Boloponera , Fisher 2006

Boloponera Fisher

Fig. 34

Boloponera Fisher, 2006: 112 (as genus in Ponerini). Type-species: Boloponera vicans Fisher, 2006: 113; by original designation.

Boloponera is a monotypic genus known from only a single specimen collected in leaf litter in the Central African Republic. Nothing is known about its habits.

Diagnosis. Boloponera can be most easily diagnosed by the following unique combination of characters: mandibles linear, frontal lobes hypertrophied, eyes absent, head without posteroventral lamellae, propodeum with posterior lamellae, metafemora with longitudinal groove, mesotibiae and meso-/metabasitarsi without stout traction setae, relatively high helcium, and tergite A4 not arched. It bears significant similarity to Loboponera, Plectroctena, and Feroponera, but the characters above serve to differentiate it from all of these genera. Boloponera differs from Loboponera in having linear mandibles, loss of eyes, no posteroventral lamellae on the head, and a tubular tergite A4. It differs from Plectroctena in lacking a dorsal longitudinal groove on the mandibles, lacking excavations in the clypeus at the mandibular articulations, and lacking eyes. Boloponera can be separated from Feroponera by its linear mandibles, metafemoral grooves, and absence of traction setae on the middle and hind legs.

Synoptic description. Worker. Small (TL 3.3 mm) robust ponerine ants with the standard characters of Ponerini. Mandibles linear, with two small teeth and a basal groove. Frontal lobes hypertrophied and and projecting beyond the anterior clypeal margin. Antennae with two-segmented club. Eyes absent. Mesopleuron divided by a transverse groove, the anepisternum appearing fused to the mesonotum and metapleuron. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeum broad dorsally, the posterolateral margins drawn out posteriorly into cuticular lamellae. Propodeal spiracles round. Metafemora with dorsal longitudinal groove. Metatibial spur formula (1p). Petiole nodiform, the subpetiolar process a posteriorly-directed tooth. Helcium projecting from near midheight on the anterior surface of A3. Strong constriction between pre- and postsclerites of A4 apparent. Head and body foveate and longitudinally striate, with abundant short pilosity and no pubescence. Color orange.

Queen. Unknown.

Male. Unknown.

Larva. Undescribed.

Geographic distribution. Boloponera is known from a single specimen collected in the Central African Republic (Fisher, 2006).

Ecology and behavior. Nothing is known about the habits of Boloponera. The single known specimen was collected from leaf litter (Fisher, 2006), and in combination with its morphological characteristics (e.g., lack of eyes) suggests that it is cryptobiotic. The identity of its prey is unknown but its linear mandibles are suggestive of prey specialization.

Phylogenetic and taxonomic considerations. Boloponera was described by Fisher (2006) as a distinct genus based on the absence of autapomorphies of members of the Plectroctena genus group (sensu Bolton & Brown, 2002). He noted similarities between Boloponera and Plectroctena, including linear mandibles, hypertrophied anteriorly-projecting frontal lobes, propodeal lamellae, and metafemoral grooves. The latter three characters also occur in Loboponera. Despite these clear similarities, and the overwhelming similarity of their overall gestalt, Fisher insisted that Boloponera was not a member of the Plectroctena genus group (Plectroctena + Loboponera + Psalidomyrmex) based on the structure of its anteroventral petiolar articulation. We respectfully disagree with this assessment, and believe that Boloponera is in fact sister to Plectroctena, Loboponera, or to these two genera together. See the previous discussion of generic relationships within the Plectroctena group for more on the possible phylogenetic positions of Boloponera.