetiole rugulose-punctate to areolate in lateral view; fourth abdominal tergite dorsally longitudinally rugulose-punctate, medially impunctate, laterally longitudinally strigulose with scattered punctae; fourth abdominal sternite mostly smooth with round punctae. Dorsum of thorax and abdominal segments 1-4 with scattered erect to subdecumbent hairs. Head, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster brown; mandibles, antennae, legs ferruginous brown.

Queen
Lattke (2004) - Metrics (n = 1): HL 0.75, HW 0.60, ML 0.29, SL 0.51, ED 0.10, WL 0.89 mm. CI 0.80, SI 0.86, MI 0.49, OI 0.16. Ergatoid. Pronotal dorsum with arching rugulose-punctae; pronotum laterally with low diagonal to longitudinal strigulae and scattered punctae; anepisternum either smooth or strigulose; katepisternum longitudinally strigulose; metapleuron anterodorsally smooth with weak strigulae, posteroventrally longitudinally strigulose; mesoscutum longitudinally rugulose-punctate; scutellum with longitudinal or diagonal low undulations; lateral propodeal face densely areolate, propodeal dorsum transversely strigulose.

Type Material
Lattke (2004) - Syntype workers: Solomon Islands, Malaita Island, Auki (Mann) [Examined]

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1958. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. II. Tribe Ectatommini (Hymenoptera). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 118: 173-362.
 * Lattke J. E. 2004. A taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the ant genus Gnamptogenys Roger in Southeast Asia and Australasia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). University of California Publications in Entomology 122: 1-266.
 * Mann W. M. 1919. The ants of the British Solomon Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 63:273-391.
 * Mann William. 1916. The Ants of the British Solomon Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 63(7): 273-391
 * Mann, W.M. 1919. The ants of the British Solomon Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology of Harvard College 63: 273-391
 * Wheeler W.M. 1935. Check list of the ants of Oceania. Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum 11(11):1-56.
 * Wheeler, William Morton.1935.Checklist of the Ants of Oceania.Occasional Papers 11(11): 3-56
 * Wilson Edward O. 1959. Adaptive Shift and Dispersal in a Tropical Ant Fauna. Evolution 13(1): 122-144