Hypoponera eduardi (Forel, 1894)

Description and notes

Hypoponera eduardi is a small brown ant with a functioning sting, a single substantial petiole and a constriction between the first and second segments of the gaster. It is an underground species with both winged and wingless males; gynes can be either alate and gyne-like or worker-like. This species is known from northern France and has recently been recorded from the Isle of Wight, Guernsey and London Zoo

Distribution

Recorded from the Isle of Wight, Guernsey and London

Primarily a Mediteranean species but found in much of Europe. It is a tramp species and has been recorded in many parts of the world.

Status (in Britain only)

This species is not regarded as scarce or threatened.

Identification

Seifert (2018) gives a method of separating the species including a measurment of the head width and scape length. Scapes are longer compared to H. punctissama and H. ergatandria. For Head width, HW and Scape length, SL: If SL/HW > 0.87 you have H. eduardi

Flight period

Alates have been recorded in August

Foraging behaviour

Unkown

Food

Unknown

Author of profile

M G Fox

Year profile last updated

2022