Ponera (Emery, 1887)

Schmidt, C. A. & Shattuck, S. O., 2014, The Higher Classification of the Ant Subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a Review of Ponerine Ecology and Behavior, Zootaxa 3817 (1), pp. 1-242 : 179-180

Ponera genus group

The phylogeny, distribution and characteristics of the Ponera genus group suggest that the bulk of its phylogenetic diversity arose during a burst of diversification into cryptobiotic niches in the Asian and Australian tropics, with several subsequent dispersal events to the New World and elsewhere. The main exception to this pattern is Diacamma , which is epigeic.

Discussion. The monophyly of the Ponera genus group is strongly supported by molecular data ( Schmidt, 2013), but morphological synapomorphies have not yet been discovered. Generic relationships within the group are somewhat unresolved, though a sister relationship between Diacamma and the remainder of the group is well supported. Relationships among the remaining genera are poorly supported, though Emeryopone is suggested as sister to the remainder of the group, with Cryptopone sister to Austroponera + Parvaponera + Pseudoponera and Ponera sister to Ectomomyrmex .

Members of the Ponera genus group are predominantly small cryptobiotic generalist predators. Diacamma and some Ectomomyrmex species are fairly large, however, Diacamma has large eyes, and Emeryopone is apparently a specialist predator. The Ponera group has a primarily Asian and Australian distribution, though Ponera and Cryptopone have each individually invaded the New World and each have a single species in Europe. The exceptions are Pseudoponera and Rasopone , which are most species rich in the New World and Parvaponera , with several African species.