Holcoponera major

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - This is the only known species of Holcoponera with elongate propodeal spiracles, instead of the rounded spiracles typical for all other species. The nearest relative with elongate to slit-shaped propodeal spiracles is the Neotropical genus Ectatomma F. Smith, but the spiracles in Ectatomma have a vertical longitudinal axis versus a horizontal axis for Holcoponera atrata. Holcoponera major bears some resemblance to H. atrata, having similar coloration and dimensions. Both are the largest-bodied species of the epinotalis group, but the clypeal lamella of H. atrata has a medially angular anterior margin, and its petiolar node is rectangular shaped in lateral view.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Castes
The Queen and male are unknown.

Nomenclature

 * . Rhopalopone major Emery, 1901h: 154 (w.) NEW GUINEA (Papua New Guinea).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Papua New Guinea: Sattelberg (L. Biró).
 * Type-depositories: MSNG, NHMB.
 * Combination in Gnamptogenys: Brown, 1958g: 228;
 * combination in Holcoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1911d: 35; Wheeler, W.M. 1924b: 242 (in key); Chapman & Capco, 1951: 27; Brown, 1958g: 228; Bolton, 1995b: 209; Lattke, 2004: 173 (redescription); Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
 * Distribution: Papua New Guinea.

Lattke (2004) - Clypeus longitudinally costulate; metanotal sulcus present; petiolar node slightly triangular with bluntly rounded apex in lateral view; opening of propodeal spiracle elongate, almost slitlike. Body black; antennae, legs, and mandibles brown.

Worker
Lattke (2004) - Syntype (n = 1): HL 0.95, HW 0.83, ML 0.42, SL 0.70, ED 0.08, WL 1.27 mm. CI 0.87, SI 0.85, MI 0.50, OI 0.09. Anterior clypeal margin evenly convex in dorsal view; clypeus longitudinally costulate; eyes 3 ommatidia in width and 4-5 in length. Mesosomal dorsum with longitudinal strigulae mixed with sparse piligerous punctae, strigulae denser posterad; pronotum longitudinally costulate dorsad and ventrally mostly smooth in lateral view; promesonotal suture weakly impressed; metanotal sulcus present; katepisternum densely strigose; metapleuron fairly smooth and shining, longitudinal costulae present over bulla; dorsal propodeal margin meets declivitous margin through blunt angle in lateral view, declivity with slight convexity caused by spiracle; propodeal spiracle elongate in lateral view, almost slitlike with horizontal longitudinal axis. Petiolar node slightly triangular with bluntly rounded apex in lateral view; dorsum of postpetiole longitudinally rugulose-punctate; postpetiolar sternite weakly strigulose, anterior process with anterior triangular cleft in ventral view; tergite of fourth abdominal segment similar to postpetiolar dorsum but with smaller punctures. Dorsum of thorax and abdominal segments 1-4 with scattered erect to subdecumbent hairs. Body black; antennae, legs, and mandibles brown.

Type Material
Lattke (2004) - Syntype workers: New Guinea, Sattelberg (Biró) [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.
 * Emery C. 1901. Formicidarum species novae vel minus cognitae in collectione Musaei Nationalis Hungarici, quas in Nova-Guinea, colonia germanica, collegit L. Biró. Publicatio tertia. Természetrajzi Füzetek 25: 152-160.
 * Emery C. 1911. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125.
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
 * 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.
 * Viehmeyer H. 1912. Ameisen aus Deutsch Neuguinea gesammelt von Dr. O. Schlaginhaufen. Nebst einem Verzeichnisse der papuanischen Arten. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlichen Zoologischen und Anthropologische-Ethnographischen Museums zu Dresden 14: 1-26.
 * Wilson Edward O. 1959. Adaptive Shift and Dispersal in a Tropical Ant Fauna. Evolution 13(1): 122-144