Hypoponera Santschi

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 : 31

Hypoponera Santschi , 1938

(Fig. 6)

Morphological characters of wingless, ergatoid males similar to those of conspecific workers excluding genitalia. In winged males, antennal scrobe absent. Mandible reduced in size. Basal cavity of mandible extending to its front face and visible in full-face view. Notauli absent. Mesepimeron not bearing posterodorsal (epimeral) lobe. Petiole lacking dorsolateral projections. Dorsal margin of petiole, in anterior view, without a conical or pointed apex. Apical margin of abdominal tergum VIII without spine. Jugal lobe of hind wing absent. Middle and hind tibia with single spur. Claws simple, never multidentate or pectinate.

Remarks. Reduction or absence of the lobe on the mesepimeron (epimeral lobe) was found in males of only Hypoponera and Ponera in this region (Fig. 6a; Taylor, 1967). This character can be used to separate these two genera from other ponerines in the Malagasy region. To separate Hypoponera and Ponera , see remarks in the Ponera section. Taylor (1967) stated that the maxillary palpus had a single segment in Hypoponera , but males of Hypoponera having a two-segmented maxillary palpus were observed in the present study (Fig. 6c).