.jpg){kind=logo}
Brachyponera candida
| Brachyponera candida | |
|---|---|
,_Fig._22A.png)
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Ponerinae |
| Tribe: | Ponerini |
| Genus: | Brachyponera |
| Species group: | nigrita |
| Species: | B. candida |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachyponera candida Chen, Yu & Yi, 2025
| |
,_Fig._22B.png)
,_Fig._22C.png)
This species was collected in the Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve in Yunnan.
Identification
Chen et al. (2025) - This species is similar to Brachyponera pilidorsalis (Yamane, 2007). However, it can be separated by relatively short scape that exceeds the posterolateral corner by 1/10 of its length (in B. pilidorsalis the scape is longer, exceeding posterolateral corner with more than 1⁄4 of its length); slightly shorter distance between anterior clypeal margin to anterior margin of torulus, CML 0.11 (relatively long in B. pilidorsalis, CML 0.15), dorsal length of propodeum longer than declivity, mesopleuron usually without a groove, dorsum of mesosoma with slightly short erect hairs (dorsal length of propodeum slightly longer than declivity, mesopleuron often with a transverse groove, dorsum of mesosoma with slightly long standing hairs in B. pilidorsalis).
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 22.69° to 22.62°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Chen et al., 2025
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: China (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
|
Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
|
Biology
Chen et al. (2025) - The type series was collected from a nest in soil, which was built in a coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest at an altitude of 1250 m. Sixteen workers of this new species were collected foraging on the forest floor. An additional 61 workers of this new species were collected in five sample plots. The forest types include tropical seasonal rainforest, monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, and mountain moss evergreen broadleaved forest. The new species builds its nest in the soil. Workers were found foraging on the ground and tree trunks. The altitude of all sample plots is below 2000 m.
,_Fig._S15.jpg)
Castes
This species is known only from the worker caste.
Phylogeny
| Brachyponera |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on Chen et al., 2025. Note only selected species included.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- candida. Brachyponera candida Chen et al., 2025: 265, fig. 22A-C (w.) CHINA (Yunnan). Indomalaya.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Type Material
- Brachyponera candida: Holotype (designated by Chen et al., 2025), 1 worker, Mohelongtang, Banpo Township, China, 22°37′02″N 102°20′09″W / 22.61721°N 102.33585°W, 13.iv.2023, Chao Chen, KIZ20230168, KIZ.
- Brachyponera candida: Paratypes (designated by Chen et al., 2025), 5 workers, Mohelongtang, Banpo Township, China, 22°37′02″N 102°20′09″W / 22.61721°N 102.33585°W, 13.iv.2023, Chao Chen, SWFU, GNUC.
Description
Worker
Measurements and indices. Holotype: HL 1.07, HLL 0.97, HLA 0.12, HW 0.99, ML 0.52, CML 0.11, CI 93, SL 1.00, SI 101, ED 0.17, PrL 0.64, PrH 0.53, PrW 0.71, WL 1.63, TL 5.2, PL 0.43, PH 0.75, DPW 0.53, LPI 174, PDPI 123. Paratypes (n = 5): HL 1.04–1.11, HLL 0.92–0.97, HLA 0.11–0.19, HW 0.94–1.00, ML 0.50–0.58, CML 0.10–0.12, CI 88–95, SL 0.99–1.09, SI 101–114, ED 0.15–0.17, PrL 0.62–0.67, PrH 0.51–0.57, PrW 0.73–0.79, WL 1.62–1.70, TL 5.0–5.3, PL 0.44–0.47, PH 0.75–0.79, DPW 0.51–0.58, LPI 160–173, PDPI 113–126.
In full-face view, head longer than broad, roughly rectangular, posterior margin weakly concave, posterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins moderately convex. Mandible triangular with eight teeth, apical tooth largest, and with a basal mandibular pit. Clypeus transverse, center of anterior margin moderately concave. Frontal carina short, frontal lobes well developed, covering antennal socket, frontal region with central longitudinal ridge. Antennae 12-segmented, scape 1/10 exceeds posterolateral corner, flagellum gradually increases in size toward the end. Eye medium and maximum diameter consists of eleven ommatidia (ED 0.17 mm).
In lateral view, pronotum and mesonotum significantly higher than propodeum. Promesonotal suture seams evident, metanotal groove deeply impressed. Mesonotum moderately convex. Dorsal surface of propodeum nearly straight, with a length ~ 1.3× that of declivity, slope of declivity steep, nearly straight. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum broadly rounded. Propodeal spiracle rounded, with a groove between spiracle and metanotal groove. Metapleural bulla not visible. Petiolar node as high as propodeum, upright, thick (PDPI 123), nearly trapezoidal; anterior margin and dorsum moderately convex, posterior margin nearly straight; subpetiolar process forms a wedge. Prora absent. Gaster subconical, basal two intersegments contracted, apex with sting.
In dorsal view, pronotum widest in mesosoma, humeral corners bluntly rounded; lateral margins moderately convex. Anterior margin of mesonotum convex, posterior margin slightly straight. Propodeum nearly rectangular, gradually narrowing from bottom to the top, forming a ridge. Petiolar node trapezoidal, front narrow and gradually widening backwards; anterior margin flat, posterior margin moderately convex.
Dorsal surface of body with densely hairy punctation. Mesopleuron, metapleural and lower part of lateral side of petiolar node smooth and shiny. Dorsal surface of body with sparsely erect or suberect hairs and densely sub-decumbent hairs. Body color black, funiculus, mandible, and legs brownish black.
Etymology
The new species name refers to its smooth and shiny body, with only a relatively small number of punctures.