Hypoponera perparva 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 : 82-84

Hypoponera perparva Bolton & Fisher sp. n.

(Figs 91 – 93)

WORKER (holotype in parentheses). Measurements: HL 0.40 – 0.44 (0.42), HW 0.30 – 0.33 (0.33), HS 0.350 – 0.385 (0.375), SL 0.24 – 0.26 (0.24), PrW 0.21 – 0.25 (0.23), WL 0.48 – 0.54 (0.54), HFL 0.23 – 0.25 (0.25), PeNL 0.12 – 0.13 (0.13), PeH 0.20 – 0.24 (0.23), PeNW 0.14 – 0.16 (0.14), PeS 0.155 – 0.173 (0.167) (10 measured). Indices: CI 73 – 79 (79), SI 73 – 81 (73), PeNI 61 – 67 (61), LPeI 52 – 62 (57), DPeI 108 – 120 (108).

Eyes absent. Scape very short; when laid straight back from its insertion the apex falls far short of the midpoint of the posterior margin in full-face view (distance ca 0.38 × SL); SL/HL 0.57 – 0.60. Funiculus of antenna only vaguely with five enlarging segments apically; the four apical funicular segments (8 – 11) enlarged; segment 8 somewhat larger than 7 but distinctly smaller than 9. Cephalic dorsum minutely reticulate-punctate. Mesonotal-mesopleural suture absent. Dorsum of mesosoma without trace of a metanotal groove. Propodeal declivity narrow; declivity rounds into the sides through a blunt angle, without a carina or sharp angle separating them. Pronotal dorsum with very weak, superficial, punctulate sculpture, much weaker and less dense than on the head. Petiole node in dorsal view only very slightly broader than long (DPeI 120 or less). In profile anterior and posterior faces of node convergent dorsally; length of dorsum usually about 0.75 × the length at the level of the anterior tubercle. Subpetiolar process with a low, blunt, obtuse angle in the ventral margin. In dorsal view the maximum width of the first tergite is less than the width of the second tergite at its midlength. Base of cinctus of second gastral tergite with a row of short, longitudinal cross-ribs. Sides of second gastral tergite shallowly convex in dorsal view; midline length of second gastral posttergite, from posterior margin of cinctus to apex, is less than the maximum width of the segment. Disc of second gastral tergite microreticulate. Dorsal surface of first gastral tergite with short pubescence and with a few very short, projecting setae. Full adult colour yellow.

Holotype worker, South Africa: Kwazulu Natal, Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, 31°02.704 ’ S, 30°10.080 ’ E, 220 m., 15.xi.2000, Winkler bag extraction leaf litter, KW00-W25, Pondoland Coastal Plateau, sour grassland, CASENT 0395326 (S. van Noort) (CASC).

H. perparva is a minute species that closely resembles angustata , but there are very obviously only four enlarged apical funicular segments in that species, whereas in perparva there are vaguely five. In this respect perparva falls between angustata and the remainder of the Afrotropical fauna, where there are usually definitely five enlarging segments but sometimes vaguely six. H. perparva is also characterised by its small size, short scapes and relatively long petiole.

A short series of minute workers from Congo (MSNM and MZUF, data below) is tentatively assigned to perparva here. These specimens match the holotype in all respects except for some variation in measurements. The Congo workers have HL 0.40 – 0.41, HW 0.30 – 0.31, HS 0.350 – 0.360, SL 0.24, PrW 0.21 – 0.22, WL 0.48 – 0.50, HFL 0.23 – 0.24, PeNL 0.12 – 0.13, PeH 0.20 – 0.21, PeNW 0.14, PeS 0.155 – 0.160, CI 74 – 76, SI 77 – 80, PeNI 64 – 67, LPeI 60 – 62, DPeI 108 – 117 and SL/HL 0.58 – 0.60. With only a short series available it is impossible to determine the significance of the slightly smaller overall size but slightly longer scape exhibited by the Congo specimens. For the present they are treated as a single species, until the time when more material becomes available for examination.

Non-paratypic material examined. Congo ( “ Rep. Pop. du Congo ” on label): Réserve de Tchimpounga, c/o Pointe Noire surr. Lac Foni, 19.iv.- 4.v.2006. Mag. 2786 (L. Bartolozzi & S.Bambi). Ta n za n i a: Tanga Reg., Kilindi For. Res. (Hawkes, Makwati & Mtana); Morogoro Reg., Kanga For. Res. (Hawkes, Makwati & Mtana); Morogoro Reg., Mkungwe For. Res. (Hawkes, Bhoke & Richard).