Ponera cuprea Smith, 1860b: 104 (w.) NEW GUINEA (Indonesia). Australasia.

Primary type information: Primary type material: holotype worker. Primary type locality: Indonesia (“N. Guinea”): Irian Jaya, Dory (= Manokwari), “Dor 19” (A.R. Wallace). Primary type depository: OXUM. Type notes: Donisthorpe, 1932c: 462, cites 1 worker in OXUM; (confirmed by Bolton (unpublished notes) 1978), the “obscure coppery tinge” reported in the original description appears to have faded away.