Ponera japonica Wheeler, 1906

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 : 34-36

Ponera japonica Wheeler, 1906

( Fig. 40 : worker)

Ponera japonica Wheeler, 1906: 306 (w. q.). Type locality: Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Hakone Mountains. Ponera japonica var. crocea Santschi, 1941: 273 (w.). Synonym by Taylor, 1967: 67; Kupyanskaya 1990: 86.

Non-type material examined: JAPAN. 1 worker, Hakone, Kanagawa Pref., Ashigarashimo Dist. , 23 V 1986, T. Tanabe leg (CMPon173). 1 worker, Kagoshima Pref Kirishima Mts., Ohnamino-ike trl., 24 IX 2008, Sk Yamane leg (CMPon174) . 1 worker, Tokyo, Itsukaichi, Ina , 6 X 1994, H Takamine leg ( MTC: LCM_MT-Ponera-07) . TAIWAN. 1 worker, 18 X 2016, Nantou county, Xitou, PC Hsu leg (CMPon086) . 1 worker, Taipei city, Yangmingshan , 25.188°N; 121.567°E, 390 m alt., 15 V 2016, CM Leong leg (CMPon045) .

Measurements (mm) and indices. Workers (n=5) HL 0.50–0.58; HW 0.41–0.47; SL 0.32–0.38; A06L 0.02; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.08; PrW 0.30–0.36; WL 0.69–0.76; PeH 0.31–0.35; PeNL 0.16–0.19; PeW 0.24–0.28; ATL 0.33–0.39; ATW 0.39–0.47; CI 79–83, SI 78–86, PeI 80–84, LPeI 51–56, DPeI 143–154, ATI 82–86.

Diagnosis (worker). This species is characterized by a short antennal scape; a posterior margin of head convex; a petiolar node in dorsal view arched with a straight posterior margin; and a petiolar node in lateral view with a straight and slightly sloping posterior margin. Ponera japonica presents similarities with P. incerta , P. tenuis , P. pianmana , P. taiyangshen , and P. yuhuang , however the following differences are noted. The median clypeal tooth is distinct and developed in P. japonica , but indistinct in P. incerta . Ponera japonica has a five segmented club, but four segmented club in P. tenuis . The posterior margin of the petiolar node in lateral view is straight in P. japonica , but slightly convex in P. pianmana . Ponera japonica presents a blunter posterodorsal corner of the petiolar node in lateral view than in P. taiyangshen ; with also the posterior margin of the petiolar node straight in P. japonica , but slightly convex in P. taiyangshen . Ponera japonica also presents a subpetiolar teeth, which is absent in P. yuhuang .

Description of worker. Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular and distinctly longer than broad (CI: 79–83), with concave posterior margin, slightly convex lateral margins, and rounded posterolateral corners ( Fig. 40C ). Eye small; composed of a total of 4 to 6 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with blunt medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible with a series of about 11 indistinct denticles, and three large teeth on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 12–14% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres = 1.18: 2.11: 2.93: 4.06 (n=5).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex. Pronotum in dorsal view with acutely convex anterior margin and slightly convex lateral margins ( Fig. 40B ). Metanotal groove thin and clearly incised. Lateral mesopleural suture distinctly incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad with straight lateral margins. Propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 125 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and arched, with well convex anterior margin, and straight posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and trapezoidal, with straight anterior and posterior margins, and convex dorsal margin. Subpetiolar process with medium-sized and oval fenestra, blunt anteroventral corner, slightly concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with small teeth. Third abdominal tergum distinctly broader than long (ATI: 82–86), with slightly convex anterior margin, and straight posterior margin.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Propodeum evenly punctate. Mesonotum and propodeal dorsum scatteredly punctate. Mesopleuron with weakly striate lower portion and scatteredly punctate upper portion. Metapleuron with weakly striate lower portion, but with smooth upper portion. Propodeal declivity smooth and shining. Petiolar node sparsely punctate, with smooth posterior face, dorsum with few superficial punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments densely punctate, other segments smooth and shining with few punctures.

Pubescence. Head with dense short hairs. Mesosoma with evenly distributed short hairs; lower metapleuron with few short hairs, but glabrous in upper portion. 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 many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

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

Description of queen. See Wheeler (1906).

Description of male. Unknown.

Distribution. South Korea, North Korea, Japan, and Taiwan (record confirmed with specimens collected from Nantou county: Xitou, Taipei city: Yangmingshan).

Figures

FIGURE 40. P. japonica worker (CMPon173), A: body, lateral view, B: body, dorsal view, C: head, full-face view.