Hypoponera gibbinota (Forel)

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 : 113

Hypoponera gibbinota (Forel)

Ponera opaciceps var. gibbinota Forel , 1912: 52. Holotype worker, GREAT BRITAIN: London, Kew Gardens, in hothouse (H. Donisthorpe) (MHNG) [examined]. [Combination in Hypoponera : Bolton, 1995: 214. Raised to species: Seifert, 2003: 74 (not directly stated).]

WORKER. Measurements: HL 0.75, HW 0.62, HS 0.685, SL 0.60, PrW 0.46, HFL 0.62, WL 0.92, PeNL 0.20, PeH ca 0.43, PeNW 0.34. Indices: CI 83, SI 97, PeNI 74, LPeI ca 47, DPeI 170. [PeH and LPeI approximated as hind coxae obscure sternal area of petiole.]

The single specimen described by Forel as opaciceps gibbinota , from a tropical plant house in Kew Gardens, was examined to check if it was an introduction from the Afrotropical region, which it is not. Although gibbinota is superficially similar to opaciceps and eduardi in size and sculpture, it is in fact quite distinct from both of them. The anterior clypeal margin of the holotype has a distinct semicircular median impression and the anterior margin of the labrum that is visible in full-face view is also concave. Its petiole node in profile is columnar, high and narrow, with parallel anterior and posterior faces and a flat transverse dorsum. This is the only species encountered in the course of this study to have the clypeal margin modified in this way.