Hypoponera hebes Bolton & Fisher, 2011

Bolton, B. & Fisher, B. L., 2011, Taxonomy of Afrotropical and West Palaearctic ants of the ponerine genus Hypoponera Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 2843, pp. 1-118 : 56-57

Hypoponera hebes Bolton & Fisher sp. n.

(Figs 49 – 51)

WORKER (holotype in parentheses). Measurements: HL 0.76 – 0.81 (0.78), HW 0.64 – 0.67 (0.64), HS 0.700 – 0.735 (0.710), SL 0.54 – 0.57 (0.56), PrW 0.48 – 0.53 (0.50), WL 1.04 – 1.16 (1.08), HFL 0.58 – 0.62 (0.58), PeNL 0.26 – 0.28 (0.27), PeH 0.52 – 0.54 (0.53), PeNW 0.40 – 0.43 (0.41), PeS 0.393 – 0.417 (0.403) (10 measured). Indices: CI 80 – 84 (82), SI 83 – 88 (88), PeNI 80 – 84 (84), LPeI 50 – 54 (51), DPeI 150 – 159 (150).

Eyes absent. In full-face view apex of scape, when laid straight back from its insertion, just fails to reach the midpoint of the posterior margin; SL/HL 0.67 – 0.72. Cephalic dorsum coarsely and very densely reticulate-punctate. Lateroventral surfaces of head completely covered with very coarse and conspicuous reticulate-punctate to punctate-rugulose sculpture, without discrete punctures separated by areas of smooth, shining cuticle. Side of pronotum, and pronotal dorsum except for midline, coarsely reticulate-punctate, very nearly as coarsely and densely sculptured as the head. Mesonotum conspicuously punctate dorsally; the propodeal dorsum with finer but more disorganised punctate sculpture that extends to the margin of the declivity. Metanotal groove absent on dorsum of mesosoma but a slight change of slope may be present between mesonotum and propodeum. In profile the anterior margination of the mesopleuron is distinctly angled behind base of anterior coxa, and the sclerite has superficial sculpture present on at least part of its surface. Propodeum narrowly and quite sharply marginate between declivity and sides. Posterior face of petiole node with a series of short cuticular ridges that arise from the base of the peduncle. Maximum width of first gastral tergite in dorsal view is greater than the width of the second tergite at its midlength. Base of cinctus of second gastral tergite with short but distinct cross-ribs in dorsal view. Posttergite of second gastral segment, from posterior margin of cinctus to apex, about as broad as long. Disc of second gastral tergite with sharply incised scattered punctures that are separated by areas of smooth cuticle; distance between punctures distinctly greater than diameters of the punctures. Standing setae on dorsum of first gastral tergite numerous, long and erect, very clearly differentiated from the underlying pubescence; similar long setae present and numerous on second gastral tergite.

Holotype worker (top specimen of three on pin), Rwanda: Rangiro, 1800 m., 6.viii.1973 (P. W e r n e r) (MHNG). Paratypes. 22 workers and 1 dealate queen with same data as holotype (MHNG, BMNH, CASC).

The sculpture exhibited by this species is among the most strongly developed of the Hypoponera of the Afrotropical region. Among those species with cuticular ridges on the posterior surface of the petiole node, hebes is approached only by faex in terms of density and intensity of sculpturation, but the latter is larger (HL 0.88, HW 0.72), has well-developed eyes, and lacks the long, strongly differentiated, standing setae on the first gastral tergite that are so conspicuous in hebes . See also the notes under jeanneli .

Non-paratypic material examined. Rwanda: Rangiro (P. W e r n e r) (two short series).