Hypoponera malayana

Identification
Wheeler (1929) - I am unable to refer this rather distinct species to any of the East Indian members of the genus of which I have seen specimens or descriptions. It is related to P. punctatissima Roger, but is clearly distinct in color, sculpture, the structure of the epinotum, petiole, antennae of the worker, etc.

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

Nomenclature

 *  malayana. Ponera malayana Wheeler, W.M. 1929g: 35 (w.m.) WEST MALAYSIA. Combination in Hypoponera: Bolton, 1995b: 215.

Worker
Length 2.5 mm.

Head about one fifth longer than broad, slightly narrower in front than behind, with broadly and feebly concave posterior border; sides of front flattened, with a distinct though shallow, longitudinal impression on the upper surface. Eyes minute, consisting of only two or three facets situated very near the anterior corners of the head. Clypeus short and broad, with evenly rounded, entire anterior border, sinuate on the sides, convex but scarcely carinate posteriorly between the frontal carinae. Mandibles rather large, triangular, with nearly straight external borders and strongly developed internal angles, the apical borders with three distinct terminal and four or five more irregular and less distinct basal teeth. Frontal carinae rather small; frontal groove very distinct, extending back to the middle of the head. Antennal scapes almost reaching the posterior border of the head; funiculi slender at the base, thickened apically; joints 2-5 very short and transverse, remaining joints broader than long, except the last, which is as long as the three preceding joints together. Pronotum as long as broad, rounded above and on the sides. Promesonotal suture distinct and strongly impressed; mesoepinotal suture obsolete. Mesonotum as broad as long, broad and rounded anteriorly, narrowed behind. Epinotum broader than long, with straight, subequal base and declivity meeting at a rounded but distinct angle. Petiole as broad as the epinotum, somewhat broader behind than long; the node in profile nearly as thick above as below, with flattened, perpendicular anterior and posterior surfaces and rounded dorsal border; the ventral surface with a thick, blunt anterior projection. Postpetiole nearly as long as broad and nearly as broad in front as behind. First gastric segment of a similar shape but somewhat longer; the constriction between the two segments pronounced. Legs moderately slender.

Mandibles smooth and shining, sparsely punctate. Clypeus, head and thorax subopaque, densely and sharply punctate, the punctures with shining centers. Abdomen shining, the petiole, postpetiole and gaster less densely and somewhat more finely punctate than the thorax; remainder of the gaster even smoother and more shining. Scapes subopaque, very densely and finely punctate, legs with similar but more superficial sculpture and therefore somewhat more shining.

Hairs and pubescence yellow, the former rather short and sparse, confined to the clypeus and gaster, the pubescence distinct, rather abundant and appressed, most conspicuous on the abdomen, very fine and appressed on the appendages.

Ferruginous red; legs, including coxae, and gaster behind the first segment, brownish yellow.

Male
Length 2 mm.

Head rounded-rectangular, as broad as long, eyes and ocelli rather small, the former less than half as long as the sides of the head and not very convex. Mandibles small, with long acuminate tips and a few indistinct basal denticles. Clypeus much as in the worker. Frontal groove deeply impressed in front of the anterior ocellus. Antennal scapes only 1 1/2 times as long as broad; first funicular joint as long as broad, remaining joints cylindrical and, except the last, less than twice as long as broad, terminal joint as long as the two preceding together. Thorax through wing-insertions broader than the head; both the pro-and mesonotum broader than long; epinotum sloping and evenly rounded, without base and declivity. Petiole much like that of the worker.

Shining; body finely and, superficially punctate; head slightly more opaque.

Hairs almost lacking; pubescence much as in the worker but more uniformly distributed.

Sordid brown; anterior portion of head, mandibles, antennae and tarsi paler and more yellowish.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Wheeler W. M. 1929. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Formosa, the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 24: 27-64.