Leptogenys zhoui

Leptogenys zhoui
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species group:	crassicornis
Species:	L. zhoui
Binomial name
Leptogenys zhoui 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 hainanensis 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 4A. Leptogenys zhoui worker, body in lateral view.
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  Chen et al. (2024), Figure 4B. Leptogenys zhoui worker, body in dorsal view.
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  Chen et al. (2024), Figure 4C. Leptogenys zhoui worker, head in full-face view.
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  Chen et al. (2024), Figure 4D. Leptogenys zhoui worker, mandibles in full-face view.
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  Chen et al. (2024), Supp. 1, Fig. 2, habitat photo, Hainan Province, Baisha County, Nanmeiling forest park, Yaqiong sub-station, 19°08′39″N, 109°20′57″E, 700m.

Identification

Leptogenys zhoui is compared against species within the L. crassicornis species group, characterized by a square head, a smooth appearance, mandibles with a dentate masticatory margin, and short antennae. This species exhibits the closest resemblance to Leptogenys crassicornis (Fig. 5A–C). In full-face view of Leptogenys zhoui, sparse pits adorn the inner edge of the mandibles, while the middle part of the anterior clypeus displays a concave feature and forms dentate protrusions on both sides. The eyes are of moderate size, with a maximum diameter of ~ 2/3 of the maximum diameter of the scape. In lateral view, the petiolar node is moderately thick and ~ 1/2 the height (PL 0.26, PH 0.46), while the dorsum of the propodeum appears nearly straight and aligns with the promesonotum in the same horizontal plane. Furthermore, the body, abaxially, exhibits a profusion of erect or suberect hairs. Conversely, in L. crassicornis, the inner edge of the mandible lacks pits or has only one or two pits in full-face view. The anterior aspect of the clypeus is rounded, and the eyes are smaller, with a maximum diameter of ~ 1/2 of the maximum diameter of the scape. In lateral view, the petiolar node appears thick and ~ 4/5 of the height (PL 0.33, PH 0.41), while the dorsum of the promesonotum is higher than the propodeum. Additionally, the body, abaxially, bears sparse erect or suberect hairs and decumbent pubescence.

Leptogenys zhoui bears resemblance to Leptogenys myops (Fig. 6A–C). In Leptogenys zhoui, body size is relatively large (TL > 4 mm); in full-face view, the anterior clypeal margin is fringed with two or three peg-like setae medially; the antennal scape reaches just to the posterior head corner; the eyes are relatively large (ED 0.1 mm); the dorsum of the propodeum appears nearly straight and aligns with the promesonotum in the same horizontal plane. Furthermore, the body, abaxially, exhibits a profusion of erect or suberect hairs. Conversely, in L. myops, the body size is relatively small (TL < 4 mm); in full-face view, the anterior clypeal margin is not fringed medially; the antennal scape does not reach the posterior head corner; the eyes are relatively small (ED 0.07 mm); the metanotal groove divides the dorsal outline of the mesosoma into two distinct convexities in lateral view; body, abaxially, bears spars erect or suberect hairs and decumbent pubescence.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Leptogenys of China

Distribution

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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: 19.14429° to °.

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.

• zhoui. Leptogenys zhoui Chen et al., 2024: 206, figs. 2, 4 (w.) CHINA (Hainan).

Type Material

• Holotype: worker, China: Hainan Province, Baisha County, Nanmeiling forest park, Yaqiong sub-station, 19.144167°N, 109.349167°E, 700m, 2.VIII.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. KIZ20220196 (unique specimen identifiers).
• Paratypes: 2 workers, data the same as holotype. One paratype worker is deposited in GXNU. No. KIZ20220197 (unique specimen identifiers); 1 paratype worker is deposited in the Insect Collection, Southwest Forestry University (SWFU), Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. No. KIZ20220198 (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.