The Ants of Africa
SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE - Genus Metapone
Contents - Myrmicinae - MYRMICINAE Introduction

Genus Metapone Forel (1911h: 447)

In Tribe MYRMICINI: Metaponini.

Review of Genus -Wheeler (1919h: 175), also Kusnezov (1960a: 119).

Diagnostic Features - Antennae with 11 segments ... Antennal scrobes above the eyes (which may be very small) ... Frontal lobes present, covering most or all of antennal articulations; anterior clypeal margin unarmed or with a pair of small teeth .... Eyes (often very small!) located behind mid-length of head and at upper, often lower end of scrobe. Median clypeus raised and produced forwards as a large shield-like lobe, projecting over the mandibles. Tibiae and basitarsi of middle and hind legs terminating in a number of peg-like stout spines; legs very short with femora and tibiae flattened and wide.


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In Bolton's (1994) key to Afrotropical and Malagasy Myrmicinae the relevant couplets lead to -

Generally termitophagic and living in tunnels in wood.

There now is known to be a single species - Metapone africana Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 511, from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Contents MYRMICINAE Introduction
© 2007, 2008, 2012, 2018 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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