photos 1–1000
Hypoponera eduardi (Forel 1894) ♀ (Hymenoptera Formicoidea Formicidæ Ponerinæ Ponerini)
[Hypoponera Santschi 1938: 154+†1 (IT: 4+†0) spp]
[Ponerini: 45 gg, 1,294 spp; Ponerinæ: 2 tbb, 60 gg, 1,426 spp]
Conspecific parapatric ☿, sx side.
Para/lestobiotic of L. lasioides. Cfr. notes¹ over the above image.
Like other species in the H. punctuatissima group, H. eduardi produces ☿-♀ or ♃ (ergatoid) intercastes as well as alate ♀ and its dimorphic ♂♂ consist of an alate and an ergatoid form. ♃♀♀ have distinctly larger eyes than ☿☿ (ca 20–30 ommatidia) and ♃♂♂ have small eyes (7–8 ommatidia), reduced mandibles and 13-segmented antennæ. The polymorphism of both ♀♀ and ♂♂, and the reproductive biology of H. eduardi have been documented by Le Masne (1956). He referred to ☿-♀ intercastes as major ☿☿, following Forel (1894) and also noted the presence of a less numerous caste intermediate between ☿☿ and intercastes that he termed "media ☿☿". All Hypoponera are thought to be predators of small arthropods but published details about their diet are sparse. A lack of information about other aspects of their biology is also typical for most species.
NOTES
1. 49b: Mandible triangular to elongate-triangular, masticatory margin sometimes edentate, usually with several to many teeth.
57b: Maxillary palp with 0-1 segments.
57b: Subpetiolar process in profile rounded to acutely angulate posteroventrally but never with a pair of teeth; an anterior fenestra or thin-spot usually absent but present in some spp.
55b: Petiole (A2) in profile an erect scale or node. Prora present on 1st gastral sternite below helcium. Postsclerites of 2nd gastral segment (A4 posterior to gastral constriction) not cylindrical, in profile as high as long or nearly so, at most only slightly longer than 1st segment.
52b: Gaster (A3-A7) in lateral & dorsal view with a distinct impression between presclerites & postsclerites of 2nd gastral segment (A4) that appears as a girdling constriction of gaster.
REFERENCES
S. Cantone 2018: Winged ants - queen.
S. Mammola & al. 2017: Invertebrata epi/hypogean survey.
M.K.L. Wong & B. Guénard 2017: Subterranean ants.
C.A. Schmidt & S.O. Shattuck 2014: Ponerinæ classification.
C.A. Schmidt 2013: Ponerinæ phylogeny.
R. Pacheco & H.L. Vasconcelos 2012: SPT.
F.A. Schmidt & R.R.C. Solar 2010: Hypogæic pitfall traps.
C.A. Schmidt 2009: Ponerinæ taxonomic revision, pp. 106-111.
K.T. Ryder Wilkie & al. 2007: Biodiversity below ground.
Hypoponera eduardi (Forel 1894) ♀ (Hymenoptera Formicoidea Formicidæ Ponerinæ Ponerini)
[Hypoponera Santschi 1938: 154+†1 (IT: 4+†0) spp]
[Ponerini: 45 gg, 1,294 spp; Ponerinæ: 2 tbb, 60 gg, 1,426 spp]
Conspecific parapatric ☿, sx side.
Para/lestobiotic of L. lasioides. Cfr. notes¹ over the above image.
Like other species in the H. punctuatissima group, H. eduardi produces ☿-♀ or ♃ (ergatoid) intercastes as well as alate ♀ and its dimorphic ♂♂ consist of an alate and an ergatoid form. ♃♀♀ have distinctly larger eyes than ☿☿ (ca 20–30 ommatidia) and ♃♂♂ have small eyes (7–8 ommatidia), reduced mandibles and 13-segmented antennæ. The polymorphism of both ♀♀ and ♂♂, and the reproductive biology of H. eduardi have been documented by Le Masne (1956). He referred to ☿-♀ intercastes as major ☿☿, following Forel (1894) and also noted the presence of a less numerous caste intermediate between ☿☿ and intercastes that he termed "media ☿☿". All Hypoponera are thought to be predators of small arthropods but published details about their diet are sparse. A lack of information about other aspects of their biology is also typical for most species.
NOTES
1. 49b: Mandible triangular to elongate-triangular, masticatory margin sometimes edentate, usually with several to many teeth.
57b: Maxillary palp with 0-1 segments.
57b: Subpetiolar process in profile rounded to acutely angulate posteroventrally but never with a pair of teeth; an anterior fenestra or thin-spot usually absent but present in some spp.
55b: Petiole (A2) in profile an erect scale or node. Prora present on 1st gastral sternite below helcium. Postsclerites of 2nd gastral segment (A4 posterior to gastral constriction) not cylindrical, in profile as high as long or nearly so, at most only slightly longer than 1st segment.
52b: Gaster (A3-A7) in lateral & dorsal view with a distinct impression between presclerites & postsclerites of 2nd gastral segment (A4) that appears as a girdling constriction of gaster.
REFERENCES
S. Cantone 2018: Winged ants - queen.
S. Mammola & al. 2017: Invertebrata epi/hypogean survey.
M.K.L. Wong & B. Guénard 2017: Subterranean ants.
C.A. Schmidt & S.O. Shattuck 2014: Ponerinæ classification.
C.A. Schmidt 2013: Ponerinæ phylogeny.
R. Pacheco & H.L. Vasconcelos 2012: SPT.
F.A. Schmidt & R.R.C. Solar 2010: Hypogæic pitfall traps.
C.A. Schmidt 2009: Ponerinæ taxonomic revision, pp. 106-111.
K.T. Ryder Wilkie & al. 2007: Biodiversity below ground.