Hypoponera punctatissima

Collingwood, C. A., 1979, The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark., Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica 8, pp. 1-174 : 30-31

1. Hypoponera punctatissima (Roger, 1859)

Fig. 17.

Ponera punctatissima Roger , 1859:246.

"Worker. Reddish yellow to dark brown; alitrunk and gaster thickly pubescent, finely and closely punctured. Antennae with 12 segments gradually broadening to an indefinite club; scapes do not reach posterior border of head. Frontal furrow continued as a fine line to near occipital margin. Eyes minute, set forward close to mandibular insertions. Mandibles with 3-4 strong teeth towards apex and numerous smaller denticles posteriorly. Ventral lobe of petiole simple without tooth-like process: Length: 2.5-3.2 mm.

Queen. As worker but larger with more massive alitrunk; wings present in immature, unfertilised individuals. Eyes and ocelli visible at x 10 magnification. Length: 3.5-3.8 mm.

Male: Apterous, worker-like but with thinner pubescense and brighter appearance. Antenna terminates in a distinct club with scape about as long as eight following segments. No pygidial spine. Length: 3.4-3.6 mm.

Distribution. Denmark, Fennoscandia and the British Isles, recorded locally and sporadically. - Range: cosmopolitan; widely distributed throughout Europe, the tropics and subtropics.

30

1 Apterous, worker-like. Antennae twelve segmented with scape as long as eight following funiculus segments. Maxillary palp one segmented. Pygidial spine absent

1. Hypoponera punctatissima (Roger)

- Wings present. Antennae with 13 segments; scape short not longer than first following funiculus segment which is swollen. Maxillary palp two segmented. Pygidial spine present (Fig. 19) ........................................... Ponera coarctata (Latreille)

Biology. This species is often imported with plant material. However, it has long been resident in North Europe and head capsules presumed to be of this species have been recorded from sewage mud deposited about 1500 years ago in North England. Most recorded occurrences are from heated premises such as bakehouses and conservatories. However, colonies have been recorded outside in England, Ireland, Denmark, Norway and Finland from fermenting rubbish dumps, waste tips, sawdust heaps and deep mines away from buildings. Queens and sometimes workers have also been captured individually by general herbage sweeping or in woodlands. Occurrences in Denmark and Fennoscandia have been summarised by Sk0tt (1971). Colonies are often populous and many alate queens may be produced to fly out during August and September. The apterous males remain in the nest. This species, as with most Ponerini , is mainly carnivorous on small arthropods.