Boloponera vicans

This species is currently known from a single specimen from a rainforest leaf-litter (miniWinkler) sample in the Central African Republic near the border of Gabon, Cameroon, and Congo. The collection details (from leaf litter) in combination with morphological characteristics (e.g., lack of eyes) suggests that it is cryptobiotic. The identity of its prey is unknown but its linear mandibles are suggestive of prey specialization.

Identification
Hawkes (2018) - Boloponera ikemkha is readily distinguished from its only known congener by the highly polished torular lobes and lack of standing hairs on the scapes, mesosoma, petiole and first gastral tergite. These distinctions, as well as others, are noted in the following couplet:


 * Torular lobes distinctly longitudinally striate; first gastral tergite with standing hairs and appressed pubescence; subpetiolar process with a strongly developed posteriorly projecting acute tooth; mesosoma dorsum, scapes and femora longitudinally striate between scattered piligerous foveolae (Central African Republic) . . . . . Boloponera vicans


 * Torular lobes smooth and highly polished without striations; first gastral tergite with appressed pubescence only; subpetiolar process terminating in a blunt slightly recurved posteroventral point, but without a strong posteriorly projecting acute tooth; mesosoma dorsum, scapes and femora smooth and shining between scattered piligerous foveolae (South Africa). . . . . Boloponera ikemkha

See Boloponera for features that separate B. vicans workers from similar Ponerinae genera.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Central African Republic.

Castes
Only known from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  vicans. Boloponera vicans Fisher, 2006: 113, figs. 1-4, 24 (w.) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC.

Worker
Measurements (holotype). TL 3.3, HL 0.79, HW 0.67, CI 85, SL 0.41, SI 62, ML 0.98.

Inner margin of mandible blade with two small, blunt teeth located in basal half of inner margin. Eyes absent. Posterior margin of head slightly concave. Antenna with two-segmented club. Propodeal declivity bordered on each side by raised lamella that does not extend across dorsum. Femoral grove not visible on mesofemur; metafemur with a longitudinal groove present along entire length. Petiole quadrate in profile; subpetiolar process with posterior projecting acute tooth. Abdomen strongly constricted between A3 and A4.

Head, posterior of frontal lobes, densely foveolate punctate; punctures less than one diameter apart and overlaid and separated by reticulate or longitudinal rugae; dorsum of mesosoma with a few shallow punctures, mostly striate. Sides of mesosoma with inconspicuous striae. Propodeal declivity with a few transverse striae but otherwise smooth and highly polished. Petiole with effaced punctures and striae. A3 and A4 with foveolate punctures larger and sparser than on cephalic dorsum; longitudinal rugae present on central dorsum of A3.

Punctures on dorsum of head and mesosoma each with a small suberect hair arising from center, the hair approximately twice the diameter of the puncture. Longer standing hairs present on metanotum, petiole, A3 and A4.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Central African Republic: Prefecture Sangha-Mbaéré, Parc National Dzanga-Ndoki, Mabéa Bai, 21.4 km 53° NE Bayanga; (03° 02' 00" N, 016° 24' 36" E) 510 m, 1.-7.V.2001, leg. B.L. Fisher, rainforest, sifted litter, B.L. Fisher collection code: BLF04000, specimen code: CASENT0401737, 1 worker.