Ponera szaboi

Known only from workers taken in coastal rain forest at several NE New Guinea localities. Some of these records are noted as being strays taken from the ground in primary lowland rain forest.

Identification
Taylor (1967) - Preliminary diagnosed by small size, with the tenuis group characters (4-segmented antennal club, lack of a differentiated mesmetanotal suture). Distinguished from Ponera petila by characters given in the diagnosis of that species. Differing from Ponera szentivanyi as follows:

1. Size smaller (HW 0.30-0.31 mm, PW 0.23 mm, DPW 0.15 mm; opposed to 0.34 mm, 0.28 mm and 0.21-0.24 mm respectively in szentivanyi).

2. Scapes relatively short (SI 79-83, against 94 in szentivanyi).

3. Sculpturation of mesosoma less intense. In petila its lateral surfaces are very feebly shagreened, to smooth and shining; in szentivanyi they are moderately shagreened to opaque.

Distribution
This taxon was described, and is only known, from New Guinea.

Biology
Little is known about the biology of Ponera szaboi

Nomenclature

 * mocsaryi. Cryptopone mocsaryi Szabó, 1910b: 186, 2 figs. (w.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in Pseudocryptopone: Wheeler, W.M. 1933g: 14. [Junior secondary homonym of Ponera mocsaryi Emery, 1900c: 320, above.] Replacement name: Ponera szaboi Wilson, 1957b: 371.
 *  szaboi. Ponera szaboi Wilson, 1957b: 371. Replacement name for Cryptopone mocsaryi Szabó, 1910b: 186. [Junior secondary homonym of Ponera mocsaryi Emery, 1900c: 320.] See also: Taylor, 1967a: 103.



Worker
Taylor (1967) - The original description did not mention absence of an incised mesometanotal suture. Palpal forula: Maxillary 2: Labial 2 (by inspection). Diagnostically important sculptural characters thus: head subopaque, closely punctate, punctures coarser and more closely packed than in petila. Mesosomal dorsum moderately shining, closely and finely punctate (much as on frons of petila), mesonotal and propodeal dorsa distinctly more coarsely and closely punctate than pronotum. Dimensions of Wilson’s (1957) specimens are: HW 0.30-0.31; HL 0.40; SL 0.25 mm; CI 76-78; SI 79-83; PW 0.23 mm; PNL 0.15 mm; PH 0.24 mm; DPW 0.15 mm; PNI 65.

Type Material
Taylor (1967) - Frederich-Wilhemshafen (=Madang) NE New Guinea.