Ponera Latreille

Yoshimura, M. & Fisher, B. L., 2007, A revision of male ants of the Malagasy region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Key to subfamilies and treatment of the genera of Ponerinae., Zootaxa 1654, pp. 21-40 : 38

Ponera Latreille , 1804

Males winged. Antennal scrobe absent. Mandible reduced in size. Basal cavity of mandible extending to its front face, visible in full-face view. Notauli absent. Mesepimeron without epimeral lobe. Each dorsolateral corner of petiole in anterior view lacking distinct projection. Dorsal margin petiole, in anterior view, without narrowly rounded or pointed apex. Apical margin of abdominal tergum VIII strongly projecting into sharp spine. Jugal lobe of hind wing absent. Middle and hind tibiae with single spur. Claws simple, never multidentate or pectinate.

Remarks. Only a single species is known from this region at present. Although the species is not rare, no males were found in material examined for this study. The above diagnosis is based on Taylor (1967). Males are similar to those in Hypoponera , but can be distinguished from the latter in having a distinct spine on the apical portion of abdominal tergum VIII. This character was given in Figure 10 of Taylor's revision (1967), although erroneously explained as AVII.