Ponera leae Forel 1913
In this section
-
Ants of New Zealand
- Amblyopone australis
- Austroponera castanea
- Austroponera castaneicolor
- Cardiocondyla minutior
- Chelaner antarcticus
- Chelaner smithii
- Discothyrea antarctica
- Doleromyrma darwiniana
- Fulakora saundersi
- Heteroponera brouni
- Huberia brounii
- Huberia striata
- Hypoponera eduardi
- Hypoponera punctatissima
- Iridomyrmex undescribed
- Linepithema humile
- Mayriella abstinens
- Monomorium antipodum
- Monomorium floricola
- Monomorium pharaonis
- Monomorium sydneyense
- Nylanderia spp
- Ochetellus glaber
- Orectognathus antennatus
- Pheidole megacephala
- Pheidole proxima
- Pheidole rugosula
- Pheidole vigilans
- Ponera leae
- Prolasius advena
- Rhytidoponera chalybaea
- Rhytidoponera metallica
- Strumigenys perplexa
- Strumigenys xenos
- Technomyrmex jocosus
- Tetramorium bicarinatum
- Tetramorium grassii
- References
Classification
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Ponerinae |
Tribe: | Ponerini |
Genus: | Ponera |
Species: | leae |
Common name(s)
Blind crypt ants (Andersen 2002)
Synonyms (Valentine & Walker 1991)
Ponera caledonica Wilson, Ponera excedra Wilson, Ponera leae subsp. norfolkensis Wheeler, Ponera leae subsp. oculata Wheeler, Ponera leae norfolkensis Wheeler
Origin
Worldwide, there are 32 species of Ponera , known from North America, and Europe east to Japan, Samoa and Australasia. Four species are known from Australia (Shattuck 1999), one of which is Ponera leae. This species was first recorded here in Paihia, Northland, in 1958. Taylor (1967) favours initial entry in ships' ballast using Piha as a port of call in the early days of European settlement.
Green (1992) shed doubt on whether P. leae was still established here, given that no specimens had been recorded in the far north since 1966. However, the cryptic nature of the species and its similarity to Hypoponera mean it could easily be overlooked. In 1997, a single queen was collected at Cable Bay, Nelson, in a pitfall trap set in a kanuka stand (Harris & Berry 2001), possibly as a result of a separate incursion. This recent record is evidence this species is still established in this country, but somewhat removed from the area of initial introduction.
General Description
Identification
The mandibles in Ponera are triangular, with three enlarged apical teeth followed by numerous small teeth along their inner margins. Antenna with an indistinct to distinct 4 to 5-segmented club often present. The single petiolar node has distinct front, top and rear sides. The underside of this node has a characteristic translucent thin spot near the front and a sharp angle or a pair of small teeth near the rear, which distinguishes it from the similar appearing Hypoponera .
Diagnostic features of the worker
Length 2.5 mm; antennae 12-segmented with a 4-segmented club; eyes minute with a single facet.
Biology
Like other small, cryptobiotic ponerines, P. leae nests in rotting logs in forests, or under stones in non-forested areas. Colonies are small (about 30 workers) and larvae (as in Hypoponera eduardi ) are attached to the floor or walls of the nest galleries by glutinous abdominal tubercles. The feeding habits are not known for certain but, like other small ponerines, this species is probably insectivorous (Taylor 1967).