.jpg){kind=logo}
Brachyponera xui
| Brachyponera xui | |
|---|---|
,_Fig._29A.png)
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Ponerinae |
| Tribe: | Ponerini |
| Genus: | Brachyponera |
| Species group: | xui |
| Species: | B. xui |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachyponera xui Chen, Yu & Yi, 2025
| |
,_Fig._29B.png)
,_Fig._29C.png)
This species was collected in the Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve in Yunnan.
Identification
Chen et al. (2025) - The new species is similar to Brachyponera pilidorsalis (Yamane, 2007), but it differs in head and pronotum with densely deeply punctate surface with small pits, eye relatively small, pronotum has edges (Fig. 9A), and dorsal surface of propodeum is longer. In B. pilidorsalis, head and pronotum are with sparsely lightly punctate sculpture with small pits, eye is relatively small, pronotum has weaker edges, and dorsal surface of propodeum is short.
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 22.93° to 22.69°.
| 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 while foraging on the ground surface of a montane mossy evergreen broadleaf forest at an altitude of 1750 m (Suppl. material 1: fig. S19), and one paratype was collect ed while foraging under a rock. One paratype was collected while foraging on the surface of a monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest at an elevation of 750 m. Another 107 workers of this new species were collected in seven sample plots in forest types including tropical seasonal rainforest, monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest, montane mossy evergreen broadleaf forest, mixed coniferous broadleaf forest, and deciduous broadleaf forest. Nesting sites included under rocks, in rotten wood, under rotten wood, and in soil. Foraging sites included surface and under stones. All sample plots were below 2000 m in elevation.
,_Fig._S19.jpg)
,_Fig._S20.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.
- xui. Brachyponera xui Chen et al., 2025: 277, fig. 29A-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 xui: Holotype (designated by Chen et al., 2025), 1 worker, Laobianduan, Sanmeng Township, China, 22°55′39″N 102°17′08″W / 22.92752°N 102.28553°W, 24.iv.2023, Chao Chen, KIZ20231023, KIZ.
- Brachyponera xui: Paratype (designated by Chen et al., 2025), 1 worker, Laobianduan, Sanmeng Township, China, 22°55′39″N 102°17′08″W / 22.92752°N 102.28553°W, 24.iv.2023, Chao Chen, KIZ20231004, SWFU.
- Brachyponera xui: Paratype (designated by Chen et al., 2025), 1 worker, Dongma village, Qimaba Township, China, 22°41′25″N 102°19′50″W / 22.69017°N 102.33054°W, 10.x.2023, Yu Yu, KIZ20231736, GNUC.
Description
Worker
Measurements and indices. Holotype: HL 0.97, HLL 0.92, HLA 0.13, HW 0.96, ML 0.54, CML 0.08, CI 99, SL 0.97, SI 101, ED 0.16, PrL 0.65, PrH 0.48, PrW 0.67, WL 1.56, TL 4.9, PL 0.38, PH 0.78, DPW 0.56, LPI 205, PDPI 147. Paratypes (n = 2): HL 0.96–1.05, HLL 0.91–0.94, HLA 0.12–0.15, HW 0.96–1.04, ML 0.53–0.55, CML 0.08, CI 99–100, SL 0.97–1.01, SI 97–101, ED 0.14–0.17, PrL 0.63–0.67, PrH 0.45–0.50, PrW 0.66–0.69, WL 1.54–1.58, TL 4.8–5.1, PL 0.38–0.39, PH 0.77–0.79, DPW 0.55–0.58, LPI203–205, PDPI 145–148.
In full-face view, head nearly square, with length and width roughly equal, posterior margin nearly straight, lateral margins moderately convex, posterolateral corners narrowly rounded. Mandible triangular with nine teeth, end 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 exceeds posterolateral corner of head by 1/5 of its length, flagellar segments gradually increase in size toward the end. Eye medium and maximum diameter consists of nine ommatidia (ED 0.16 mm).
In lateral view, lateral edge of pronotum has obvious edges. Pronotum and mesonotum significantly higher than propodeum. Promesonotal suture seams evident, metanotal groove deeply impressed. Mesonotum moderately convex. Dorsal surface of propodeum nearly straight, declivity steep slope, nearly straight, posterodorsal corner of propodeum broadly rounded. Propodeal spiracle rounded, there is a groove between spiracle and metanotal groove. Metapleural bulla small, roughly elliptical. Petiolar node as high as propodeum, upright, nearly trapezoidal; anterior margin nearly straight, posterior margin and dorsum moderately convex; subpetiolar process forms a wedge. Prora absent. Gaster subconical, basal two intersegments contracted, apex with sting.
In dorsal view, lateral edge of pronotum has obvious edges; equal width between upper and lower parts; pronotum broadest, lateral margins gradually narrower posteriorly. Mesonotum anterior margin convex, posterior margin slightly concave. propodeum nearly rectangular, gradually narrowing from the bottom to the top, forming a ridge. Petiolar node broader than long, anterior margin moderately convex, lateral margins strongly convex, posterior margin flat.
Mandible with sparsely punctate with small pits, head and pronotum with densely punctate with small pits. lateral face of pronotum, propodeum, petiolar node and gaster with 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 yellowish brown.
Etymology
The new species is named in honor of Professor Zhenghui Xu (Southwest Forestry University, China) for his outstanding contributions to the ant fauna of China.