Ponera takaminei Terayama, 1996

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 : 58-61

Ponera takaminei Terayama, 1996

( Fig. 53 : worker; Fig. 53 : dealate queen)

Ponera takaminei Terayama, 1996: 11 (w.). Type locality: Japan, Okinawa Pref., Miyako-jima .

Type material examined: JAPAN . Paratype. 1 worker, Miyako-jima, Okinawa Pref., 10 XI 1985, Y Hashimoto leg (MTC: LCM_MT-Ponera-04).

Non-type material examined: JAPAN. 6 workers and 1 dealate queen, Kume Island , Okinawa Pref., 10 VII 1983, H Takamine leg (MTC: LCM_MT-Ponera-01, LCM_MT-Ponera-02, LCM_MT-Ponera-03).

Measurements (mm) and indices. Worker (n=7): HL 0.68–0.75; HW 0.57–0.64; SL 0.47–0.52; A06L 0.04; A07L 0.04; A08L 0.06; A09L 0.08; A10L 0.09; PrW 0.44–0.50; WL 0.90–1.05; PeH 0.48–0.49; PeNL 0.27–0.30; PeW 0.41–0.60; ATL 0.55–0.60; ATW 0.55–0.62; CI 81–86, SI 77–82, PeI 93–95, LPeI 55–62, DPeI 145–171, ATI 94–101.

Queen (n=1): HL 0.79; HW 0.67; SL 0.46; A06L 0.04; A07L 0.05; A08L 0.09; A09L 0.10; A10L 0.12; PrW 0.56; WL 1.22; PeH 0.50; PeNL 0.28; PeW 0.49; ATL 0.70; ATW 0.67; CI 85, SI 69, PeI 88, LPeI 57, DPeI 173, ATI 105.

Diagnosis (worker). Ponera takaminei is a large species (HW: 0.57–0.64 mm) that can be distinguished by its long antennal scape, a distinct metanotal groove, a petiolar node thick when observed in in lateral view with upper portion of the posterior margin bulging, and with a convex posterior margin of the petiolar node in dorsal view.

Description of worker. Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular and distinctly longer than broad (CI: 81–86), with convex posterior margin, slightly convex lateral margins and broadly rounded posterolateral corners ( Fig. 53C ). Eye small; composed of a total of 3–5 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with very strong and blunt medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible with a series of about 12 indistinct denticles, and three large teeth on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 8% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres = 1.19: 1.61:

2.16: 2.68 (n=7).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view slightly convex ( Fig. 53A ). Pronotum in dorsal view with well convex anterior margin, moderately convex lateral margins ( Fig. 53B ). Metanotal groove distinctly and clearly incised. Lateral mesopleural suture in lateral view deeply incised. Propodeal dorsum broad, with straight lateral margins. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum rounded, propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 130 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and arched, with slightly convex anterior margin, moderately concave posterior margin, and slightly convex lateral margins ( Fig. 53B ). Petiolar node in lateral view very remarkably and trapezoid, with straight anterior margin and moderately convex posterior margin; with upper portion bulging, anterodorsal corner higher than posterodorsal corner ( Fig. 53A ). Subpetiolar process thick with large and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, slightly concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of developed teeth. Third abdominal tergum as long as large (ATI: 94–101), with broadly convex anterior margin, slightly convex lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Mesosomal dorsum evenly punctate, particular rough in propodeal dorsum. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum evenly striate. Propodeal declivity smooth. Lateral face of petiole evenly punctate, posterior face shining, dorsum rough and evenly punctate. The third and fourth abdominal segments densely punctate, other segments smooth and shining with few punctures.

Pubescence. Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum and lateral face of petiole with scattered short hairs. Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node and gastral with many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

Color. Body color reddish brown. Mandible, clypeus, antennae, legs, and apex of gaster orange.

Description of queen (dealate queen). Head. ( Fig. 54C ) Similar to worker caste, but with large and oval Eye, maximum diameter of each eye about 0.17 mm with 13 ommatidia along the maximum diameter. Three ocelli present, and forming a subequilateral triangle; median eye larger than lateral eye. Antennal scape similar to worker; average ratio of the length of antennomeres = 1.07: 1.53: 1.80: 1.85 (n=1).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex ( Fig. 54A ). Pronotum in dorsal view with moderately convex anterior margin and broadly convex lateral margins ( Fig. 54B ). Scutum subpentagonal, with moderately convex anterior margin, almost straight posterior margin. Transcutal suture distinct and broad. Scutellum oval. Anapleural sulcus weakly incised. Propodeal-metapleural suture indistinct. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner in lateral view rounded; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 120 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and arched, broader than long, with broadly convex anterior margin, moderately concave posterior margin ( Fig. 54B ). Petiolar node in lateral view trapezoidal and moderately thick, with straight anterior and posterior margins ( Fig. 54A ). Subpetiolar process with large and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, slightly concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of medium-sized teeth. The ratio of third abdominal segment slightly longer than worker caste (ATI: 105).

Sculpture. Similar to worker caste.

Pubescence. Similar to worker caste.

Color. Similar to worker caste.

Description of male. Unknown.

Distribution. Japan (Okinawa Pref.).

Figures

FIGURE 53. P. takaminei paratype worker (LCM_MT-Ponera-02b), A: body, lateral view, B: body, dorsal view, C: head, fullface view, D: specimen label.

FIGURE 54. P. takaminei dealate queen (LCM_MT-Ponera-01), A: body, lateral view, B: body, dorsal view, C: head, full-face view, D: specimen label.