Taxonomic Notes on the Ants Ponera leae Forel and 
Ponera norfolkensis (Wheeler) (Hymenoptera-Formicidae) 
R. W. Taylor 1 
The recent recognition by Wilson (1957) 
of several Pacific species groups within the ant 
genus Ponera has done much to clarify the rela- 
tionships, both taxonomic and biogeographical, 
of various scarce species occurring in this area. 
The present note has been prepared in order 
to record the addition of two further species 
to Wilson’s Ponera tenuis group: these are 
P. leae Forel of Tasmania, and P. norfolkensis 
(Wheeler) of Norfolk Island. The recognition 
of the true position of these species has resulted 
from studies directed towards the identification 
of specimens of P. leae collected several years 
ago at Paihia, New Zealand, by Dr. K. P. Lamb 
of the Plant Diseases Division, Auckland. Fur- 
ther notes on the biology of P. leae in New 
Zealand will be presented elsewhere; at present 
it is sufficient to point out that this ant has 
almost certainly been introduced into that coun- 
try from Tasmania, or from some other part of 
Australia. 
Since this work is largely additional to that 
of Wilson ( loc . cit.) I have used his descrip- 
tions as a basis in preparing the measurements, 
indices, and terminology used below. 
Ponera leae Forel 
Ponera leae Forel, 1913, Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sci. 
Nat. 49: 173-196; p. 175, worker, original 
description. 
TYPE LOCALITY: Tasmania. 
The following measurements and notes are 
based upon the holotype worker in the Mu- 
seum d’Histoire Naturelle, Geneva; and on two 
workers from Paihia, New Zealand, in the col- 
lection of the Plant Diseases Division, Auckland. 
HOLOTYPE WORKER: HW 0.40 mm., HL 0.55 
mm, SL 0.35 mm. Cl 73, SI 87.5, PW 0.30 mm, 
PH 0.29 mm, petiolar node length 0.21 mm, 
dorsal petiole width 0.25 mm. 
1 Zoology Department, University of Auckland. 
Manuscript received February 24, 1959- 
HOMOEOTYPE WORKERS: HW 0.40 mm, HL 
0.55 mm, SL 0.34 mm. Cl 73, SI 85, PW 0.30 
mm, PH 0.29 mm, petiolar node length 0.21 
mm, dorsal petiole width 0.25 mm. 
Length 2.5 mm. Mandibles with three well- 
developed teeth occupying approximately the 
apical third of the masticatory border, and with 
an indeterminate number of minute denticles 
behind. Eyes minute, consisting of a single facet 
with a maximum diameter of about 0.01 mm. 
Antennal club massive, distinctly four jointed, 
considerably longer than the remainder of the 
funiculus. Petiolar node (Fig. 1) in side view 
massive, subrectangular, tapering slightly dor- 
sally; seen from above its dorsal surface forming 
an almost complete half -circle, the posterior face 
flat to very feebly concave. Subpetiolar process 
somewhat reduced, with a large and distinct an- 
terior fenestra. Other characters as described by 
Forel ( 1913). 
Forel (1913) considered that eyes were not 
developed in this species, and Wheeler (1927) 
noted that pigment spots were present in some 
specimens, while others showed no sign of eyes. 
It is clear that Forel overlooked the eyes which 
I have shown to be present in his type of leae; 
and in view of the minute size of these it is 
probable that Wheeler was also in error in his 
interpretation of the material he examined. 
However, Wheeler’s observation must stand, 
with reservation, until further material becomes 
available, as the specimens examined by him 
have apparently been lost, and so cannot be 
checked. 
relationships: This species is clearly very 
closely related to P. caledonica Wilson, but dif- 
fers in the following characters: 
( 1 ) The eye of leae is somewhat smaller; 
with a maximum diameter of only about 0.01 
mm, as compared with 0.02 to 0.03 mm. in 
caledonica . 
(2) The lateral faces of the propodeum are 
much more densely shagreened, with extremely 
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