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<document id="5546195BF07048170287D6DC22FA50D4" ID-CLB-Dataset="5350" ID-DOI="10.11646/zootaxa.3817.1.1" ID-GBIF-Dataset="d66f1b27-5891-4fa5-96e0-f75cb3ec2445" ID-ISSN="1175-5326" ID-Zenodo-Dep="10086256" ID-ZooBank="A3C10B34-7698-4C4D-94E5-DCF70B475603" IM.materialsCitations_approvedBy="felipe" IM.metadata_approvedBy="felipe" IM.taxonomicNames_approvedBy="felipe" checkinTime="1623272878632" checkinUser="felipe" docAuthor="Schmidt, C. A. &amp; Shattuck, S. O." docDate="2014" docId="03775906A6152C4FFF17F94213E5FA3A" docLanguage="en" docName="zt03817p242.pdf.imf" docOrigin="Zootaxa 3817 (1)" docStyle="DocumentStyle:5EBBA59367AD13919D70D935FA04F6A3.14:Zootaxa.2013-.monograph" docStyleId="5EBBA59367AD13919D70D935FA04F6A3" docStyleName="Zootaxa.2013-.monograph" docStyleVersion="14" docTitle="Mesoponera Emery" docType="treatment" docVersion="9" lastPageNumber="110" masterDocId="FF4E217EA67F2C22FF80FFE61065FFFA" masterDocTitle="The Higher Classification of the Ant Subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a Review of Ponerine Ecology and Behavior" masterLastPageNumber="242" masterPageNumber="1" pageNumber="107" updateTime="1699920028738" updateUser="ExternalLinkService">
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<mods:title id="9B137419867CB5289277D6BFA470AEB7">The Higher Classification of the Ant Subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a Review of Ponerine Ecology and Behavior</mods:title>
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<mods:namePart id="AB3F6A56CD596E0EE984AA8AFFAFE1C3">Schmidt, C. A.</mods:namePart>
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<mods:namePart id="89EA7FFD62CB4C7EE2936780907A56C4">Shattuck, S. O.</mods:namePart>
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<mods:title id="1BEA87F8F8EDBB24D84541C5A59170D3">Zootaxa</mods:title>
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<mods:date id="10C94E6E4ABDA504025B7B50B6596549">2014</mods:date>
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<mods:number id="BE73B7E4A0FA4A7BE8DDADE6AA5A88A4">2014-06-18</mods:number>
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<mods:detail id="022915F8E22AEA3C5422D705542281B2" type="volume">
<mods:number id="D7C1198326A972B2FC6A2D76C3520D43">3817</mods:number>
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<mods:classification id="097F7A4F469C5EDBADA1B560F6FBB1C2">journal article</mods:classification>
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<mods:identifier id="60A26B1824421F9556D8B2EC627742D3" type="DOI">10.11646/zootaxa.3817.1.1</mods:identifier>
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<mods:identifier id="C0717322CEA2604E856D9F7A5CF631FD" type="ISSN">1175-5326</mods:identifier>
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<treatment id="03775906A6152C4FFF17F94213E5FA3A" ID-DOI="http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5117492" ID-GBIF-Taxon="183709958" ID-Zenodo-Dep="5117492" LSID="urn:lsid:plazi:treatment:03775906A6152C4FFF17F94213E5FA3A" httpUri="http://treatment.plazi.org/id/03775906A6152C4FFF17F94213E5FA3A" lastPageId="109" lastPageNumber="110" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">
<subSubSection id="C3C4BB9BA6152C48FF17F94211ECF944" box="[151,393,1700,1726]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" type="nomenclature">
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6152C48FF17F94211ECF944" blockId="106.[151,393,1700,1759]" box="[151,393,1700,1726]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">
<heading id="D0295F7CA6152C48FF17F94211ECF944" bold="true" box="[151,393,1700,1726]" fontSize="11" level="2" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" reason="4">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6152C48FF17F94211ECF944" authority="Emery" authorityName="Emery" box="[151,393,1700,1726]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FF17F94211ECF944" bold="true" box="[151,393,1700,1726]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FF17F9421149F944" bold="true" box="[151,300,1700,1726]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Mesoponera</emphasis>
Emery
</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
</heading>
</paragraph>
</subSubSection>
<subSubSection id="C3C4BB9BA6152C48FF17F9201083F925" box="[151,230,1734,1759]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" type="description">
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6152C48FF17F9201083F925" blockId="106.[151,393,1700,1759]" box="[151,230,1734,1759]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">
<figureCitation id="13E5F495A6152C48FF17F9201083F925" box="[151,230,1734,1759]" captionStart="FIGURE 17" captionStartId="107.[151,250,1680,1702]" captionTargetBox="[151,1436,193,1647]" captionTargetId="figure-156@107.[151,1436,193,1659]" captionTargetPageId="107" captionText="FIGURE 17. Worker caste of Mesoponera melanaria: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head (CASENT0249169, Ryan Perry and www.antweb.org); world distribution of Mesoponera." figureDoi="http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10120850" httpUri="https://zenodo.org/record/10120850/files/figure.png" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Fig. 17</figureCitation>
</paragraph>
</subSubSection>
<subSubSection id="C3C4BB9BA6152C48FF17F8E9144DF87A" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" type="reference_group">
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6152C48FF17F8E911FCF8B9" blockId="106.[151,1436,1806,1921]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">
<treatmentCitationGroup id="ABCECF3EA6152C48FF17F8E911FCF8B9" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">
<treatmentCitation id="0A7FCE01A6152C48FF17F8E91197F8DE" author="Emery, C." box="[151,498,1806,1828]" page="668" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" year="1900">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6152C48FF17F8E91197F8DE" authority="Emery, 1900 b: 668" authorityName="Emery" authorityPageNumber="668" authorityYear="1900" box="[151,498,1806,1828]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FF17F8E91173F8DE" box="[151,278,1807,1828]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Mesoponera</emphasis>
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6152C48FEA3F8E91197F8DE" author="Emery, C." box="[291,498,1806,1828]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" pagination="661 - 688" refId="ref141183" refString="Emery, C. (1900 b) Formiche raccolte da Elio Modigliani in Sumatra, Engano e Mentawei. [part]. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 40 [= 2 (20)], 661 - 688." type="journal article" year="1900">Emery, 1900b: 668</bibRefCitation>
</taxonomicName>
</treatmentCitation>
(as subgenus of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6152C48FD39F8E91378F8DE" box="[697,797,1807,1828]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Euponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FD39F8E91378F8DE" box="[697,797,1807,1828]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Euponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
). Type-species:
<treatmentCitation id="0A7FCE01A6152C48FC51F8E91514F8DE" author="Emery, C." box="[977,1393,1806,1828]" page="260" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" year="1893">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6152C48FC51F8E91514F8DE" authority="Emery, 1893 b: 260" authorityName="Emery. He" authorityPageNumber="260" authorityYear="1893" box="[977,1393,1806,1828]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FC51F8E914F4F8DE" box="[977,1169,1806,1828]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Ponera melanaria</emphasis>
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6152C48FB1FF8E91514F8DE" author="Emery, C." box="[1183,1393,1806,1828]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" pagination="259 - 270" refId="ref140822" refString="Emery, C. (1893 b) Voyage de M. E. Simon aux iles Philippines (mars et avril 1890). Formicides. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France, 62, 259 - 270." type="journal article" year="1893">Emery, 1893b: 260</bibRefCitation>
</taxonomicName>
</treatmentCitation>
; by monotypy.
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FEB8F8CB11FCF8B9" bold="true" box="[312,409,1837,1859]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Gen. rev.</emphasis>
</treatmentCitationGroup>
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6152C48FF17F8AA144DF87A" blockId="106.[151,1436,1806,1921]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FF17F8AA1163F898" box="[151,262,1868,1890]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Xiphopelta</emphasis>
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6152C48FE8EF8AA11A0F898" author="Forel, A." box="[270,453,1868,1890]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" pagination="108 - 147" refId="ref143044" refString="Forel, A. (1913 a) Fourmis de Rhodesia, etc. recoltees par M. G. Arnold, le Dr. H. Brauns et K. Fikendey. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique, 57, 108 - 147." type="journal article" year="1913">Forel, 1913a: 108</bibRefCitation>
(as subgenus of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6152C48FDF6F8AA12A4F89B" ID-CoL="63NZ7" baseAuthorityName="Emery" baseAuthorityYear="1887" box="[630,705,1868,1889]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FDF6F8AA12A4F89B" box="[630,705,1868,1889]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Ponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
). Type-species:
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6152C48FCEBF8AA152AF898" authority="Forel, 1913 a: 108" authorityName="Forel" authorityPageNumber="108" authorityYear="1913" box="[875,1359,1868,1890]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="arnoldi" subGenus="Xiphopelta">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FCEBF8AA13D3F89B" box="[875,950,1868,1889]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Ponera</emphasis>
(
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FC45F8AA1451F898" box="[965,1076,1868,1890]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Xiphopelta</emphasis>
)
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FBC5F8AA14EAF898" box="[1093,1167,1868,1890]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">arnoldi</emphasis>
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6152C48FB18F8AA152AF898" author="Forel, A." box="[1176,1359,1868,1890]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" pagination="108 - 147" refId="ref143044" refString="Forel, A. (1913 a) Fourmis de Rhodesia, etc. recoltees par M. G. Arnold, le Dr. H. Brauns et K. Fikendey. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique, 57, 108 - 147." type="journal article" year="1913">Forel, 1913a: 108</bibRefCitation>
</taxonomicName>
(junior synonym of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6152C48FEC5F88D1346F87A" authority="Emery, 1895 c: 20" authorityName="Emery" authorityPageNumber="20" authorityYear="1895" box="[325,803,1898,1920]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="variety" species="elisae" variety="rotundata">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FEC5F88D11B4F87A" box="[325,465,1898,1920]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Ponera elisae</emphasis>
var.
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FD83F88C1203F87A" box="[515,614,1898,1920]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">rotundata</emphasis>
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6152C48FDECF88D1346F87A" author="Emery, C." box="[620,803,1898,1920]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" pagination="15 - 56" refId="ref140930" refString="Emery, C. (1895 c) Voyage de M. E. Simon dans l'Afrique australe (janvier-avril 1893). 3 e memoire. Formicides. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France, 64, 15 - 56." type="journal article" year="1895">Emery, 1895c: 20</bibRefCitation>
</taxonomicName>
); by monotypy.
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FC46F88C144DF87A" bold="true" box="[966,1064,1898,1921]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Syn. nov.</emphasis>
</paragraph>
</subSubSection>
<subSubSection id="C3C4BB9BA6152C48FF17F84F13D7F81F" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" type="description">
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6152C48FF17F84F13D7F81F" blockId="106.[151,1436,1960,2021]" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6152C48FF17F84F1146F83A" box="[151,291,1961,1984]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="106" pageNumber="107" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6152C48FF17F84F1146F83A" box="[151,291,1961,1984]" italics="true" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
is a moderately sized genus, with 28 described species and subspecies, restricted to the Old World tropics from Sub-Saharan Africa to
<collectingCountry id="F3C9A880A6152C48FDA9F82A12F5F81F" box="[553,656,1996,2021]" name="Australia" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Australia</collectingCountry>
and the
<collectingCountry id="F3C9A880A6152C48FD6FF82A13CBF81F" box="[751,942,1996,2021]" name="Solomon Islands" pageId="106" pageNumber="107">Solomon Islands</collectingCountry>
.
</paragraph>
</subSubSection>
<caption id="DFA1B898A6142C49FF17F976144DF93E" ID-DOI="http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10120850" ID-Zenodo-Dep="10120850" httpUri="https://zenodo.org/record/10120850/files/figure.png" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" startId="107.[151,250,1680,1702]" targetBox="[151,1436,193,1647]" targetPageId="107">
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6142C49FF17F976144DF93E" blockId="107.[151,1436,1680,1733]" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FF17F9761142F95F" bold="true" box="[151,295,1680,1702]" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">FIGURE 17.</emphasis>
Worker caste of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FE74F977128FF95C" baseAuthorityName="Emery" baseAuthorityYear="1890" box="[500,746,1680,1702]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FE74F977128FF95C" box="[500,746,1680,1702]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">Mesoponera melanaria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head (CASENT0249169, Ryan Perry and www.antweb.org); world distribution of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FC24F9561447F93F" box="[932,1058,1712,1733]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FC24F9561447F93F" box="[932,1058,1712,1733]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
.
</paragraph>
</caption>
<subSubSection id="C3C4BB9BA6142C4EFF47F90A113FFC17" lastPageId="108" lastPageNumber="109" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" type="diagnosis">
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6142C4EFF47F90A1189FEBA" blockId="107.[151,1436,1772,2013]" lastBlockId="108.[151,1437,151,2013]" lastPageId="108" lastPageNumber="109" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FF47F90A1124F8FF" bold="true" box="[199,321,1772,1797]" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">Diagnosis.</emphasis>
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FEC8F90B11B1F8FE" box="[328,468,1773,1796]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FEC8F90B11B1F8FE" box="[328,468,1773,1796]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
workers are perhaps the least derived of any ponerine genus, as they lack any obvious apomorphies.
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FEB9F8F711A0F8D2" box="[313,453,1809,1832]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FEB9F8F711A0F8D2" box="[313,453,1809,1832]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
bears superficial resemblance to a number of other relatively plesiomorphic genera, especially
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FE8FF8D211FEF8B7" authorityName="Schmidt &amp; Shattuck" authorityYear="2014" box="[271,411,1844,1869]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Fisheropone" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FE8FF8D211FEF8B7" box="[271,411,1844,1869]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">Fisheropone</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
,
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FE2BF8D31242F8B6" box="[427,551,1845,1868]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Neoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FE2BF8D31242F8B6" box="[427,551,1845,1868]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">Neoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
,
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FDB7F8D312A3F8B6" authorityName="Schmidt &amp; Shattuck" authorityYear="2014" box="[567,710,1845,1868]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mayaponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FDB7F8D312A3F8B6" box="[567,710,1845,1868]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">Mayaponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
,
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FD55F8D2131BF8B7" box="[725,894,1844,1869]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FD55F8D2131CF8B7" box="[725,889,1844,1869]" class="Liliopsida" family="Orchidaceae" genus="Pseudoponera" higherTaxonomySource="CoL" kingdom="Plantae" order="Asparagales" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Tracheophyta" rank="genus">Pseudoponera</taxonomicName>
,
</emphasis>
and
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FC37F8D3142FF8B6" box="[951,1098,1845,1868]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FC37F8D31423F8B6" authorityName=", Taylor" authorityYear="1967" box="[951,1094,1845,1868]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Hypoponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">Hypoponera</taxonomicName>
,
</emphasis>
and to a lesser degree genera such as
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FF7DF8BF1271F88A" box="[253,532,1881,1904]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FF7DF8BF110EF88A" box="[253,363,1881,1904]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Hagensia" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">Hagensia</taxonomicName>
,
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FEFEF8BF1275F88A" box="[382,528,1881,1904]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Megaponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">Megaponera</taxonomicName>
,
</emphasis>
and
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6142C49FDD8F8BE13EDF88A" box="[600,904,1880,1905]" italics="true" pageId="107" pageNumber="108">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FDD8F8BE128FF88B" box="[600,746,1880,1905]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Paltothyreus" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">Paltothyreus</taxonomicName>
.
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6142C49FD7CF8BF13EDF88A" box="[764,904,1881,1904]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="107" pageNumber="108" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">Mesoponera</taxonomicName>
</emphasis>
can be separated from these genera by the following combination of characters (most of which are probably plesiomorphic): mandibles without a basal groove, frontal lobes very small and closely approximated, eyes relatively small and placed anterior of head midline, preocular carinae absent, pronotum without sharp lateral margins, metanotal groove shallow to moderately deep (in
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFE82FF7F11A1FF4A" baseAuthorityName="Wheeler" baseAuthorityYear="1922" box="[258,452,151,176]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="subiridescens">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFE82FF7F11A1FF4A" box="[258,452,151,176]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. subiridescens</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
and “
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFD8FFF7112EFFF4A" box="[527,650,151,176]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Xiphopelta</emphasis>
” species), propodeum narrowed dorsally, metapleural gland orifice without a U-shaped posterior lip, metatibia with a large pectinate spur and a smaller simple spur, petiole surmounted by a simple scale which lacks sharp lateral margins, gaster with only a moderate constriction between A3 and A4, metatibiae with two spurs, arolia not prominent, and head and body only weakly sculptured with sparse pilosity but dense pubescence.
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6132C4EFF47FEAA15F9FD0A" blockId="108.[151,1437,151,2013]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF47FEAA11A1FE9F" bold="true" box="[199,452,332,357]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Synoptic description.</emphasis>
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFE4BFEAA1244FE9F" box="[459,545,332,357]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Worker.</emphasis>
Medium (TL
<quantity id="4C2645F5A6132C4EFD43FEAA1353FE9F" box="[707,822,332,357]" metricMagnitude="-3" metricUnit="m" metricValue="7.25" metricValueMax="9.5" metricValueMin="5.0" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" unit="mm" value="7.25" valueMax="9.5" valueMin="5.0">5–9.5 mm</quantity>
) slender ants with the standard characters of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFAB6FEAA15FDFE9F" baseAuthorityName="Forel" baseAuthorityYear="1917" box="[1334,1432,332,357]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="tribe" tribe="Ponerini">Ponerini</taxonomicName>
. Mandibles triangular, relatively long; mandibles crossed when closed in the
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFB9AFE9714D2FE72" baseAuthorityName="Emery" baseAuthorityYear="1890" box="[1050,1207,367,392]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFB9AFE9714D2FE72" box="[1050,1207,367,392]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. melanaria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
group. Eyes small, placed anterior of head midline; absent or reduced to a small pigmented spot in a few species. Frontal lobes very small and closely approximated. Mesopleuron usually not divided by a transverse groove. Metanotal groove shallow to moderately deep (in “
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFD94FE3A12EAFE0F" box="[532,655,476,501]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Xiphopelta</emphasis>
” species). Propodeum narrowed dorsally. Propodeal spiracles small and round in most
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFEEEFDE7126DFDE2" baseAuthorityName="Emery" baseAuthorityYear="1890" box="[366,520,511,536]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFEEEFDE7126DFDE2" box="[366,520,511,536]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. melanaria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
group species, but slit-like in the
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFC0DFDE71460FDED" box="[909,1029,512,536]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="ingesta">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFC0DFDE71460FDED" box="[909,1029,512,536]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. ingesta</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
group. Metatibial spur formula (1s, 1p). Petiole squamiform. Gaster with only a weak girdling constriction between pre- and postsclerites of A4. Stridulitrum sometimes present on pretergite of A4. Head and body finely punctate, with sparse pilosity but a dense fine pubescence. Color variable. (Note: This description excludes
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFC31FD8B1410FD7F" baseAuthorityName="Wheeler" baseAuthorityYear="1922" box="[945,1141,620,645]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="subiridescens">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFC31FD8B1410FD7F" box="[945,1141,620,645]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. subiridescens</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
, which we place within
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFF17FD771146FD52" box="[151,291,657,680]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF17FD771146FD52" box="[151,291,657,680]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
only tentatively.
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFE68FD7712C3FD52" baseAuthorityName="Wheeler" baseAuthorityYear="1922" box="[488,678,655,680]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="subiridescens">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFE68FD7712C3FD52" box="[488,678,655,680]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. subiridescens</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
differs from the above description by its shining cuticle, relatively large eyes, mesopleuron divided by a transverse groove, deep metanotal groove, and long narrow toothless mandibles which have distinct basal grooves and basal margins that are not concealed by the clypeus when closed.)
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6132C4EFF47FD1A155AFCE9" blockId="108.[151,1437,151,2013]" box="[199,1343,764,789]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF47FD1A1172FCE9" box="[199,279,764,787]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Queen.</emphasis>
Similar to worker, but winged and with the other differences typical for alate ponerine queens.
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6132C4EFF47FCF913C1FCC2" blockId="108.[151,1437,151,2013]" box="[199,932,799,824]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF47FCF9116DFCC2" box="[199,264,799,824]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Male.</emphasis>
<collectingRegion id="491A26F2A6132C4EFE8EFCF91153FCC2" box="[270,310,799,824]" country="South Sudan" name="Lakes" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">See</collectingRegion>
descriptions in
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFE69FCF912EFFCC2" author="Arnold, G." box="[489,650,799,824]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="1 - 159" refId="ref131610" refString="Arnold, G. (1915) A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part I. Ponerinae; Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum, 14, 1 - 159." type="journal article" year="1915">Arnold (1915)</bibRefCitation>
and
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFD40FCF913FAFCC2" author="Donisthorpe, H." box="[704,927,799,824]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="64 - 72" refId="ref139595" refString="Donisthorpe, H. (1942) Descriptions of a few ants from the Philippine Islands, and a male of Polyrhachis bihamata Drury from India. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 11 (9), 64 - 72. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 03745481.1942.9755466" type="journal article" year="1942">Donisthorpe (1942)</bibRefCitation>
.
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6132C4EFF47FCA31299FCA7" blockId="108.[151,1437,151,2013]" box="[199,764,836,861]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF47FCA31174FCA6" box="[199,273,837,860]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Larva.</emphasis>
Described by
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFE33FCA2129DFCA7" author="Wheeler, G. C. &amp; Wheeler, J." box="[435,760,836,861]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="386 - 394" refId="ref167128" refString="Wheeler, G. C. &amp; Wheeler, J. (1971 b) The larvae of the ant genus Bothroponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 73, 386 - 394." type="journal article" year="1971">Wheeler &amp; Wheeler (1971b)</bibRefCitation>
.
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6132C4EFF47FC81113FFC17" blockId="108.[151,1437,151,2013]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF47FC811193FC7A" bold="true" box="[199,502,871,896]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Geographic distribution.</emphasis>
Members of this genus are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa (including
<collectingCountry id="F3C9A880A6132C4EFF17FC6A1145FC5F" box="[151,288,908,933]" name="Madagascar" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Madagascar</collectingCountry>
) extending to
<collectingCountry id="F3C9A880A6132C4EFE50FC6A127BFC59" box="[464,542,908,931]" name="Yemen" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Yemen</collectingCountry>
(
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFDB3FC6B141FFC5F" authority=", Collingwood &amp; van Harten, 2005" authorityName="Collingwood &amp; van Harten" authorityYear="2005" box="[563,1146,908,933]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="flavopilosa">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFDB3FC6B12BCFC5F" box="[563,729,908,933]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. flavopilosa</emphasis>
,
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFD6CFC6A141FFC5F" author="Collingwood, C. A. &amp; van Harten, A." box="[748,1146,908,933]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="73 - 78" refId="ref135553" refString="Collingwood, C. A. &amp; van Harten, A. (2005) Further additions to the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Yemen. Zoology in the Middle East, 35, 73 - 78. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 09397140.2005.10638105" type="journal article" year="2005">Collingwood &amp; van Harten, 2005</bibRefCitation>
</taxonomicName>
) and the
<collectingCountry id="F3C9A880A6132C4EFB70FC6A150DFC5F" box="[1264,1384,908,933]" name="Seychelles" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Seychelles</collectingCountry>
(
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFAFDFC6B113EFC32" baseAuthorityName="Emery" baseAuthorityYear="1892" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="subSpecies" species="melanaria" subSpecies="macra">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFAFDFC6B113EFC32" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. melanaria macra</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
), with a second set of species occurring from
<collectingCountry id="F3C9A880A6132C4EFCEEFC4913BBFC32" box="[878,990,943,968]" name="Sri Lanka" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Sri Lanka</collectingCountry>
eastward to northern
<collectingCountry id="F3C9A880A6132C4EFB59FC491525FC32" box="[1241,1344,943,968]" name="Australia" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Australia</collectingCountry>
and the
<collectingCountry id="F3C9A880A6132C4EFF17FC321133FC17" box="[151,342,980,1005]" name="Solomon Islands" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Solomon Islands</collectingCountry>
.
</paragraph>
</subSubSection>
<subSubSection id="C3C4BB9BA6132C4FFF47FC1113E5FA3A" lastPageId="109" lastPageNumber="110" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" type="biology_ecology">
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6132C4EFF47FC111358FB81" blockId="108.[151,1437,151,2013]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF47FC1111B5FBEA" bold="true" box="[199,464,1015,1040]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Ecology and behavior.</emphasis>
Almost nothing is known about the ecology or behavior of most
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFB31FC1F15FDFBEA" box="[1201,1432,1015,1040]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="undetermined">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFB31FC1F1558FBEA" box="[1201,1341,1017,1040]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Mesoponera</emphasis>
species
</taxonomicName>
, especially members of the
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFE4FFBFB120EFBCF" baseAuthorityName="Emery" baseAuthorityYear="1890" box="[463,619,1052,1077]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFE4FFBFB120EFBCF" box="[463,619,1052,1077]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. melanaria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
and
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFD27FBFB130DFBCF" baseAuthorityName="Wheeler" baseAuthorityYear="1922" box="[679,872,1052,1077]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="subiridescens">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFD27FBFB130DFBCF" box="[679,872,1052,1077]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. subiridescens</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
groups.
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFC4FFBFA14CBFBCF" author="Donisthorpe, H." box="[975,1198,1052,1077]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="129 - 144" refId="ref139562" refString="Donisthorpe, H. (1941) Descriptions of new species of ants from New Guinea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 11 (7), 129 - 144." type="journal article" year="1941">Donisthorpe (1941)</bibRefCitation>
and
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFB6BFBFA15F9FBCF" author="Wilson, E. O." box="[1259,1436,1052,1077]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="303 - 371" refId="ref168683" refString="Wilson, E. O. (1958 c) Studies on the ant fauna of Melanesia III. Rhytidoponera in western Melanesia and the Moluccas. IV. The tribe Ponerini. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 119, 303 - 371." type="journal article" year="1958">Wilson (1958c)</bibRefCitation>
note that
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFE82FBA711EEFBA2" authorityName="Emery" authorityYear="1897" box="[258,395,1089,1112]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Hypoponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="papuana">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFE82FBA711EEFBA2" box="[258,395,1089,1112]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. papuana</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
nests in rotting wood and forages diurnally in leaf litter, and that
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFBFDFBA7148FFBAD" box="[1149,1258,1088,1112]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Leptogenys" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="manni">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFBFDFBA7148FFBAD" box="[1149,1258,1088,1112]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. manni</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
nests in rotting wood or soil, but otherwise reports of their habits are scarce.
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6132C4EFF47FB6E1128F8D2" blockId="108.[151,1437,151,2013]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">
Most species in the
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFE39FB6F1251FB65" box="[441,564,1160,1184]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="ingesta">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFE39FB6F1251FB65" box="[441,564,1160,1184]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. ingesta</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
group are similarly unstudied, but
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFC5AFB6F140DFB5A" authorityName=", Bonavita &amp; Lemasne" authorityYear="1970" box="[986,1128,1159,1184]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="caffraria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFC5AFB6F140DFB5A" box="[986,1128,1159,1184]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. caffraria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
has received a fair bit of attention. This species is a predator of insects and also collects sugary liquids. It is locally abundant (
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFAB8FB4A10B5FB12" author="Levieux, J." pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="525 - 540" refId="ref151069" refString="Levieux, J. (1983) The soil fauna of tropical savannas. IV. The ants. In: Bourliere, F. (Ed.), Ecosystems of the world. Vol. 13. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 525 - 540." type="book chapter" year="1983">Lévieux, 1983</bibRefCitation>
) and colonies are fairly small (roughly 60 to
<specimenCount id="9DD82399A6132C4EFD6DFB29131AFB12" box="[749,895,1231,1256]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" type="worker">120 workers</specimenCount>
; Agbogba, 1992, 1994). Nesting occurs in the ground (Villet, 1990b) or in active or abandoned termitaries (Agbogba, 1992; Déjean
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFB08FB1314A1FAF7" box="[1160,1220,1268,1293]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">et al.</emphasis>
, 1996, 1997), and colony founding is semiclaustral (Villet, 1990b). Queens inhibit reproduction by workers, but orphaned workers lay fertile eggs (
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFECBFADA1235FAAF" author="Villet, M. H. &amp; Duncan, F. D." box="[331,592,1340,1365]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="280 - 282" refId="ref165994" refString="Villet, M. H. &amp; Duncan, F. D. (1992) Reproductive abilities of orphaned workers of two ponerine ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, 55 (2), 280 - 282." type="journal article" year="1992">Villet &amp; Duncan, 1992</bibRefCitation>
). The division of labor of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFCF3FADB1399FAAF" authorityName=", Bonavita &amp; Lemasne" authorityYear="1970" box="[883,1020,1340,1365]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="caffraria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFCF3FADB1399FAAF" box="[883,1020,1340,1365]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. caffraria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
workers has been well studied and is unusual. Rather than displaying a typical age-dependent polyethism, individual workers show a remarkable degree of task specialization, which is determined at an early age (Agbogba, 1992, 1994). Apparently only a low rate of role change occurs after this initial specialization (
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFD4BFA411397FA3A" author="Bonavita, A. &amp; Poveda, A." box="[715,1010,1447,1472]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="515 - 518" refId="ref133845" refString="Bonavita, A. &amp; Poveda, A. (1970) Mise en evidence d'une division du travail chez une fourmi primitive. Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris, 270, 515 - 518." type="journal article" year="1970">Bonavita &amp; Poveda, 1970</bibRefCitation>
; Agbogba, 1992). Roughly two-thirds of workers specialize on intra-nest activities (studied by
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFCBEFA2A1396FA1F" author="Agbogba, C." box="[830,1011,1484,1509]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="439 - 442" refId="ref130878" refString="Agbogba, C. (1991) Observations on the signals preparing for larval feeding in the ponerine ant Pachycondyla caffraria (Smith). Insectes Sociaux, 38 (4), 439 - 442." type="journal article" year="1991">Agbogba, 1991</bibRefCitation>
), while the remainder specialize on foraging (
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFE84FA09124FF9F2" author="Bonavita, A. &amp; Poveda, A." box="[260,554,1519,1544]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="515 - 518" refId="ref133845" refString="Bonavita, A. &amp; Poveda, A. (1970) Mise en evidence d'une division du travail chez une fourmi primitive. Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris, 270, 515 - 518." type="journal article" year="1970">Bonavita &amp; Poveda, 1970</bibRefCitation>
). Foragers further specialize on the collection of sugary liquids or on either the stinging or retrieval of insect prey. When hunting termites, the behavior of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFC67F9F31417F9D7" authorityName=", Bonavita &amp; Lemasne" authorityYear="1970" box="[999,1138,1556,1581]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="caffraria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFC67F9F31417F9D7" box="[999,1138,1556,1581]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. caffraria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
foragers varies depending on the species and caste of the termites encountered (
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFD79F9D113C9F9AA" author="Agbogba, C." box="[761,940,1591,1616]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="235 - 238" refId="ref130811" refString="Agbogba, C. (1985) Quelques observations sur le comportement de chasse de la ponerine Mesoponera caffraria Smith (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Actes des Colloques Insectes Sociaux, 2, 235 - 238." type="journal article" year="1985">Agbogba, 1985</bibRefCitation>
). Interestingly, large groups of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFA91F9DF15F9F9AA" authorityName=", Bonavita &amp; Lemasne" authorityYear="1970" box="[1297,1436,1591,1616]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="caffraria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFA91F9DF15F9F9AA" box="[1297,1436,1591,1616]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. caffraria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
foragers will attack termite nests, and the entire ant colony will then emigrate into the nest, at least temporarily (
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFF1EF9991135F962" author="Agbogba, C." box="[158,336,1663,1688]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="147 - 150" refId="ref130849" refString="Agbogba, C. (1990) Comportement des ouvrieres chasseresses de la fourmi Pachycondyla caffraria. Actes des Colloques Insectes Sociaux, 6, 147 - 150." type="journal article" year="1990">Agbogba, 1990</bibRefCitation>
, 1992). Both the recruitment of foragers and the movement of the colony are coordinated through tandem running, using both visual and chemical cues (
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFC8AF94213DFF947" author="Agbogba, C." box="[778,954,1700,1725]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="264 - 276" refId="ref130767" refString="Agbogba, C. (1984) Tandem running behavior in 2 species of ponerine ants - Mesoponera caffraria (Smith) and Hypoponera sp. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insectes Sociaux, 31 (3), 264 - 276." type="journal article" year="1984">Agbogba, 1984</bibRefCitation>
and 1992).
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFBC6F9421492F947" author="Masson, C." box="[1094,1271,1700,1725]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="220 - 231" refId="ref154299" refString="Masson, C. (1970 a) Evidence, during ontogenesis of a primitive ant (Mesoponera caffraria F. Smith) of a late proliferation of globuli-cells at level of mushroom bodies. Zeitschrift fur Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie, 106 (2), 220 - 231. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1007 / bf 00335740" type="journal article" year="1970">Masson (1970a</bibRefCitation>
,
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFA85F9421528F947" author="Masson, C." box="[1285,1357,1700,1725]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="147 - 154" refId="ref154363" refString="Masson, C. (1970 b) Etude de developpement postembryonnaire de lachaine nerveuse ventrale d'une fourmi primitive Mesoponera caffraria F. Smith (Ponerinae). Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique de France, 95, 147 - 154." type="journal article" year="1970">1970b</bibRefCitation>
,
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFADBF94215F1F947" author="Masson, C." box="[1371,1428,1700,1725]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="31 - 64" refId="ref154405" refString="Masson, C. (1972) Antennal system in ants. 1. Histology and ultrastructure of deutocerebron of Camponotus vagus (Formicinae) and Mesoponera caffraria (Ponerinae) - comparative study. Zeitschrift fur Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie, 134 (1), 31 - 64." type="journal article" year="1972">1972</bibRefCitation>
) studied the neuroanatomy and neurodevelopment of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFC89F92F1498F91A" authority=", Bonavita &amp; Lemasne (1970)" authorityName=", Bonavita &amp; Lemasne" authorityYear="1970" box="[777,1277,1735,1760]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="caffraria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFC89F92F13FDF91A" box="[777,920,1735,1760]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. caffraria</emphasis>
,
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFC2CF9211498F91A" author="Bonavita, A. &amp; Lemasne, G." box="[940,1277,1735,1760]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="1511 - 1514" refId="ref133796" refString="Bonavita, A. &amp; Lemasne, G. (1970) Food exchange between adults in ants Mesoponera caffraria (Smith, F.). Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Seances de l Academie Des Sciences Serie D, 270 (11), 1511 - 1514." type="journal article" year="1970">Bonavita &amp; Lemasne (1970)</bibRefCitation>
</taxonomicName>
studied food exchange between
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFEF7F90B1263F8FF" authorityName=", Bonavita &amp; Lemasne" authorityYear="1970" box="[375,518,1772,1797]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="caffraria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFEF7F90B1263F8FF" box="[375,518,1772,1797]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. caffraria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
workers, and
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFD35F90A1396F8FF" author="Bonavita, A. &amp; Poveda, A." box="[693,1011,1772,1797]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="775 - 778" refId="ref133884" refString="Bonavita, A. &amp; Poveda, A. (1972) Preliminary study on organ joining midgut and hindgut of ant larvae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Seances de l Academie Des Sciences Serie D, 275 (6), 775 - 778." type="journal article" year="1972">Bonavita &amp; Poveda (1972)</bibRefCitation>
examined intestinal structure in
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFAFDF90B109EF8D2" authorityName=", Bonavita &amp; Lemasne" authorityYear="1970" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="caffraria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFAFDF90B109EF8D2" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. caffraria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
larvae.
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6132C4FFF47F8D21216FEE7" blockId="108.[151,1437,151,2013]" lastBlockId="109.[151,1437,151,1472]" lastPageId="109" lastPageNumber="110" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF47F8D212BDF8B7" bold="true" box="[199,728,1844,1869]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Phylogenetic and taxonomic considerations.</emphasis>
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFD60F8D31309F8B6" box="[736,876,1845,1868]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFD60F8D31309F8B6" box="[736,876,1845,1868]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
was erected by
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFBA8F8D214B0F8B7" author="Emery, C." box="[1064,1237,1844,1869]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="661 - 688" refId="ref141183" refString="Emery, C. (1900 b) Formiche raccolte da Elio Modigliani in Sumatra, Engano e Mentawei. [part]. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 40 [= 2 (20)], 661 - 688." type="journal article" year="1900">Emery (1900b)</bibRefCitation>
as a subgenus of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFF17F8BF1163F88A" box="[151,262,1881,1904]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Euponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF17F8BF1163F88A" box="[151,262,1881,1904]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Euponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
to house the single species
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFDC1F8BF13EBF895" authority="Emery. He" authorityName="Emery. He" authorityYear="1893" box="[577,910,1879,1904]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFDC1F8BF136BF88A" box="[577,782,1879,1904]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Ponera melanaria</emphasis>
Emery. He
</taxonomicName>
caused confusion the next year (
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFA81F8B115F1F88A" author="Emery, C." box="[1281,1428,1879,1904]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" pagination="32 - 54" refId="ref141230" refString="Emery, C. (1901) Notes sur les sous-familles des Dorylines et Ponerines (Famille des Formicides). Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique, 45, 32 - 54." type="journal article" year="1901">Emery, 1901</bibRefCitation>
) by redescribing the genus as new and making
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFD1CF89B13DBF86F" authority="F. Smith" authorityName="F. Smith" box="[668,958,1916,1941]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="caffraria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFD1CF89B133CF86F" box="[668,857,1916,1941]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Ponera caffraria</emphasis>
F. Smith
</taxonomicName>
the
<typeStatus id="546556B2A6132C4EFC6FF89A147AF86E" box="[1007,1055,1916,1940]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">type</typeStatus>
species. Most subsequent authors treated
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFF6CF847111DF843" box="[236,376,1952,1977]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="caffraria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFF6CF847111DF843" box="[236,376,1952,1977]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. caffraria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
as the
<typeStatus id="546556B2A6132C4EFE4FF847119AF843" box="[463,511,1953,1977]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">type</typeStatus>
species, until
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFD27F846132DF843" author="Bolton, B." box="[679,840,1952,1977]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" refId="ref133434" refString="Bolton, B. (2003) Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 71, 370 pp." type="book" year="2003">
<collectingRegion id="491A26F2A6132C4EFD27F8461296F843" box="[679,755,1952,1977]" country="United Kingdom" name="Bolton" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Bolton</collectingRegion>
(2003)
</bibRefCitation>
reconfirmed the status of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFBFAF8471570F843" authorityName="Emery. He" authorityYear="1893" box="[1146,1301,1952,1977]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFBFAF8471570F843" box="[1146,1301,1952,1977]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">M. melanaria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
as the
<typeStatus id="546556B2A6132C4EFAECF84715F9F843" box="[1388,1436,1953,1977]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">type</typeStatus>
species. Most authors also continued to treat
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFD0DF823137CF826" box="[653,793,1989,2012]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFD0DF823137CF826" box="[653,793,1989,2012]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
as a subgenus of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6132C4EFC5EF8231429F826" box="[990,1100,1989,2012]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Euponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6132C4EFC5EF8231429F826" box="[990,1100,1989,2012]" italics="true" pageId="108" pageNumber="109">Euponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
(except
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6132C4EFB2CF822153CF827" author="Bingham, C. T." box="[1196,1369,1988,2013]" pageId="108" pageNumber="109" refId="ref132962" refString="Bingham, C. T. (1903) The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Hymenoptera, Vol. II. Ants and Cuckoo-wasps. Taylor and Francis, London, 506 pp." type="book" year="1903">Bingham, 1903</bibRefCitation>
) until
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6122C4FFF17FF711120FF4A" author="Wilson, E. O." box="[151,325,151,176]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" pagination="303 - 371" refId="ref168683" refString="Wilson, E. O. (1958 c) Studies on the ant fauna of Melanesia III. Rhytidoponera in western Melanesia and the Moluccas. IV. The tribe Ponerini. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 119, 303 - 371." type="journal article" year="1958">Wilson (1958c)</bibRefCitation>
raised it to full genus status.
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6122C4FFD10FF7E134BFF4A" author="Brown, W. L. Jr." box="[656,814,151,176]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" pagination="161 - 185" refId="ref134603" refString="Brown, W. L. Jr. (1973) A comparison of the Hylean and Congo-West African rain forest ant faunas. In: Meggers, B. J., Ayensu, E. S. &amp; Duckworth, W. D. (Eds.), Tropical forest ecosystems in Africa and South America: a comparative review. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C., pp. 161 - 185." type="book chapter" year="1973">Brown (1973)</bibRefCitation>
and most subsequent authors have treated
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFA90FF7F15F9FF4A" box="[1296,1436,153,176]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFA90FF7F15F9FF4A" box="[1296,1436,153,176]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
as a junior synonym of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFE1DFF5A1259FF2F" baseAuthorityName="Emery" baseAuthorityYear="1900" box="[413,572,188,213]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Pachycondyla" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFE1DFF5A1259FF2F" box="[413,572,188,213]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Pachycondyla</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
.
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6122C4FFDCAFF5A12B3FF2F" author="Forel, A." box="[586,726,188,213]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" pagination="229 - 253" refId="ref143196" refString="Forel, A. (1917) Cadre synoptique actuel de la faune universelle des fourmis. Bulletin de la Societe Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles, 51, 229 - 253." type="journal article" year="1917">Forel (1917)</bibRefCitation>
moved
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFCB0FF5A13CEFF2F" box="[816,939,188,213]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Xiphopelta</emphasis>
from being a subgenus of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFB54FF5B1542FF2E" baseAuthorityName="Emery" baseAuthorityYear="1887" box="[1236,1319,189,212]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFB54FF5B1542FF2E" box="[1236,1319,189,212]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Ponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
to being a subgenus of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFEA4FF0711F7FF02" box="[292,402,225,248]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Euponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFEA4FF0711F7FF02" box="[292,402,225,248]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Euponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
but this was short lived, with Wheeler (1922) synonymizing
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFBBCFF3914D2FF02" box="[1084,1207,223,248]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Xiphopelta</emphasis>
with
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFB76FF0715E7FF02" box="[1270,1410,225,248]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFB76FF0715E7FF02" box="[1270,1410,225,248]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
, a treatment that we support and follow here.
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6122C4FFF47FECF1279FD52" blockId="109.[151,1437,151,1472]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFF47FECF1136FEBA" box="[199,339,297,320]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFF47FECF1136FEBA" box="[199,339,297,320]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
acted as a repository for ponerine species which exhibited a suite of characters that are clearly either plesiomorphic or convergently derived.
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6122C4FFD41FEAA1306FE9F" author="Emery, C." box="[705,867,332,357]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" pagination="1 - 125" refId="ref141346" refString="Emery, C. (1911) Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum, 118, 1 - 125." type="journal article" year="1911">Emery (1911)</bibRefCitation>
gave the following basic worker diagnosis for
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFF17FE971146FE72" box="[151,291,369,392]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFF17FE971146FE72" box="[151,291,369,392]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
(at the time a subgenus of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFDD3FE9712A4FE72" box="[595,705,369,392]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Euponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFDD3FE9712A4FE72" box="[595,705,369,392]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Euponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
): mandibles elongate and armed with many teeth, maxillary palp with four segments, first funicular segment shorter or the same length as the second, mesonotum an oval disk surrounded by distinct sutures, and mesotarsi without stiff spines dorsally. Species placed in
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFB20FE5F1549FE2A" box="[1184,1324,441,464]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFB20FE5F1549FE2A" box="[1184,1324,441,464]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
also have tended to share weak sculpturing, a squamiform petiole, and relatively small eyes. All or most of these characters are likely plesiomorphic within the
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFDB8FE1912FFFDE2" baseAuthorityName="Forel" baseAuthorityYear="1917" box="[568,666,511,536]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="tribe" tribe="Ponerini">Ponerini</taxonomicName>
, making it highly likely that
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFC72FDE7141BFDE2" box="[1010,1150,513,536]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFC72FDE7141BFDE2" box="[1010,1150,513,536]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
would prove to be nonmonophyletic.
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6122C4FFEC1FDC21266FDC7" author="Schmidt, C." box="[321,515,548,573]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" pagination="201 - 250" refId="ref161753" refString="Schmidt, C. (2013) Molecular phylogenetics of ponerine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Zootaxa, 3647 (2), 201 - 250. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3647.2.1" type="journal article" year="2013">Schmidt's (2013)</bibRefCitation>
molecular phylogeny confirms this expectation.
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6122C4FFBB7FDC2148CFDC7" author="Schmidt, C." box="[1079,1257,548,573]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" pagination="201 - 250" refId="ref161753" refString="Schmidt, C. (2013) Molecular phylogenetics of ponerine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Zootaxa, 3647 (2), 201 - 250. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3647.2.1" type="journal article" year="2013">Schmidt (2013)</bibRefCitation>
sequenced five species formerly considered to be in
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFDB5FDAF12A4FD9A" box="[565,705,585,608]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFDB5FDAF12A4FD9A" box="[565,705,585,608]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
, and they turned out to be widely scattered across the phylogeny of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFF36FD8A117DFD7F" baseAuthorityName="Forel" baseAuthorityYear="1917" box="[182,280,620,645]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="tribe" tribe="Ponerini">Ponerini</taxonomicName>
, in
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFEC1FD8A1186FD7F" box="[321,483,620,645]" class="Liliopsida" family="Orchidaceae" genus="Pseudoponera" higherTaxonomySource="CoL" kingdom="Plantae" order="Asparagales" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Tracheophyta" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFEC1FD8A1186FD7F" box="[321,483,620,645]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Pseudoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
,
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFE72FD8B1210FD7E" box="[498,629,621,644]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFE72FD8B1214FD7E" box="[498,625,621,644]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Neoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">Neoponera</taxonomicName>
,
</emphasis>
the new genus
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFCA6FD8B13D0FD7E" authorityName="Schmidt &amp; Shattuck" authorityYear="2014" box="[806,949,621,644]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mayaponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFCA6FD8B13D0FD7E" box="[806,949,621,644]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mayaponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
, and
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFC75FD8B14E4FD7E" box="[1013,1153,621,644]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFC75FD8B14E4FD7E" box="[1013,1153,621,644]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
itself (which is probably still not monophyletic; see below).
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6122C4FFF47FD5212BBFBEA" blockId="109.[151,1437,151,1472]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">
We are reviving
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFE11FD531278FD36" box="[401,541,693,716]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFE11FD531278FD36" box="[401,541,693,716]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
to full genus status based on both morphological and molecular evidence. Morphologically,
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFEE3FD3F118AFD0A" box="[355,495,729,752]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFEE3FD3F118AFD0A" box="[355,495,729,752]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
as we have defined it lacks any clear autapomorphies and this makes diagnosis difficult. It certainly lacks those combinations of characters diagnostic of other ponerine genera. Additional justification for full genus status for
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFDAEFCC712DFFCC2" box="[558,698,801,824]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFDAEFCC712DFFCC2" box="[558,698,801,824]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
comes from
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6122C4FFCCDFCF9146EFCC2" author="Schmidt, C." box="[845,1035,799,824]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" pagination="201 - 250" refId="ref161753" refString="Schmidt, C. (2013) Molecular phylogenetics of ponerine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Zootaxa, 3647 (2), 201 - 250. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3647.2.1" type="journal article" year="2013">Schmidt's (2013)</bibRefCitation>
molecular phylogeny, which places both the
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFF78FCA311F5FCA7" authorityName="Emery. He" authorityYear="1893" box="[248,400,836,861]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFF78FCA311F5FCA7" box="[248,400,836,861]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. melanaria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
and
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFE46FCA31259FCA6" box="[454,572,837,860]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="ingesta">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFE46FCA31259FCA6" box="[454,572,837,860]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. ingesta</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
groups within the
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFC8CFCA213D3FCA7" baseAuthorityName="Brown" baseAuthorityYear="1978" box="[780,950,836,861]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Odontomachus" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFC8CFCA213D3FCA7" box="[780,950,836,861]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Odontomachus</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
group (
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFB8DFCA314AEFCA7" baseAuthorityName="Wheeler" baseAuthorityYear="1922" box="[1037,1227,836,861]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="subiridescens">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFB8DFCA314AEFCA7" box="[1037,1227,836,861]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. subiridescens</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
was not sampled), but without a clear sister group for either one. They are certainly not closely related to
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFB3EFC811539FC7A" baseAuthorityName="Emery" baseAuthorityYear="1900" box="[1214,1372,871,896]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Pachycondyla" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFB3EFC811539FC7A" box="[1214,1372,871,896]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Pachycondyla</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
. The monophyly of
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFEBEFC6B11AFFC5E" box="[318,458,909,932]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFEBEFC6B11AFFC5E" box="[318,458,909,932]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
as we have defined it is not strongly supported by Schmidt's phylogeny. Additionally, recent preliminary data from P.S. Ward (pers. comm.) found that an Asian species (
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFBD4FC57148AFC32" authorityName="Emery. He" authorityYear="1893" box="[1108,1263,943,968]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFBD4FC57148AFC32" box="[1108,1263,943,968]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. melanaria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
) did not group with an African species (
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFE3DFC33122DFC17" baseAuthorityName="Weber" baseAuthorityYear="1942" box="[445,584,980,1005]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Pachycondyla" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="ambigua">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFE3DFC33122DFC17" box="[445,584,980,1005]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. ambigua</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
), both of which we place within
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFC54FC331405FC16" box="[980,1120,981,1004]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFC54FC331405FC16" box="[980,1120,981,1004]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
. These results suggest that
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFF17FC1F1146FBEA" box="[151,291,1017,1040]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFF17FC1F1146FBEA" box="[151,291,1017,1040]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
as conceived here is not monophyletic.
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="8B61E810A6122C4FFF47FBFA13E5FA3A" blockId="109.[151,1437,151,1472]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">
Based on the available molecular evidence as well as the morphological diversity within
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFB64FBFB1515FBCE" box="[1252,1392,1053,1076]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFB64FBFB1515FBCE" box="[1252,1392,1053,1076]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
we explored the possibility of erecting several closely related genera for the species placed here. For example, species related to
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFE8BFB8311C3FB87" authorityName="Emery. He" authorityYear="1893" box="[267,422,1124,1149]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFE8BFB8311C3FB87" box="[267,422,1124,1149]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. melanaria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
have a round propodeal spiracle (spiracle elongate in other species), those related to
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFAFDFB83108DFB65" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="ingesta">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFAFDFB83108DFB65" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. ingesta</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
have relatively short mandibles (elongate in others) while
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFC07FB6F1423FB5A" baseAuthorityName="Wheeler" baseAuthorityYear="1922" box="[903,1094,1159,1184]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="subiridescens">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFC07FB6F1423FB5A" box="[903,1094,1159,1184]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. subiridescens</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
has the mesopleuron strongly divided and the metanotal groove well developed. However, when examining species from across the genus the propodeal spiracle shape shows considerable variation, with all shapes from round to elongate being present, and a divided mesopleuron can be found in species with both round and elongate propodeal spiracles. Thus it became impossible to develop clear diagnoses for groups of species based around these apparently informative characters. Additionally,
<bibRefCitation id="EF4F95E1A6122C4FFEB1FADA1194FAAF" author="Schmidt, C." box="[305,497,1340,1365]" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" pagination="201 - 250" refId="ref161753" refString="Schmidt, C. (2013) Molecular phylogenetics of ponerine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Zootaxa, 3647 (2), 201 - 250. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3647.2.1" type="journal article" year="2013">Schmidt's (2013)</bibRefCitation>
molecular data for the
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFD79FADB13F7FAAF" authorityName="Emery. He" authorityYear="1893" box="[761,914,1340,1365]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Ponera" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="melanaria">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFD79FADB13F7FAAF" box="[761,914,1340,1365]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. melanaria</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
group species (
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFBC5FADB14C9FAAF" box="[1093,1196,1340,1365]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="species" species="rubra">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFBC5FADB14C9FAAF" box="[1093,1196,1340,1365]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">M. rubra</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
) and Ward’s data are incomplete, making robust conclusions hard to draw. Given these uncertainties, we are choosing to be conservative in keeping these groups together within
<taxonomicName id="4CDE9393A6122C4FFDE2FA63128BFA66" box="[610,750,1413,1436]" class="Insecta" family="Formicidae" genus="Mesoponera" higherTaxonomySource="GBIF" kingdom="Animalia" order="Hymenoptera" pageId="109" pageNumber="110" phylum="Arthropoda" rank="genus">
<emphasis id="B9AA3402A6122C4FFDE2FA63128BFA66" box="[610,750,1413,1436]" italics="true" pageId="109" pageNumber="110">Mesoponera</emphasis>
</taxonomicName>
until additional data can be collected, with anticipation that the genus as conceived here will need to be modified in the future.
</paragraph>
</subSubSection>
</treatment>
</document>
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