The ant genus Hypoponera belongs to the Ponerinae subfamily. With the exception of Antarctica, the genus is present on all continents and has a global distribution. Spanning the globe and including more than 170 species. The unimpressive shape of the majority of species frequently makes it difficult to match samples to species, even after a recent revision that included regions with a lot of species.
Biology
These are tiny, sly ants that build their nests in dirt or wood. Although the workers are little arthropod predators, they are rarely seen hunting above ground.
Identification
Given its lack of clear autapomorphies, Hypoponera is morphologically the most generic of the cryptobiotic ponerine genera. Additionally, the genus exhibits greater heterogeneity in several features generally helpful for general diagnosis than most ponerine genera. Despite these issues, Hypoponera employees can typically be identified by the following set of traits:
Mandibles are triangular, have a variety of tiny teeth, and lack basal grooves or pits.
Metanotal groove is often shallowly depressed, and the frontal lobes are tiny and closely approximated. The mesotibiae and meso-/metabasitarsi lack strong traction setae (1p)
Petiole squamiform subpetiolar process with a rounded lobe lacking paired teeth posteriorly, typically lacking an anterior fenestra, weakly sculpted head and body, and typically with rather extensive pubescence.
Distribution
With the exception of Antarctica, every continent save for that hosts members of the ponerine genus Hypoponera, which also includes several temperate zones. Many island groups, like Polynesia, appear to lack endemic species, although some ubiquitous migratory species have established themselves there as well.
Table
