Genus Hypoponera (Ponerinae)

• Hypoponera Santschi, 1938b: 79 (as subgenus of Ponera) . Type species: Ponera abeillei André, by original designation. Raised to genus: Taylor, R.W. 1967a: 9.

• OVERVIEW.   This is a large cosmopolitan genus whose species can be quite common although often unnoticed. They are cryptic predators foraging in the soil and leaf litter. There are about 150 species worldwide with many undescribed species. Some species reproduce partly or entirely by ergatoid (worker-like) queens.
• DISTRIBUTION.   Throughout the USA except the far north.
• ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS.  Worldwide.
• NOMENCLATURE.   Prior to 1967, the species of Hypoponera were assigned to the genus Ponera.


      
Photo of Hypoponera punctatissima (Forel) from CA, Yolo Co.. Courtesy of Ant Web, U. of Calif. Davis


• RECOGNITION.   Length 2-4 mm. Palpal formula 1,1 (this is usually very hard to see). Eye very small; located distinctly anterior to the midlength of the head. (Nests sometimes contain ergatoid (worker-like) queens that do no have wings but have large eyes and ocelli.) Antennae 12 segmented the last 4 or 5 segments enlarged forming an indistinct club. Mesosoma with promesonotal and mesopropodeal sutures visible from above. Mid and hind tibia with a single pectinate (comb-like) spur. Subpetiolar process simple - without anterior fenestra (circular translucent window) and without a pair of small teeth pointing rearward. Tarsal segments of mid legs without short, stout bristles. Tarsal claws simple.
• SIMILAR GENERA.   The genera Cryptopone, Hypoponera, Pachycondyla, and Ponera have the same overall body shape, and they are often confused with each other. Genus Ponera is most similar to Hypoponera, but Ponera is unique in having the ventral portion of the petiole (subpetiolar process) with a circular, translucent window in the front and a pair of small teeth pointing rearward. Cryptopone has its tibia of the mid leg with spine-like bristles on outer surface, and mandible with a small, oval, pit-like depression on the dorsolateral surface near the insertion into the head. Pachycondyla has 2 tibial spurs on its mid and hind legs.
• SPECIES IDENTIFICATION.   Use the key to genus Ponera in Creighton, 1950a: 47-48, but take note of the following changes: trigona subsp. opacior = H. opacior, ergatandria = punctatissima, oblongiceps = gleadowi, coarctata subsp. pennsyvalnica = Ponera pennsylvanicus. Figures 1a and 1b in Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 18 will help in separating the two most commonly encountered species, opacior and opaciceps.
• TRIBE.  Ponerini.
• REVISIONS.   Smith, M.R. 1936d: 420–430 (revision (partial) as Ponera, USA) .
• TAXONOMY.   Taylor, R.W. 1967a: 9–14 (Hypoponera distinct genus from Ponera, description of w.q.m.) .— Taylor, R.W. 1968a: 63–66 (list of North American species) .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971b: 1210 (larva) .— Onoyama, 1989b: 1–10 (Japan) .— Bolton, 1994: figs. 489, 490 (SEM (full face and lateral view) of w.) .—Shattuck, 1999: 187–188.—Bolton, 2003: 44, 162, 281.
• MISCELLANEOUS.   Hölldobler, B. & Wilson, 1990: 2, 155, 185, 190, 273, 274, 280, 293–294, 527, 560 (distribution, worker reproduction, trophallaxis, communication, tandem running, prey) .
• ALL REFERENCES

• gleadowi. Ponera gleadowi Forel, in Emery 1895n: 60 (footnote and in key ) (w.) [India, (Poona, Orissa; Thana)] Forel, 1900f: 327 (q.m.) . Combination in Hypoponera: Taylor, R.W. 1967a: 12.
• gleadowi. Ponera gleadowi Emery, 1893h: 242. Nomen nudum. Attributed to Forel. Synonymy: Bolton, 1995b: 214.
• decipiens. Ponera gleadowii r. decipiens Forel, 1899a: 118 (w.) . [USA, HI] Synonymy: Wilson, 1958g: 328.
• kalakauae. Ponera kalakauae Forel, 1899a: 115 (w.q.m.) . [USA, HI] Synonymy: Wilson, 1958g: 328.
• formosae. Ponera japonica r. formosae Forel, 1913g: 186 (w.) . [Taiwan] Synonymy: Taylor, R.W. 1967a: 76 .
• mumfordi. Ponera mumfordi Wheeler, W.M. 1933f: 141 (w.) . [Marquesas Island] Wheeler, W.M. 1936g: 4 (q.) . Synonymy: Wilson, 1958g: 328.
• oblongiceps. Ponera oblongiceps Smith, M.R. 1939a: 76, pl. 12, figs. 1–3 (w.q.m. (apterous ergatoid)) . [USA, MD, (Priest Bridge)] Synonymy: Taylor, R.W. 1968a: 65.

• DISTRIBUTION. Also found in Asia.
• TAXONOMY. Bingham, 1903: 91 (description of w.) .— Creighton, 1950a: 48, 49 (as Ponera oblongiceps) .— Wilson, 1958g: 326 (Melanesia, synonymy provisional) .— Taylor, R.W. 1967a: 11, 12, 76 .— Wilson & Taylor, 1967b: 29 (unknown from Polynesia, synonymy given for gleadowi by Wilson, 1958g provisionally transferred to synonymy of punctatissima (Roger)) .— Taylor, R.W. 1968a: 65 (USA) .— Onoyama, 1989b: 5 (Japan) .
• ALL REFERENCES

• inexorata. Ponera inexorata Wheeler, W.M. 1903c: 94, fig. 2 (w.q.) . [USA, TX, Travis Co.; MCZ] Combination in Hypoponera: Taylor, R.W. 1968a: 65. Current subspecies: nominal plus fallax.

• DISTRIBUTION. Southern USA south to Central America.
• TAXONOMY. Smith, M.R. 1936d: 421, 422–423 (description of w.q.m., distribution) .— Creighton, 1950a: 47, 49 .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Cokendolpher & Francke, 1990: 16 (distribution in western TX) .
• ALL REFERENCES
• PHOTOS.

• opaciceps. Ponera opaciceps Mayr, G. 1887: 536 (w.q.) . [Brazil, Santa Catarina; No types in USA.] Smith, M.R. 1929c: 545 (m.) . Combination in Hypoponera: Taylor, R.W. 1967a: 11. Current subspecies: nominal plus cubana, gaigei, gibbinota, jamaicensis, pampana, postangustata.
• perkinsi. Ponera perkinsi Forel, 1899a: 117 (w.q.m.) . [USA, HI] Synonymy: Wilson & Taylor, 1967b: 28.
• andrei. Ponera andrei Emery, 1900b: 318, pl. 8, fig. 47 (footnote) (w.) [New Caledonia] Synonymy: Wilson, 1958g: 334 (andrei junior synonym of perkinsi) ; Wilson & Taylor, 1967b: 28 (perkinsi junior synonym of opaciceps) .

• DISTRIBUTION. Southern USA; south to Argentina, W. Indies; southeast Asia, Polynesia. Probably spread from New World to Old World by commerce.
• TAXONOMY. Wheeler, W.M. 1909c: 271 (in HI, as P. perkinsi) .— Smith, M.R. & Haug, 1931: 507–509 (ergatandrous form) .— Smith, M.R. 1936d: 422, 428–430 (description of w.q. and ergatoid male, distribution, most common member of the genus in MS) .— Smith, M.R. 1937: 825–826 (natural history in Puerto Rico) .— Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 59.— Creighton, 1950a: 48, 49 (as Ponera opaciceps) .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1952a: 364 (larva) .— Kempf, 1962b: 7–9, figs. 8, 9 (description of w.q., figures (lateral and full face view) of w., distribution) .— Wilson & Taylor, 1967b: 28 (Polynesia) .— Taylor, R.W. 1968a: 65.— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971b: 1210, fig. 21 (larva) .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Van Pelt, 1958: 5–6.— Allred, 1982: 478 (brief natural history, distribution in UT) .— Van Pelt, 1983: table 1 (habitat and frequency in the Chisos Mts. Texas) .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 18–19, 98 (occurrence in NV) .— MacKay, Lowrie, et. al. 1988: 86 (occurrence in NM) .— Cokendolpher & Francke, 1990: 17 (distribution in TX) .
• ALL REFERENCES
• PHOTOS.

• opacior. Ponera trigona var. opacior Forel, 1893j: 363 (w.q.) . [West Indies, St. Vincent; No types in USA.] Emery, 1895d: 268 (m.) . Combination in Hypoponera: Taylor, R.W. 1968a: 65. Subspecies of trigona: Emery, 1906c: 116. Raised to species: Kempf, 1962b: 10.
• chilensis. Ponera opaciceps r. chilensis Forel, 1914d: 264 (w.) . [Chile] Combination in Hypoponera: Kempf, 1972b: 123. Synonymy: Snelling & Hunt, 1976: 66 .

• DISTRIBUTION. Found throughout the USA and southern Canada, Mexico south to Chile, Argentina, W. Indies. More sporadically distributed west of TX than in eastern states. Uncommon north of southern VA.
• TAXONOMY. Smith, M.R. 1936d: 421, 423–425 (description of w.q.m., distribution) .— Creighton, 1950a: 48, 49, pl. 8, fig. 1–4 (figure (lateral view) of w.q.m. wing (as Ponera trigona subsp. opacior)) .— Cook, T.W. 1953: 51–52 (description of w.q.: repeats original description of Forel, 1893j and the description in Smith, M.R. 1936d, both descriptions of w.q.) .— Taylor, R.W. 1968a: 65.— Snelling & Hunt, 1976: 66, fig. 12–13 (figure (lateral view and full face view) of w., distribution in Chile) .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Smith, M.R. 1937: 826 (natural history in Puerto Rico) .— Dennis, 1938: 277–278 (habitat, nest sites, distribution in TN) .— Cole, A.C. 1940b: 37 (habitat, nest sites, as Ponera trigona var. opacior) .— Mallis, 1941: 63 (nest site, distribution in CA) .— Buren, 1944a: 280 (distribution in IA as Ponera trigona opacior) .—Van Pelt, 1958: 5, 6–7.— Carter, 1962b: 170 (habitat, nest sites, distribution in NC (as Ponera trigona opacior)) .— Warren & Rouse, 1969: 15–16 (brief natural history, distribution in AR) .— Allred, 1982: 478 (brief natural history, distribution in UT) .— Van Pelt, 1983: table 1 (habitat and frequency in the Chisos Mts. Texas) .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 19, 98 (occurrence in NV) .— Cokendolpher & Francke, 1990: 17 (distribution in western TX, nest sites) .
• ALL REFERENCES
• PHOTOS.

• punctatissima. Ponera punctatissima Roger, 1859: 246, pl. 7, fig. 7 (w.q.) . [Germany, Silesia, Rauden] Forel, 1874: 92 (m.) . Combination in Hypoponera: Taylor, R.W. 1967a: 12. Current subspecies nominal plus indifferens, jugata.
• androgyna. Ponera androgyna Roger, 1859: 246 (footnote) (m. [ergatoid]) [Germany] Synonymy: Emery & Forel, 1879: 455.
• tarda. Ponera tarda Charsley, 1877b: 162 (w.q.) . [Great Britain] Synonymy: Dalla Torre, 1893: 41.
• ergatandria. Ponera ergatandria Forel, 1893j: 365 (w.q.m. (apterous ergatoid m.)) . [West Indies] Junior synonym of punctatissima: Taylor, R.W. 1968a: 65. Revived status as species and combination in Hypoponera: Kempf, 1972b: 122. Synonymy: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1343.
• schauinslandi. Ponera punctatissima subsp. schauinslandi Emery, 1899c: 439 (q.) . [USA, HI] Synonymy: Wilson & Taylor, 1967b: 28.
• exacta. Ponera punctatissima var. exacta Santschi, 1923a: 134 (w.) . [Morocco] Synonymy: Atanassov & Dlussky, 1992: 71.

• DISTRIBUTION. Southern USA; south to Central Amer., W. Indies; Europe, N. Africa.
• TAXONOMY. Emery, 1916a: 110.— Smith, M.R. 1936d: 422, 425–426 (description of w.q. and ergatoid male, distribution as Ponera ergatandria) .— Smith, M.R. 1937: 825 (natural history in Puerto Rico as Ponera ergatandria) .— Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 59.— Mallis, 1941: 63 (distribution in CA as P. ergatandria) .— Cook, T.W. 1953: 49–50 (translation of original description of Forel, 1893j of ergatandria (from Wheeler, 1908h)) .— Wilson & Taylor, 1967b: 28–29 (Polynesia, synonymy under gleadowi (Forel) listed by Wilson, 1958g: 328-329 provisionally transferred to punctatissima. This synonymy is not listed above) .— Taylor, R.W. 1968a: 65.— Collingwood, 1979: 30–31, fig. 17 (description of w.q.m., figure (lateral view) of w.) .— Francoeur, 1979a: 31, 38, 39–40, fig. 29 (description of w.q.m. (in French), SEM of petiole of q.) .
• ALL REFERENCES
• PHOTOS.