Ponera wui, Leong & Guénard & Shiao & Lin, 2019

Leong, Chi-Man, Guénard, Benoit, Shiao, Shiuh-Feng & Lin, Chung-Chi, 2019, Taxonomic revision of the genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Taiwan and Japan, with a key to East Asian species, Zootaxa 4594 (1), pp. 1-86 : 72-77

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4594.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4308D364-BCD7-473D-83BC-5B4130C32287

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5669060

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6E6AB616-6F36-FFDA-FF06-5B7EFC9DC8CE

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Ponera wui
status

sp. nov.

Ponera wui sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/ 325D05C9-0F30-4151-8AEA-F0BC098BDEA3

( Figs. 65 View FIGURE 65 , 67 View FIGURE 67 : holotype worker; Figs. 66 View FIGURE 66 , 68 View FIGURE 68 : paratype worker; Figs. 69 View FIGURE 69 , 70 View FIGURE 70 : paratype dealate queen)

Holotype. Worker. TAIWAN. Orchid Island , Taitung county, 11 IX 1997, WH Tsai leg ( NMNS: CMPon029).

Paratypes. TAIWAN. 2 alate queens, ( NMNS: CMPon004; NIAES: CMPon030) and 3 workers, same collection data as holotype , NTU: CMPon002; NIAES: CMPon031; CAS: CMPon032). 1 worker, Orchid Island , Taitung county, 17 V 1997, WH Tsai leg ( HKUBM: CMPon005) .

Measurements (mm) and indices. Holotype. Worker: HL 0.61; HW 0.51; SL 0.42; A06L 0.03; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.08; PrW 0.38; WL 0.85; PeH 0.38; PeNL 0.20; PeW 0.31; ATL 0.42; ATW 0.49; CI 83, SI 84, PeI 82, LPeI 51, DPeI 159, ATI 85.

Paratype workers (n=4): HL 0.60–0.62; HW 0.49–0.52; SL 0.40–0.45; A06L 0.03; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.08; PrW 0.38–0.40; WL 0.80–0.86; PeH 0.39–0.41; PeNL 0.21–0.22; PeW 0.31–0.34; ATL 0.39–0.41; ATW 0.48–0.51; CI 81–84, SI 78–88, PeI 81–86, LPeI 52–57, DPeI 147–157, ATI 77–85.

Paratype alate queens (n=2): HL 0.65–0.67; HW 0.54–0.56; SL 0.42–0.46; A06L 0.04; A07L 0.04; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.07; A10L 0.09; PrW 0.49–0.50; WL 0.95–0.99; PeH 0.46; PeNL 0.23–0.24; PeW 0.39–0.40; ATL 0.48–0.51; ATW 0.59–0.60; CI 82–83, SI 75–86, PeI 77–81, LPeI 50–52, DPeI 160–174, ATI 79–86.

Diagnosis (worker). Ponera wui can be distinguished from other Asian Ponera species by the combination of the following characters: in P. wui , (1) the subpetiolar process has an acute and well-developed subpetiolar teeth, (2) the petiolar node is moderately thick and trapezoid, (3) the clypeal margin presents an acute median tooth, (4) the antennal scapes almost reach the posterior margin of head, and (5) in lateral view the propodeum is shining and smooth. Based on its morphology, Ponera wui is most similar to P. alisana , P. japonica , P. scabra , P. diodonta , P. chapmani and P. oreas . However, P. wui is distinct by the absence of a metanotal groove (strongly distinct in P. alisana , P. japonica , P. chapmani and P. oreas ) and its thick petiolar node when observed in dorsal view (thin in P. diodonta ). Also Ponera wui can be distinguished from P. scabra by its indistinctly incised mesopleural suture ( Fig. 65B View FIGURE 65 ) and relatively thin petiolar node in lateral view ( Fig. 65B View FIGURE 65 ), contrasting with the distinctly incised lateral mesopleural suture ( Fig. 65A View FIGURE 65 ) and well thick petiolar node ( Fig. 65A View FIGURE 65 ) of P. scabra .

Description of worker. Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular and distinctly longer than broad (CI: 81–84), with almost straight posterior margin, convex lateral margins and bluntly rounded posterolateral corners ( Fig. 66 View FIGURE 66 ). Eye small; composed of a total of 4–5 indistinct facets ( Fig. 67C View FIGURE 67 ). Anterior clypeal margin with distinctly acute medial tooth ( Fig. 67A View FIGURE 67 ). Masticatory margin of mandibles with a series of about eight indistinct teeth ( Fig. 67B View FIGURE 67 ) and three large teeth on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 5% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres = 1.42: 2.23: 2.74: 3.59 (n=5).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex ( Fig. 68A View FIGURE 68 ). Pronotum in dorsal view arched, with convex lateral margins ( Fig. 68B View FIGURE 68 ). Metanotal groove indistinct and almost obliterated ( Fig. 69B View FIGURE 69 ). Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view moderately broad, with straight lateral margins. Lateral mesopleural suture indistinctly incised and almost obliterated ( Fig. 69B View FIGURE 69 ). Posterodorsal corner in lateral view augular; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 130 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view broader than long, with convex anterior margin, straight posterior margin, and broadly convex lateral margins ( Fig. 68B View FIGURE 68 ). Petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and trapezoidal, with straight anterior margin, slightly convex posterior margin, and broadly convex dorsum ( Fig. 68A View FIGURE 68 ). Subpetiolar process with medium and oval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of developed and acute teeth ( Fig. 67D View FIGURE 67 ). The third abdominal tergum distinctly broader than long (ATI: 77–85) and moderately narrow anteriad, with slightly convex anterior and posterior margins, and slightly convex lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate ( Fig. 67A View FIGURE 67 ). Mandible sparsely punctate ( Fig. 67B View FIGURE 67 ). Mesosomal dorsum densely punctate. Mesopleuron with moderately striate lower portion, weakly striate and evenly punctate upper portion. Metapleuron with weakly striate lower portion and smooth upper portion ( Fig. 69A View FIGURE 69 ). Lateral face of propodeum sparsely punctate. Propodeal declivity smooth. Lateral face of petiole with sparsely punctate, posterior face smooth, dorsum with few punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments with evenly punctate, others segments smooth and shining with sparsely punctate.

Pubescence. Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs; but upper portion of metapleuron smooth and glabrous ( Fig. 69A View FIGURE 69 ). Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node, gastral sterna and posterior half of gastral terga with numerous long erected hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

Color. Color dark brown. Mandible, clypeus, antennae, legs, and apex of metasoma yellowish brown.

Description of queen. Head. ( Fig. 70A View FIGURE 70 ) Similar to worker caste, but with large and oval Eye, maximum diameter of eye about 0.18 mm with 8 ommatidia along the maximum diameter. Three ocelli present, and forming an equilateral triangle. Antennal scape similar to worker; average ratio of the length of antennomeres = 1.26: 2.09: 2.96: 4.15 (n=2).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view broadly convex ( Fig. 71A View FIGURE 71 ). Pronotum in dorsal view arched, with broadly convex lateral margins. Scutum subtrapezoidal and narrow posteriad, with broadly convex anterior margin, and straight posterior margin ( Fig. 71B View FIGURE 71 ). Transcutal suture distinct. Scutellum oval. Anapleural sulcus distinctly incised. Propodeal-metapleural suture indistinct. Propodeal dorsum broad, with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner in lateral view round; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 120 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and subrectangular, distinctly broader than long, with slightly convex anterior margin, straight posterior margin, slightly convex lateral margins. Petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and subtrapezoidal, with straight anterior and posterior margins ( Fig. 71A View FIGURE 71 ). Subpetiolar process with middle and oval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, straight ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with big teeth. The third abdominal segment similar to worker caste (ATI: 79–86).

Sculpture. Similar to worker caste; except lateral propodeum with increased puncture and striation.

Pubescence. Similar to worker caste; except lateral propodeum with increased short decumbent hairs.

Wing. Forewing ( Fig. 70B View FIGURE 70 ): Rsf1 and Mf1 forming a blunt angle; Rsf short, Mf1 distinctly straight. Mf2 very short; almost absent, Rs+M with second abscissa distad 1m-cu, cell dc1 rectangular. 2rs-m juncture with Rsf4 distad 2r-rs. Mf1 diverging from M+Cu distad cu-a. Cell smc2 distinctly shorter than cell mc1. Hindwing ( Fig. 70C View FIGURE 70 ): A vein reaching wing outer margin, but Rsf, Cuf, Mf almost reaching outer margin.

Color. Similar to worker caste.

Etymology. The specific name is given in honor of the Taiwanese entomologist, Dr. Wen-Jer Wu for his contribution to the entomological research in Taiwan.

Distribution. Taiwan (Taitung county: Orchid Island).

NMNS

National Museum of Natural Science

NIAES

National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences

CAS

California Academy of Sciences

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Ponera

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