Stictoponera niuguinensis

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - This New Guinea endemic is apparently a sister species of Gnamptogenys macretes, sharing many of the general patterns of sculpturing and the lack of an occipital lobe. G. macretes differs from G. niuguinensis in the following characters: clypeal lamella protruding less, scape mostly smooth, occipital lamella convex, tibiae longitudinally strigulose punctate, femora and tibiae smooth, meso- and metafemora with convex apical paired lobes, fore tarsus opposite strigil with a single stout seta.

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

Castes
Males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  niuguinensis. Gnamptogenys niuguinense Lattke, 2004: 136, fig. 130 (w.q.) NEW GUINEA (Papua New Guinea).

Scape longitudinally strigulose; no occipital lobe; occipital lamella subquadrate. Fore coxa transversely strigose to strigulose in lateral view, femur mostly smooth with scattered low transverse strigulae that become longitudinal apically, meso- and metafemur with angular apical paired lobes. Postpetiolar dorsum transversely strigate anterad, curving posteriorly becoming longitudinal, laterally with transverse strigae anterad, obliquely strigate posterodorsad and strigulose posteroventrally.

Worker
Metrics. [Holotype] Paratypes (n = 2): HL [1.18] 1.17, 1.25; HW [0.99] 0.99, 1.02; ML [0.67] 0.62, 0.64; SL [1.13] 1.06, 1.14; ED [0.35] 0.30, 0.39; WL [1.81] 1.69, 1.90 mm. CI [0.84] 0.82, 1.18; SI [1.14] 1.07, 1.14; MI [0.68] 0.63, 0.63; OI [0.35] 0.30, 0.38. Head with broadly convex lateral margins in frontal view, posterior margin relatively straight, anterior margin of clypeal lamella projecting anterad as blunt angle; frons longitudinally rugulose with abundant smooth-bottomed foveolae; clypeus longitudinally strigulose, strigulae more irregular than on frons and partially extending onto lamella; scape longitudinally strigulose; no occipital lobe; occipital lamella subquadrate. Lateral pronotal face longitudinally strigate with scattered foveolae, pronotum in dorsal view longitudinally strigate with foveolae laterally and anteriorly; mesonotum longitudinally strigate with scattered punctae; anepisterum rectangular with anteroventral triangular lobe, mostly strigulose with some foveolae; katepisternum longitudinally strigulose with foveolae; metapleuron anterodorsally strigulose and posteroventrally longitudinally costate; metanotum and propodeal dorsum transversely strigate with lateral foveolae; propodeal armature usually wanting, sometimes minute denticles present, declivity anteriorly rugulose-punctate and posteriorly mostly smooth.

Petiolar node dorsum foveolate with transverse strigae, ventral process forms two sharp denticles separated by broad concavity in lateral view; postpetiolar dorsum transversely strigate anterad, posteriorly becoming longitudinal, laterally with transverse strigae anterad, obliquely strigate posterodorsad and strigulose posteroventrally; postpetiolar sternum transversely strigulose with smooth median area; dorsum of abdominal segment 4 finely strigate except for fine anteromedian strip of transverse strigae, laterally with arching strigae. Fore coxa transversely strigose to strigulose in lateral view; femora mostly smooth with scattered low transverse strigulae that become longitudinal apically, meso- and metafemora with angular apical paired lobes; tibia longitudinally strigulose-punctate; fore tarsus opposite strigil with row of stout setae. Dorsum of thorax and abdominal segments 1-4 with few standing hairs, most restricted to promesonotum. Head, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster brown; mandibles, antennae, legs ferruginous brown.

Queen
Metrics (n = 1): HL 1.29, HW 1.14, ML 0.72, SL 1.15, ED 0.39, WL 0.88 mm. CI 0.63, SI 1.00, MI 0.63, OI 0.34. Pronotum transversely strigate on anterior face, arching around laterally becoming longitudinal; mesopleuron and mesonotum longitudinally striate with scattered foveolae; propodeum transversely strigate with scattered foveolae.

Etymology
The species name is derived from the Papuan Pidgin English name for New Guinea: Niu Guini.