Dinoponera quadriceps

Workers of this species is recognized by its finely micro-sculptured integument which is not shiny, rounded anterior inferior pronotal corner lacking a tooth-like process, ventral side of the head lacking any gular striations and long/flagellate pilosity. Males are distinguished by the long fine setae of the second funicular segment, light brown coloration, long narrow parameres, volsella with two small basal teeth and lacking a lobe on the distal edge of digitus volsellaris. Dinoponera quadriceps may be confused with Dinoponera mutica, but has a finely micro-sculptured integument which is not shiny, lacks gular striations and has a petiole which bulges on the dorso-anterior edge in contrast to Dinoponera mutica's roughly microsculptured integument, striated gula and petiole with even, non-bulging corners. Dinoponera quadriceps and Dinoponera mutica differ in micro-sculpturing, gular striations and petiole shape. Distribution records show a distance of over 900 km between the two species, but if specimens are found with an integration of characters in the area of Tocantins and northern Goias then these species may need to be synonymized.

Dinoponera quadriceps is found in the Caatingas, Cerrados, upland humid forest and Atlantic forest in the northeastern Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte. Of all Dinoponera, Dinoponera quadriceps has the largest colonies with an average of 80 workers (range 26–238). Dinoponera quadriceps usually nest at the base of trees. Observations of Dinoponera quadriceps nests show that in more arid Caatinga and Cerrado habitats, nests are predominantly constructed under trees, whereas in Atlantic forest 60% of nests were 3 m away from any tree. Nests are deeper in Dinoponera quadriceps (and Dinoponera australis) than in Dinoponera gigantea, Monnin et al. (2003) suggests that deeper nests are a possible adaptation to seasons and aridity.