Ponera guangxiensis Zhou, 2001

Chi-Man, Leong, Chung-Chi, Lin, Shiuh-Feng, Shiao, Dai Dac, Nguyen & Katsuyuki, Eguchi, 2018, Taxonomic notes on Ponera guangxiensis Zhou, 2001 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae), with a new distribution record from Vietnam and the first description of queen, male, and larva, Revue suisse de Zoologie 125 (2), pp. 201-215 : 202-212

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.1414195
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5590605
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B4414B-3539-FFE5-FE96-F9E0FE7CF4B5
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Ponera guangxiensis Zhou, 2001
status

Treatment

Figs 1-13 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

Ponera guangxiensis Zhou, 2001: 37-18 , figs 33-34.

Type locality: Huashuichong Natural Protection Area , Guangxi Province, China .

Images of type material examined: 1 paratype worker, 31 VIII 1998, Huashuichong Natural Protection Area (ca. 24.4246°N, 111.2276°E), Guangxi, China, SY Zhou leg. GoogleMaps

Non-type material examined: 1 worker, 1 alate queen, 1 male (colony: CML12ix17-Col.22; OMNH: LCM00052_1 alate queen, LCM00053_ 1 male, LCM00054_ 1 worker), Vietnam, Lạng SƠn Province , Mount Mau Son, 21.8370°N, 106.9139°E, ca. 990 m alt., 12 IX 2017, CM Leong leg. – 9 workers, 1 dealate queen, 1 alate queen, 9 pupae, 2 larvae (CML13ix17- Col. 21; NMNS: LCM00055_ 1 worker, LCM00056_ 1 worker), Vietnam, Lạng SƠn Province, Mount Mau Son, 21.8417°N, 106.9419°E, ca. 904 m alt., 13 IX 2017, CM Leong leg. GoogleMaps – 5 workers, 1 dealate queen, 9 alate queens, 1 male, 13 pupae (CML15ix17- Col. 07; MHNG: LCM00058_ 1 worker, LCM00057_ 1 worker; IEBR: LCM00059_1 alate queen, LCM00060_1 dealate queen; OMNH: LCM00061_ 1 male, LCM00062_ 1 pupa, LCM00063_ 1 larva), Vietnam, Lạng SƠn Province, Mount Mau Son, 21.8525°N, 106.9454°E, ca. 866 m alt., 15 IX 2017, CM Leong leg. GoogleMaps

Species diagnosis: Ponera guangxiensis Zhou, 2001 can be distinguished from the other congeners by a combination of the following characteristics in the worker: masticatory margin of mandible edentate except for the apical and two preapical teeth; antennal scape, when laid backward, not reaching the posterior corner of head, with the remaining distance of head to posterior corner of head about 5% of the scape length; antennal club five-merous; metanotal groove distinct and thin; petiolar node in dorsal view semicircular, with strongly and roundly convex anterior margin, and almost straight and roundly concave posterior margin, in lateral view with posteromedian portion of the dorsum slightly sloping posteroventrad; petiolar node in lateral view slightly higher at the anterodorsal corner than at the posterodorsal corner; subpetiolar process with distinct posteroventral teeth.

Description of the worker

Measurements and indices: Workers (n = 5): HL 0.55- 0.57; HW 0.45-0.52; SL 0.36-0.38; PrW 0.38-0.41; WL 0.75-0.82; PeH 0.39-0.41; PeNL 0.19-0.21; PeW 0.32- 0.34; CI 81-92; SI 72-83.

Head: Head in full-face view with posterior margin straight to slightly convex; lateral margin weakly convex ( Fig. 1 View Fig ). Eye small; the longest axis having 5-7 minute ommatidia. Anterior clypeal margin with median blunt tooth ( Fig. 2A View Fig ). Masticatory margin of mandible edentate, except for three large teeth in the apical part (one apical and two preapical teeth; Fig. 2B View Fig ). Antennal scape, when laid backward, not reaching the posterior corner of head, with remaining distance of head to posterior corner about 5% of scape length; ratio of the length of antennal segment VI-X approximately 1.00: 1.25: 1.67: 2.64: 3.07 (n = 5).

Mesosoma : Dorsum of mesosoma slightly convex in lateral view ( Fig. 3A View Fig ). Pronotal disc in dorsal view with broadly convex anterior margin ( Fig. 2C View Fig ). Promesonotal articulation distinct but weakly incised ( Figs 2E View Fig , 3A View Fig ). Metanotal groove distinct and forming a narrow suture ( Fig. 2C, E View Fig ). Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view moderately broad; posterodorsal corner of propodeum broadly round in lateral view.

Metasoma: Petiolar node in dorsal view semicircular, ca. with a few superficial hair pits; posterior face shining and smooth. Abdominal tergum III weakly and sparsely punctate (interval ca. 0.018 mm; diameter = 0.011 mm). Setation: Body densely covered with short pubescence ( Figs 1-3 View Fig View Fig View Fig ). Each antennomere with many decumbent long hairs which increase in number through the apex. Anterior clypeal margin with a series of erect hairs including two very long erect hairs ( Fig. 2B View Fig ). Ventral face of mandible with many long and erect hairs. Petiolar dorsum with several long and erect hairs ( Fig. 3A View Fig ); subpetiolar process with few long erect hairs ( Fig. 2F View Fig ). Gastral sterna and gastral terga V-VII with many long erect hairs ( Fig. 3B View Fig ).

Color: Body brown; antenna, mandible, clypeus, legs and posterior half of gaster yellowish orange ( Figs 1 View Fig , 3 View Fig ). 0.5 times as long as wide, with roundly convex anterior margin and almost straight posterior margin ( Figs 2D View Fig , 3B View Fig ), with posteromedian portion of the dorsum slightly sloping posteroventrad. Petiolar node in lateral view with straight anterior margin, slightly convex posterolateral margin and convex dorsal margin, with its anterodorsal corner slightly higher than posterodorsal corner ( Figs 2F View Fig , 3A View Fig ). Subpetiolar process in lateral view with mediumsized posteroventral teeth ( Fig. 2F View Fig ), medium-sized fenestra, and very weakly concave ventral margin. Abdominal tergum III in dorsal view distinctly broader than length (the ratio = 77-83%; n = 5).

Sculpture: Body sculpture as shown in Figs 1 View Fig , 2 View Fig and 3 View Fig . Dorsum of head capsule strongly and densely punctate ( Fig. 2A View Fig ); the intervals between punctures (ca. 0.010 mm; n = 5) much greater than the diameter of punctures (ca. 0.005 -0.007 mm; n = 5). Mandible smooth and shining with a few superficial hair pits on the lateral surface. Mesosomal dorsum weakly punctate; the density sparser in mesosomal dorsum than in dorsum of head capsule; intervals between punctures ca. 0.013 mm and diameter of punctures ca. 0.005 -0.007 mm in pronotal disc (n = 5), and intervals between punctures ca. 0.015 mm and diameter of punctures 0.006 -0.008 mm in mesonotum and propodeal dorsum (n = 5). Lateral face of pronotum very weakly punctate but shining. Mesopleuron with punctate upper portion and weakly striate lower portion. Metapleuron with smooth upper portion, and punctate lower portion. Most portion of propodeum sparsely punctate. Propodeal declivity smooth and shining. Anterior and lateral faces of petiolar node sparsely and very weakly punctate; dorsal face smooth and shining Description of the gyne

Measurements and indices: Gynes (n = 3): HL 0.60-61; HW 0.54-0.57; SL 0.40-0.43; PrW 0.50-0.52; WL 0.93- 1.02; PeH 0.46-0.47; PeNL 0.22; PeW 0.37-0.38; CI 91- 93; SI 71-78.

Body: In overall morphology similar to the worker ( Figs 4-5 View Fig View Fig ). Antennal scape, when laid backward, not reaching the posterior corner of head, with the remaining distance about 5% of the scape length; ratio of the length of antennal segments VI-X approximately 1.00: 1.23: 1.51: 2.33: 2.96 (n = 3). Pronotal disc in dorsal view with broadly convex anterior margin. Mesoscutum well developed and large ( Figs 4B View Fig , 5B View Fig ), with moderately broad and deep scutoscutellar sulcus from which transscutal line runs laterad. Mesoscutellar disc suboval with moderately convex anterior and posterior margins. Oblique mesopleural sulcus in lateral view almost straight and incised ( Figs 4A View Fig , 5A View Fig ). Upper metapleuron suboval and narrowed ventrad, weakly separated from lower metapleuron by a sulcus. Propodeal corner in lateral view broadly round. Petiolar node in dorsal view semicircular, ca. 0.5 times as long as wide, with strongly and roundly convex anterior margin, and roundly concave posterior margin ( Figs 4B View Fig , 5B View Fig ), with posteromedian portion of the dorsum slightly sloping posteroventrad. Petiolar node in lateral view with straight anterior and posterior margins; blunt apex; anterodorsal corner little higher than posterodorsal corner ( Figs 4A View Fig , 5B View Fig ). Subpetiolar process with medium-sized teeth, small fenestra, straight ventral margin. Abdominal tergum III in dorsal view distinctly broader than length (the ratio = 78-82%; n = 3).

Wings: Forewing ( Fig. 6A View Fig ) Rsf1 short and forming a blunt angle with Mf1; Mf1 straight and 3 times as long as Rsf1. Mf2 very short, 0.20 times as long as Rs+M; Rs+M running almost at right angle to 1m-cu; dc1 cell subrectangular, with Cu a little longer than Mf1; 2rsm and 2r-rs oriented at slightly different angles and diverging; Rsf4 and Rsf2-3 forming an blunt angle; the junction of Mf1 and Cu present distad to the junction of M+Cu and cu-a; cell smc2 narrowing toward Mf2, with bluntly angulate distal corner formed by Rsf4 and 2rs-m; smc2 cell 0.5 times as long as cell mc1. Hindwing ( Fig. 6B View Fig ): Vein A reaching wing outer margin of wing, but Rsf, Cuf, Mf almost reaching outer margin.

Description of the male

Measurements and indices: Male (n = 1): HL 0.49; HW 0.51; SL 0.06; PrW 0.56; WL 0.98; PeH 0.33; PeNL 0.18; PeW 0.22; CI 106; SI 11.

Head: In full-face view of head ( Fig. 7 View Fig ) suboval, broader than long (CI: 106). Gena and lateral portion of clypeus forming a distinctly angulate corner. Median portion of clypeus convex, weakly raised dorsad and forming a diamond-shaped mound; anterior clypeal margin straight. Compound eye large; the longest axis about 0.23 mm, with 25 ommatidia. Median ocellus circular, about 0.06 mm in maximum diameter; lateral ocelli subcircular, about 0.06 mm in maximum diameter. Mandible reduced, triangular with sharp apex; mandalus large and subcircular. Palp formula: 4, 2. Antennal scape very short; the ratio of the length of antennal segments I–XIII approximately 1.0: 1.1: 2.7: 2.8: 2.6: 2.7: 2.6: 2.8: 2.7: 3.70: 3.1: 2.8: 3.1: 5.1 (n = 1).

Mesosoma: Mesoscutum well developed and large ( Fig. 8B View Fig ), with broad and deep scutoscutellar sulcus from which transscutal line runs laterad. Mesoscutellar disc sub-trapezoidal with straight anterior margin. Oblique mesopleural sulcus distinct in lateral view. Upper metapleuron suboval, distinctly separated from lower metapleuron by a sulcus. Propodeal corner in lateral view broadly round.

Metasoma: Petiolar node cone-like ( Fig. 8A View Fig ), with steeply sloping anterior margin and ventral posterior margin, in dorsal view oval, broader than long. Subpetiolar process triangular, with indistinct fenestra, with acute anteroventral and round posteroventral corners. Abdominal sternum III prora in lateral view blunt. Posteromedian portion of abdominal tergum VIII acutely sharpened, forming median spine as long as its nearby erect hairs. Fore, middle and hind legs each with a single pectinate tibial spur; middle tibial spur approximately 3 times as large as those of fore and hind legs.

Sculpture: Head weakly and evenly punctate; clypeus evenly punctate. Pronotal dorsum and mesonotum with relatively sparse punctures. Propodeal dorsum smooth. Mesosoma in lateral view with very scattered punctures. Propodeal declivity smooth. Petiolar node with dorsal and posterior faces smooth and shiny, and lateral face with few punctures. Abdominal tergum III evenly punctate.

Setation: Head covered densely with short sub-erect hairs; clypeus with a few long and decumbent hairs. Compound eyes with dense and very short erect hairs ( Fig. 6 View Fig ). Mesosoma , petiole and gaster covered densely with short and decumbent/suberect background hairs; petiolar node hairy in anterior face, and propodeal declivity and posterior face of petiole glabrous.

Wings: Similar to those of gyne, as shown in Fig. 9 View Fig .

Color: Body color blackish brown ( Figs 7 View Fig , 8 View Fig ); antennae and legs dark brown; mandibles blackish yellow.

Genitalia (dissected): Pygostyle digitiform, with 7-8 long erect hairs ( Fig. 10A View Fig ). Apical part of abdominal sternum IX ( Fig. 10B View Fig ) triangular, with angulate apex, ventrally with sparse hairs. Genital capsule almost as long as broad, broadest at the midlength of basimere ( Fig. 10C, D View Fig ), in lateral view subtriangular, distinctly longer than high ( Fig. 10E View Fig ); parameral process in lateral view subtrapezoidal with well protruding posterodorsal corner; telomere in lateral view forming an obtuse dorsomedial process ( Fig. 10E View Fig ), then tapering apicad, with the apex blunt and round ( Fig. 10E View Fig ). Volsella with well developed cuspis and digitus; digitus in mesal view thick at the base, narrowed and bent ventrad in the apical 2/3; cuspis elongate and spatulate ( Fig. 10F, G View Fig ). Valviceps subdivided into distinct apical and ventral lobes by a deep and round apicoventral notch ( Fig. 10H View Fig ); apical lobe broadly and roundly produced apicad; ventral margin of ventral lobe weakly and roundly convex, with ca. 10 small denticles; valvura weakly curved.

Description of the pupa (worker)

Pupa enclosed by a cocoon. Cocoon yellowish brown, with a dark-brown circular meconium in the anal area. Diameter of cocoon largest around the thorax of pupa, about 0.44 mm ( Fig. 11 View Fig A-B).

Description of the larva (expectedly final instar; but sex and caste unknown)

Body shape pogonomyrmecoid (sensu Wheeler & Wheeler, 1976). Head subtrapezoidal ( Fig. 12C View Fig ), with posterior margin straight, with lateral margin well convex. Tentorial pit weakly incised. Labrum thin, with straight anterior margin. Labium well developed, subtrapezoidal, with a pair of labial palps. Each maxilla with 2 palps. Mandible well sclerotized, pogonomyrmecoid (sensu Wheeler & Wheeler, 1976), with a total of 3 teeth.Antenna with base weakly raised. Thoracic segment I (TI) with ca. 12 slender and simple subcones which are arranged as a single whorled series. Each of TII-TIII and AI-AVII with ca. 20 slender and simple subcones which are arranged as double whorled series dorsally and a single whorled series ventrally. Each of AVI-AVII additionally with a pair of glutinous tubercles. The remainder of abdominal segments (after AVII) with increasing numbers of slender and simple subcones. Head with a few erect hairs (ca. 30 hairs). Body color yellowish white.

Distribution and nesting sites: Guangxi Province, China and Lạng Son Province, Vietnam (new record). The nests of P. guangxiensis were found inside the rotten wood, under the moss or under the stone in humid environments ( Fig. 14 View Fig ).