Leptogenys hainanensis

Leptogenys hainanensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species group:	leleji
Species:	L. hainanensis
Binomial name
Leptogenys hainanensis Chen, Chen, Xu, Fu & Fu, 2024

This species was collected using sample-plot and search-collecting methods (e.g., Xu 2002) in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, Hainan, China. Regrettably, due to constraints in collection methods, the number of specimens retrieved for this species as well as Leptogenys zhoui were limited. Both species, L. hainanensis and L. zhoui, were collected while foraging along streams in tropical rainforests at elevations of less than 1,000 meters. These individuals were procured during foraging excursions, precluding the identification of their nests.

Photo Gallery

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  Chen et al. (2024), Figure 1A. Leptogenys hainanensis worker, body in lateral view.
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  Chen et al. (2024), Figure 1B. Leptogenys hainanensis worker, body in dorsal view.
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  Chen et al. (2024), Figure 1C. Leptogenys hainanensis worker, head in full-face view.
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  Chen et al. (2024), Figure 1D. Leptogenys hainanensis worker, petiole in dorsal view.
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  Chen et al. (2024), Supp. 1, Fig. 1, habitat photo, Hainan Province, Qiongzhong County, Yinggeling Nature Reserve, Yinggezui sub-station, 19°02′54″N, 109°33′33″E, 750m.

Identification

In addition to being similar to Leptogenys leleji, Leptogenys hainanensis is significantly different from other Chinese and Oriental species. The common characteristics with L. leleji (Fig. 3A–C) are as follows (these are diagnostic for the L. leleji species group):

• cephalic capsule is wider than long
• anterior clypeal margin is fringed with a narrow translucent lamella
• mandibles are linear, a large gap is formed between clypeus and mandible when fully closed
• basal flagellar (third antennal) segment is elongate
• dorsum of the body with standing hairs
• propodeum with lateral teeth, and posterior apex of petiole in profile is drawn out into a tooth (Zryanin 2016)

In Leptogenys hainanensis (Fig. 1A–D), with the head in full-face view, the posterior margin is straight and carinate, and the posterior corners are narrowly rounded, while the lateral margins display a subtle convexity; the distance between the ventral eye margin and the anterior clypeal margin is shorter (HLA 0.33); dorsum of the head exhibits dense longitudinal striae; the eyes’ greatest diameter is greater than the maximal width of the scape; the posterior process of the petiolar node is relatively longer and bifid at the apex, with an abundance of short, small prominences on the reticulation interface. Conversely, in L. leleji, the head in full-face view is markedly wider anteriorly than posteriorly, the lateral and posterior margins form a continuous convexity, the occipital carina is distinct; the distance between the ventral eye margin and the anterior clypeal margin is moderate (HLA 0.41); dorsum of the head with sparse longitudinal striae; eyes’ greatest diameter is greater than the maximal width of the scape; the posterior process of the petiolar node is relatively shorter and not bifid at the apex, and lacks the short, small prominences on the reticulation interface.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Leptogenys of China

Photo Gallery

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  Chen et al. (2024), Figure 2. Distribution of Leptogenys hainanensis and Leptogenys zhoui (Hainan, China). The gradients of the map indicate the topography.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 19.04823° to 18.72712°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: Chen et al., 2024

Distribution based on type material

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.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• hainanensis. Leptogenys hainanensis Chen et al., 2024: 202, figs. 1, 2 (w.) CHINA (Hainan).

Type Material

• Holotype: worker, China: Hainan Province, Qiongzhong County, Yinggeling Nature Reserve, Yinggezui sub-station, 19.048333°N, 109.559167°E, 750 m, 28.VII.2022, Chao Chen leg. The holotype specimen is deposited in Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (KIZCAS), Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, Reg. No. KIZ20220009 (unique specimen identifiers).
• Paratype: 1 worker, China: Hainan Province, Ledong County, Jianfengling, 18.727222N, 108.898611E, 950 m, 9.IV.2016, Zhi-Lin Chen leg. The paratype specimen is deposited in the Insect Collection, Guangxi Normal University (GXNU), Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, Reg. No. G160246 (unique specimen identifiers).

References

• Chen, C., Chen, Z., Xu, Z., Fu, Q., Fu, L. 2024. Two new ant species of the genus Leptogenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Hainan, China, with a key to the known Chinese species. ZooKeys, 1195, 199–217 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.1195.115889).
• Xu, Z.H. 2002. A study on the bBiodiversity of Formicidae ants of Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve. Yunnan Science and Technology Press, Kunming, 181 pp.
• Zryanin, V.A. 2016. A remarkable new species of Leptogenys Roger, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Vietnam. Euroasian Entomological Journal 1: 50–54.