Phrynoponera heteroda Wheeler

Type location Zaïre (Wheeler, 1922: 78, not illustrated. queen) collected at Stanleyville by Lang & Chapin; queen only known (see Bolton, 1995, who changed the spelling from heteroderus) .

A strongly marked species,characterised by long antennae, toothless clypeus and slender upwardly turned propodeal spines.

Wheeler (1922) described the single female as -
FEMALE (dealated), TL 9 mm. Very closely related to gabonensis but differing in its large size and - apical borders of mandibles 7-toothed, and in addition to the coarse punctures, striated in their apical halves. Antennae somewhat longer, funiculus joints 2-7 being as long as broad. Rugae on front and vertex coarser and more distinctly divergent, eyes somewhat smaller, the posterior corners of the head more acute, the clypeus bluntly bidentate as in gabonensis. Sculpture of thorax and petiole very similar, the gaster sculptured as in variety striatidens but even more sharply so the whole surface is opaque. Propodeal spines broad and flat as in gabonensis but the median petiolar tooth is nearly twice as long as the intermediate teeth. Pilosity if anything more abundant. Colour black, with mandibles, legs and posterior gaster dark castaneous brown.