Key to Chinese Leptanilla

Taxonomic key to the Chinese Leptanilla species based on the worker caste (excluding Leptanilla bethyloides for which only males are known). Modified from Zhong (2024).

1

• In profile, subpetiolar process of petiole with a short, backward-facing spine (Fig 6A) => 2
• In profile, vertical margin of petiole rounded and without distinct subpetiolar process (Fig 6B) => 3

• 

  Zhong (2024), Fig 6. Lateral view of petiole of Leptanilla sichuanensis (left) and L. kunmingensis (right): A – subpetiolar process present; B – subpetiolar process absent.

2

return to couplet #1

• Head and antennal scape not markedly elongated (CI 72–74, SI 49–56). Medial margin of disc protruding from anterior margin of clypeus with a pair of triangular extensions; antennal toruli rounded overall (Fig 7A) => Leptanilla macauensis
• Head and antennal scape elongated (CI 67–70, SI 63–66). Medial margin of disc protruding from anterior margin of clypeus without a pair of triangular extensions, instead forming a complete curve; inferolateral margin of antennal toruli stretched angularly (Fig 7B) => Leptanilla sichuanensis

• 

  Zhong (2024), Fig 7. Frontal view of clypeus of Leptanilla macauensis (left) and L. sichuanensis (right): A – medial protrusion with a pair of triangular extensions, antennal toruli rounded overall. B – posterior margin of medial protrusion forming a complete curve, antennal toruli stretched angularly.

• 

  Zhong (2024), Fig 8. Frontal view of clypeus of Leptanilla dehongensis (left) and L. qinlingensis (right): A – elevated and elongated, distinctly beyond antennal toruli overall. B – not elongated, anterior margin only slightly surpassing antennal toruli.

4

return to couplet #3

• Anterior margin of clypeus concave centrally, with a pair of projecting sides (Fig 9A) => Leptanilla kunmingensis
• Anterior margin of clypeus truncated (Fig 9B) => Leptanilla dehongensis

• 

  Zhong (2024), Fig 9. Frontal view of clypeus of Leptanilla kunmingensis (left) and L. dehongensis (right): A – anterior margin concave centrally, sides projecting. B – anterior margin truncated, sides level.

5

return to couplet #3

• Anterior margin of clypeus complete, either flattened or convex (Fig 10A) => 6
• Anterior margin of clypeus distinctly notched centrally (Fig 10B) => 7

• 

  Zhong (2024), Fig 10. Frontal view of clypeus of Leptanilla yunnanensis (left) and L. qinlingensis (right): A –anterior margin complete. B – anterior margin notched centrally.

6

return to couplet #5

• Head subrectangular, subequal width and length (Fig 11A) => Leptanilla yunnanensis
• Head about 1.5 times as length as width (Fig 11B) => Leptanilla hunanensis

• 

  Zhong (2024), Fig 11. Full-face view of head of Leptanilla yunnanensis (left) and L. hunanensis (right): A – outline subrectangular overall. B – outline elongated, about 1.5 times as length as width.

7

return to couplet #5

• Ventral portion of postpetiole slightly flattened, 0.5 times as height as node (Fig 12A) => Leptanilla qinlingensis
• Ventral portion of postpetiole strongly rounded, as height as node (Fig 12B) => 8

• 

  Zhong (2024), Fig 12. Lateral view of postpetiole of Leptanilla qinlingensis (left) and L. beijingensis (right): A – ventral portion flattened and short. B – ventral portion strongly rounded and tall.

8

return to couplet #7

• Mandiblar teeth arranged trisectionally (Fig 13A). petiole elongated, 1.3 times as long as wide, longer than postpetiole (Fig 13C) => Leptanilla beijingensis
• Mandibular basal tooth slightly removed from preapical and apical teeth (Fig 13B). petiole as long as wide or only slightly elongated, shorter than postpetiole (Fig 13D) => Leptanilla taiwanensis

• 

  Zhong (2024), Fig 13. Frontal view of mandible of Leptanilla beijingensis (A and C) and L. taiwanensis (B and D): A – mandiblar teeth arranged trisectionally. B – mandibular basal tooth slightly removed from other teeth. C – petiole longer than postpetiole. D – petiole shorter than postpetiole.

References

• Zhong, Y. 2024. A new species of the ant genus Leptanilla Emery, 1870 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Sichuan Province, China. Sociobiology 71(3), e10478 (doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v71i3.10478).