Ponera syscena

Taylor collected "strays ex rotting wood fragment, and under moss on log, damp rain forest gully" in Kunai Creek, near Wau New Guinea.

Identification
Taylor (1967) - A member of the  taipingensis  group group, close in size (i.e., HW) to the Malayan Ponera taipingensis, and the Fijian Ponera colaensis but readily distinguished from them by the narrower petiolar node (PNI 79-82 mm as opposed to 84-91 mm in these other species). The Samoan Ponera loi is similar to this species (see loi for characters distinguishing these two species).

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

Biology
Little is known about the biology of Ponera syscena.

Castes
Queen, male and immature stages unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  syscena. Ponera syscena Wilson, 1957b: 384 (w.) NEW GUINEA. See also: Taylor, 1967a: 57.

Worker
Taylor (1967) - The following notes are based on Wilson's unique holotype and a series of 7 additional workers from the vicinity of Wau, NE New Guinea.

1. Dimensions (holotype cited first): HL 0.61 mm, 0.60-0.62 mm; HW 0.50 mm, 0.48-0.50 mm; SL 0.44 mm, 0.44-0.46 mm; CI 84, 80-82; SI 86, 90-92; PW 0.39 mm, 0.39-0.40 mm; PNL 0.22 mm, 0.21-0.22 mm; PH 0.40 mm, 0.39-0.42 mm; DPW 0.31 mm, 0.31-0.33 mm; PNI 79, 80-82. The discrepancies in CI and SI of the holotype are due to its having a slightly greater head width measurement than would be expected; in every other regard it agrees with the other specimens exactly. Wilson's diagnosis adequately characterizes this species. The following diagnostic notes should allow verification of specimens running to syscena in the key above.

2. The clypeus of the holotype is not distinctly dentate, but bears a low raised blunt tumosity, which is clearly a vestigial tooth. One of the Wau specimens has a similar clypeus, but the others each have a moderately acute clypeal tooth, almost 0.02 mm high and a little wider at its base.

3. The scapes almost exactly reach median occipital border when laid back on head. Funiculus as in Ponera clavicornis - effectively lacking a differentiated club, but in some specimens the apical 4 or 5 segments form a very feeble club.

4. Eyes with 3 to 6 very indistinct facets, situated about 0.82 to 0.87 X the distance from lateral occipital border to midpoint of anterior genal border.

5. Palpal formula: Maxillary 2: Labial 2 (one specimen dissected).

6. Mesometanotal suture completely lacking on mesosomal dorsum.

Type Material
Taylor (1967) - NE New Guinea. Native trail between Yunzain and Joangeng, Mongi Watershed, Huon Peninsula, 1300 m, midmountain rain forest, 7.IV. 1 955. E. O. Wilson. (holotype examined - ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * CSIRO Collection
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
 * Taylor R. W. 1967. A monographic revision of the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pacific Insects Monograph 13: 1-112.
 * Wilson E. O. 1957. The tenuis and selenophora groups of the ant genus Ponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 116: 355-386.
 * Wilson E. O. 1958. Studies on the ant fauna of Melanesia III. Rhytidoponera in western Melanesia and the Moluccas. IV. The tribe Ponerini. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 119: 303-371.
 * Wilson Edward O. 1959. Adaptive Shift and Dispersal in a Tropical Ant Fauna. Evolution 13(1): 122-144