Neoponera bucki

Little is known about this species. A nest was reported in the subsoil by Borgmeier (1927).

Identification
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): It would be unlikely that Neoponera bucki would be confused with any of the others in the genus. The complete absence of hairs on the dorsum of the mesosoma, petiole and first two terga of the gaster would separate it from nearly all of the others. The unusual shape of the petiole, with a broadly convex and rounded anterior face and the distinctly concave posterior face is unlike that of any of the other species in the genus. Neoponera cavinodis has a somewhat similar petiole, but also has a malar carina.

Distribution
Venezuela, Brazil. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

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

Nomenclature

 *  bucki. Leptogenys bucki Borgmeier, 1927b: 57 (w.) BRAZIL. [Also described as new by Borgmeier, 1928a: 39.] Combination in Euponera: Borgmeier, 1959a: 315; in Mesoponera: Kempf, 1972a: 141; in Pachycondyla: Brown, in Bolton, 1995b: 303; in Neoponera: Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014: 151. See also: Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 222.

Worker
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The worker is a small (total length 6 mm) dark brown ant with reddish brown appendages. The mandibles have approximately 12 teeth, which alternate in length. The anterior medial border of the clypeus is angulate and is followed by a sharp carina, which extends posteriorly between the frontal lobes. The sides of the head are convex and rounded, the eyes are relatively large (maximum diameter 0.28 mm), approximately the length between the anterior edge of the eye and the anterior edge of the head (side view). The malar carina is absent. The antennal scape extends past the posterior lateral corner of the head by about the first funicular segment; the posterior border of the head is weakly concave. The outline of the dorsum of the mesosoma is nearly straight. The pronotal shoulder is rounded; the metanotal suture is not marked on the dorsum of the mesosoma and is poorly indicated on the sides. The propodeal spiracle is slit-shaped and the propodeum is angulate between the two faces. The posterior lateral edges of the propodeum form a sharp carina. The petiole is thickened when viewed in profile, the anterior face is convex and rounded, the posterior face is concave and surrounded by a carina. The anterior face of the postpetiole is broadly rounded into the dorsal face.

Erect hairs are sparse with a few present on the mandibles and clypeus, frontal lobes, absent on the scapes, remainder of the dorsal surface of head and the posterior border of head, a few hairs are present on ventral surface of the head, hairs are absent on the dorsal surface of the mesosoma, the petiole and most of the gaster (present on the posterior part of the gaster). Erect hairs are present on the front coxa, but absent on the remainder of the other legs. Fine silver appressed pubescence is scattered on most surfaces, especially the dorsum of the gaster.

The mandibles are weakly shining, with scattered punctures, the remainder of the ant is mostly dull, especially the coriaceous head, meso-soma, petiole and gaster.

Queen
No Queens are known to have been collected for this species.

Male
No Males are known to have been collected for this species.

Type Material
Lectotype designated, NHMB, 1 cotype seen, MCZC. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Type Locality Information
Brasil: Rio Grande do Sul: Porto Alegre (Gloria). As reported in Mackay and Mackay (2010)

Etymology
This species was named after the collector father P. Pio Buck. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)