Poneracantha laticephala

Identification
The two lobes between the antennal fossae and clypeal lamella distinguish this species from all other New World members of the group, which lack such lobes, including its closest relative, Gnamptogenys banksi. Other characters in which banksi differs are the following: areolate sculpture on the cephalic dorsum, occiput and anterior pronotal face with transverse rugae, deep lateral and mesonotal pits for the spiracles (such pits lacking in fraudatrix), pronotal suture interrupts sculpture, and the inner mandibular sulcus only reaches the basal angle. In general the sculpture of banksi is rougher, mostly of gaster I, which is reticuate rugose and gaster II has rough, widely spaced, dorsal longitudinal rugae, becoming more irregular laterally. The form of the pronotal-mesopleural suture and the lobes formed by the pronotum and anepisternum at the base of the suture are reminiscent of some minuta group species. (Lattke 1995)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador.

Nomenclature

 *  laticephala. Gnamptogenys laticephala Lattke, 1995: 172, figs. 54, 55 (w.) ECUADOR.

Worker
Holotype measurements: HL l.71; ML 1.01; HW 1.94; SL 1.53; ED 0.34; WL 2.32 mm; CI 1.13; SI 0.79; OI 0.18.

Head in frontal view broad, vertexal margin fairly straight, lateral margins slightly convex and anteriorly diverging; eyes large and situated at cephalic midlength; anterior clypeal lamella broadly concave with lateral triangular teeth near mandibular insertions; clypeus with two small anteriorly projecting lobes between anterior border of antennal fossae and anterior lamella; cephalic dorsum with longitudinal rugae that di verge slightly posterad on to vertex; rugae between frontal lobes and eyes more irregular than rugae between and behind frontal lobes; abundant piligerous punctures present. Antennal scapes smooth and shining, surpassing vertexal margin; gula with median longitudinal carinae and transverse costae at each side; mandibles falcate, longitudinally costulate with interior glabrous sulcus that ends at apical tooth, basal tooth marks the end of basal margin and is followed by two more pre-apical teeth; anterior pronotal face opaque, not as shiny as rest of pronotum and with faint transverse rugulae; mesosomal dorsum with parallel longitudinal costulae, promesonotal suture well impressed but does not break longitudinal sculpture, mesometanotal suture deep and interrupting sculpture except for some ridges that join a few costulae on either side of suture; lateral pronotal face with slightly oblique parallel costulae; pronotal-mesopleural suture very broad and deep; meso- and metepisterna with parallel, longitudinal costulae; mesometepisternal suture well impressed and metepisternal-propodeal suture distinct; metepisternal lobe well developed; declivitous propodeal face with longitudinal costulae; petiolar node in lateral view low, anterodorsal margin convex and posterodorsal margin sharply convex; transversely costulate; subpetiolar process anteriorly triangular, with slighty rounded posterior lobe.

Postpetiolar costulation longitudinal, weakly roughened and becoming rugulose laterally, ventrally with transverse costulate that tend to fade medially; gastric tergum II strongly vaulted anteroventrally with dorsal and lateral sculpture as on preceding segment; apical gastric segments with faint transverse strigulae, tending to smooth and shining; anterior face of procoxae smooth and shining laterally with oblique costulae; meso- and metacoxae laterally smooth and shining, dorsally transversely costulate; metacoxal teeth well developed; body with sparse suberect and decumbent hairs, longest on gastric apex and clypeus, no appressed pilosity on scapes, just suberect and decumbent hairs. Mesosoma dark reddish brown; head, node and gaster darker; legs and antennae brown; mandibles brown to yellow brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Ecuador, Guayas: 3 km 5 Bucay, 24-VII-73, W. L. Brown, leg. Deposited in.

Etymology
The name alludes to the relatively broad head when seen in frontal view.