The Ants of
Africa SUBFAMILY PONERINAE - Genus Loboponera |
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Contents - Ponerinae - PONERINAE Introduction |
In Tribe PONERINI.
Diagnostic Features - Separable from Dolioponera by the second gastral segment with dorsum vaulted, strongly arched and down-curved posteriorly. Sternite of second gastral segment much reduced and with a bluntly U-shaped outline in profile, very much smaller than the tergite. Second gastral segment only slightly larger than first. Basal angle of mandible angulate, the apical (masticatory) margin with fewer than 8 teeth.
Listed by Belshaw & Bolton (1994b) as a new genus, with two new species, "currently being described by Prof. W.L. Brown". Finally, Bolton completed the descriptive study initiated by Brown. Thus, Bolton & Brown (2002) has seven previously undescribed species - among them the form I included and illustrated in my ant guide (Taylor, 1976) as Bothroponera species nasica group - and the incorporation of Pachycondyla (Bothroponera) nasica (Santschi).
The Bolton & Brown key is at . The new species, L. nobileae can be separated from subatra in having longer, denser pilosity on all dorsal surfaces and denser costate-rugose sculpture.
1 |
Dorsum
of alitrunk and first
gaster segment without erect hairs |
2 |
-- |
Dorsum of alitrunk and first gaster segment without numerous erect hairs | 4 |
2 | Leading edge of scape without erect hairs; whole body
with fine dense sculpture, giving opaque appearance |
Ivory Coast - trica |
-- |
Leading edge of scape with erect hairs; whole body less densely sculptured and quite shiny | 3 |
3 |
Petiole profile with a blunt subpyramidal apex; SI ca 95 |
Ghana, Gabon - obeliscata |
-- |
Petiole profile with a shallowly convex to flat apex; SI
< 90 |
West Africa - Loboponera politula |
4 |
Dorsum of alitrunk and first
gaster segment without erect hairs |
5 |
-- |
7 | |
5 | Base of gaster deeply concave |
West Africa - basalis |
-- |
Base of gaster transverse to
shallowly concave |
6 |
6 | All over densely foveolate; eye large > 10 ommatidia |
West Africa & Congo Basin - vigilans |
-- | Sculpturation much finer; eye smaller < 10 ommatidia |
West Africa & Congo Basin - nasica |
7 | Petiole profile relatively narrow; propodeum declivity
smooth |
Rwanda - edentula |
-- |
Petiole profile broad and lowly
domed; propodeal decilivity with a small but distinct tooth near the
midpoint |
8 |
8 | Cameroun - subatra | |
Longer, denser pilosity on all dorsal surfaces and denser costate-rugose sculpture. | Gabon - nobileae |
PONERINAE Introduction |
© 2007, 2012, 2014 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K. |
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