The Ants of Africa

	The Ants of Africa SUBFAMILY PONERINAE - Genus Loboponera
Contents - Ponerinae - PONERINAE Introduction

Genus Loboponera Bolton & Brown (2002)

In Tribe PONERINI.

Diagnostic Features - Separable from Dolioponera by the second gastral segment with dorsum vaulted, strongly arched and down-curved posteriorly. Sternite of second gastral segment much reduced and with a bluntly U-shaped outline in profile, very much smaller than the tergite. Second gastral segment only slightly larger than first. Basal angle of mandible angulate, the apical (masticatory) margin with fewer than 8 teeth.

Listed by Belshaw & Bolton (1994b) as a new genus, with two new species, "currently being described by Prof. W.L. Brown". Finally, Bolton completed the descriptive study initiated by Brown. Thus, Bolton & Brown (2002) has seven previously undescribed species - among them the form I included and illustrated in my ant guide (Taylor, 1976) as Bothroponera species nasica group - and the incorporation of Pachycondyla (Bothroponera) nasica (Santschi).

The Bolton & Brown key is at . The new species, L. nobileae can be separated from subatra in having longer, denser pilosity on all dorsal surfaces and denser costate-rugose sculpture.

1	Dorsum of alitrunk and first gaster segment without erect hairs	2
--	Dorsum of alitrunk and first gaster segment without numerous erect hairs	4
2	Leading edge of scape without erect hairs; whole body with fine dense sculpture, giving opaque appearance	Ivory Coast - trica
--	Leading edge of scape with erect hairs; whole body less densely sculptured and quite shiny	3
3	Petiole profile with a blunt subpyramidal apex; SI ca 95	Ghana, Gabon - obeliscata
--	Petiole profile with a shallowly convex to flat apex; SI < 90	West Africa - Loboponera politula
4	Dorsum of alitrunk and first gaster segment without erect hairs	5
--		7
5	Base of gaster deeply concave	West Africa - basalis
--	Base of gaster transverse to shallowly concave	6
6	All over densely foveolate; eye large > 10 ommatidia	West Africa & Congo Basin - vigilans
--	Sculpturation much finer; eye smaller < 10 ommatidia	West Africa & Congo Basin - nasica
7	Petiole profile relatively narrow; propodeum declivity smooth	Rwanda - edentula
--	Petiole profile broad and lowly domed; propodeal decilivity with a small but distinct tooth near the midpoint	8
8		Cameroun - subatra
	Longer, denser pilosity on all dorsal surfaces and denser costate-rugose sculpture.	Gabon - nobileae

PONERINAE Introduction

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