Hypoponera segnis 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 : 99-100

Hypoponera segnis Bolton & Fisher sp.n.

(Figs 109 – 111)

WORKER (holotype in parentheses). Measurements: HL 0.65 – 0.77 (0.70), HW 0.50 – 0.60 (0.55), HS 0.605 – 0.680 (0.625), SL 0.46 – 0.58 (0.50), PrW 0.38 – 0.48 (0.44), WL 0.88 – 1.08 (0.95), HFL 0.47 – 0.60 (0.52), PeNL 0.17 – 0.20 (0.18), PeH 0.45 – 0.57 (0.47), PeNW 0.32 – 0.40 (0.35), PeS 0.320 – 0.380 (0.333) (20 measured). Indices: CI 76 – 81 (79), SI 86 – 98 (91), PeNI 77 – 86 (80), LPeI 32 – 43 (38), DPeI 180 – 220 (194).

Eyes absent or at most a single, poorly defined and very small ommatidium. Apex of scape, when laid straight back from its insertion, just fails to touch the midpoint of the posterior margin in full-face view; SL/HL 0.68 – 0.77. Pronotal dorsum almost smooth, obviously much less strongly and densely sculptured than the densely reticulate-punctate cephalic dorsum. Metanotal groove absent from dorsum of mesosoma or at most with a vestigial faint remnant. Propodeum marginate between declivity and side. Petiole in profile tall and slender, the node short from front to back and with a shallowly rounded dorsum. Posterior surface of petiole node without cuticular ridges that radiate upward from the peduncle. Subpetiolar process with an obtuse ventral angle. In dorsal view petiole node short and broad, with posterior face transverse and anterior face convex; node not thickly D-shaped. Maximum width of first gastral tergite in dorsal view slightly greater than width of second gastral tergite at its midlength. Cross-ribs at base of cinctus of second gastral tergite short but distinct. Midline length of second gastral posttergite, from posterior margin of cinctus to apex, slightly less than the width of the segment at its midlength. Disc of second gastral tergite with sharply incised small punctures that are separated by areas of glossy cuticle; the diameters of the punctures are equal to, or slightly less than, the distances that separate the punctures. First gastral tergite dorsally pubescent, without conspicuous standing setae that are clearly more erect and strongly project above the level of the pubescence; the few setae that are present are only fractionally longer than the pubescence and are indistinct.

Holotype worker (top specimen of three on pin), Rwanda: Kayove, 2100 m., 23.iv.1973 (P. W e r n e r) (MHNG). Paratypes. 11 workers with same data as holotype; 12 workers with same data but 15.v.1973; 15 workers with same data but 12.viii.1973 (MHNG, BMNH, CASC).

H. segnis is very close to tristis , which is also from Rwanda and has the same type-locality. At present the two are separated only by the shape of the petiole, which is shorter in profile and distinctly broader in dorsal view in the former (compare indices). The differences in shape are consistent in the sparse material available. The relationship of these two nominal species should be reassessed when more material is available. See also the notes under dema .

Non-paratypic material examined. Democratic Republic of Congo: Manyema, Sibatwa Kilengwe ( Gérard). Rwanda: Gisovu (P. W e r n e r); Rangiro (P. W e r n e r); Kayove (P. W e r n e r). Kenya: Embu, Irangi For. Sta. (Mahnert & Perret).