Ponera alisana

Ponera alisana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Ponera
Species:	P. alisana
Binomial name
Ponera alisana Terayama, 1986

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification

Terayama (1986) - This new species is distinguished easily from the other species by the combination of the following characters: size relatively small (HL 0.76-0.80 mm, HW 0.58-0.60 mm); narrow head (CI 74--79); shape of petiole; long scapes which exceed the median occipital border (SI 101-109); presence of mesonotal-propodeal suture on the dorsum of alitrunk.

Leong et al. (2019) - (worker). This large species (HW: 0.58–0.65 mm) is characterized by a long antennal scape exceeding the posterior margin of the head; a clypeus with acute medial tooth; a subpetiolar process with large teeth; and a deeply incised metanotal groove. Ponera alisana presents similarities with Ponera nangongshana but can be distinguished from the latter by the long antennal scape, which exceeds the posterior margin of head and the presence of an acute medial tooth on the clypeus (blunt medial tooth in Ponera nangonshan).

Keys including this Species

• Key to Ponera of China
• Key to Ponera of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan (type locality).
Palaearctic Region: China.

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

Explore Overview of Ponera biology  The general biology of species in the genus was summarized by Taylor (1967): Ponera are small ants that nest in rotting logs in forested areas or under stones in nonforested situations. In the tropical areas specimens are rarely encountered away from rain forest. In temperate areas, however, species may occur in relatively lightly forested areas. This appears to be the case with Ponera japonica, Ponera pennsylvanica and especially with Ponera coarctata. The Australian Ponera leae is essentially limited to rain forest in the northern parts of its range, but further south it may be found in dry, lightly forested areas. Foraging is probably cryptobiotic, though some New Guinea species have been taken straying on the ground surface. Little information is available concerning feeding. However, most species are probably insectivorous. I have conducted feeding experiments with some of the New Guinea and Samoan species, including Ponera xenagos, Ponera elegantula, Ponera tenuis, Ponera incerta and Ponera woodwardi. These were unsuccessful with the larger species, except elegantula, which accepted moderately large (8-12 mm) campodeid and japygid Diplura. Tenuis and incerta accepted smaller (4-6 mm) campodeids, isotomid and sminthurid Collembola, and small newly hatched spiders (2 mm long). Negative feeding response was obtained with eggs and larvae of various ants, small crushed insects of various orders, and small myriapods. Stray workers were never observed carrying prey, and distinct middens of insect or other remains were not located near nests. Colonies usually contain about 30 workers. Larvae and pupae are not segregated in most cases, but occasionally aggregations of pupae were observed. These may have included the total brood of the colonies involved. Larvae are attached to the floor or walls of the nest galleries by the glutinous abdominal tubercles described above, and the ants move them high up on the walls or ceilings of artificial nests, if they are flooded. Details of nuptial behavior of pennsylvanica were given by Wheeler (1900), and Haskins & Enzmann (1938). The flights appear to be of a pattern typical for ants, with the alates meeting in the air and mating there or on the ground. Colony foundation is non-claustral and independent in pennsylvanica (Kannowski 1959); judging from my observations this is typical for the genus. ‎

Castes

Queen

Leong et al. 2019. Figure 32. Alate queen, CMPon050

Leong et al. 2019. Figure 33. Alate queen wings, CMPon050

Male

Leong et al. 2019. Figure 34. Male (CMPon049).

Leong et al. 2019. Figure 35. Male wings (CMPon049).

Nomenclature

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

• alisana. Ponera alisana Terayama, 1986: 591, figs. 1-5 (w.q.) TAIWAN. See also: Yoshimura, Hosoishi, et al. 2009: 198.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Holotype. Head length (HL) 0.76 mm; head width (HW) 0.60 mm; scape length (SL) 0.61 mm; cephalic index (CI: HWx 100/HL) 79; scape index (SI: SLx 100/HW) 101; Weber’s length of alitrunk (WL) 1.10 mm; pronotum width (PW) 0.48 mm; petiole height (PH) 0.49 mm; petiolar node length (PNL) 0.25 mm; dorsal petiole width (DPW) 0.36 mm; total length (TL) ca. 3.3 mm.

Terayama 1986 Figs. 1-5

Head relatively long with convex sides and slightly concave occipital border. Mandibles with 3 well developed teeth occupying approximately apical 1/3 of masticatory border; remainder of border with minute indistinct denticles. Clypeus slightly produced in the middle, with a distinct blunt median tooth. Eyes small, with 2 or 3 indistinct facets; situated about 0.73 X the distance from lateral occipital border to midpoint of anterior genal border. Antennal scapes long, clearly exceeding median occipital border. Antennal club 5-segmented; ratio of length from the base about 7: 8: 9: 10: 24; apical segment 1.8xas long as broad.

Alitrunk and petiole as in Fig. 2; dorsal face of meso no tum, in side view, slightly convex; mesonotal-propodeal border dipping well below level of basal face of propodeum; dorsal face of propodeum horizontal, posterolateral corners not markedly pronounced, forming blunt angles. Mesonotal-propodeal suture incised. Petiolar node, in side view, massive, rectangular, angulate in posterior corner; dorsal face, viewed from above, half-circler, posterior border straight. Posterolateral teeth of subpetiolar process acute; subpetiolar fenestra moderately large, oval.

Mandibles smooth and shining. Head, pro- and mesonota, and gaster shagreened; propodeum and petiole less shagreened. Pubescence moderately abundant, distributed evenly over the entire body, including mandibles, antennae, and legs. Erect hairs present on antennal scapes, head, dorsum of alitrunk and gaster.

Color dull reddish brown; antennae, mandibles, and tip of gaster yellow.

Paratypes. Four paratype workers from the same series as Holotype with following dimensions and indices: HL 0.78-0.80 mm; HW 0.58-0.60 mm; SL 0.63 mm; CI 74-77; SI 105-109; WL 1.10-1.23 mm; A W 0.48-0.49 mm; PH 0.49-0.50 mm; PNL 0.24-0.25 mm; DPW 0.36-0.38 mm.

Leong et al. (2019) - Workers (n=4): HL 0.76–0.81; HW 0.62–0.65; SL 0.61–0.66; A06L 0.05; A07L 0.06; A08L 0.09; A09L 0.10; A10L 0.11; PrW 0.45–0.53; WL 1.05–1.16; PeH 0.45–0.49; PeNL 0.24–0.27; PeW 0.35–0.38; ATL 0.53–0.55; ATW 0.61–0.65; CI 78–83, SI 98–105, PeI 70–79, LPeI 51–60, DPeI 141–151, ATI 85–89.

Head: In full-face view, head subrectangular and distinctly longer than broad (CI: 78–83), with concave posterior margin, convex lateral margins and strongly rounded posterolateral corners. Eye small; composed of a total of 3–4 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with strong and acute medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible with a series of about 15 indistinct denticles, and three large teeth on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, exceeding by about 10% of the scape length past the posterodorsal corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.19 = 1.19: 1.93: 2.17: 2.26 (n=4).

Mesosoma: Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view almost straight. Pronotum in dorsal view with acutely convex anterior margin, and broadly convex lateral margins. Metanotal groove in dorsal view and lateral view strongly and broadly incised. Lateral mesopleural suture in lateral view deeply incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad with straight lateral margins, narrow anteriad. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum in lateral view angular, propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 120 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and arched, with slightly convex anterior margin, almost straight posterior margin, and broadly convex lateral margins. Petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and rectangular, with straight anterior and posterior margins, and slightly convex dorsum, posterodorsal corner higher than anterodorsal corner. Subpetiolar process with big and oval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of developed teeth. Third abdominal tergum distinctly broader than long (ATI: 85–89), with straight anterior margin and slightly convex lateral margins.

Sculpture: Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Pronotum and mesonotum evenly punctate. Mesopleuron and metapleuron weakly striate. Propodeal dorsum sparsely punctate. Propodeum in lateral view with weakly striate lower portion and evenly punctate upper portion. Propodeal declivity smooth with few punctures. Lateral and anterior faces of petiole evenly punctate, smooth posterior face, dorsum with few punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments evenly punctate, other segments smooth and shining with few punctures.

Pubescence: Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs; mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum and lateral face of petiole with scattered short hairs. Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node and gaster with many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

Color. Body color reddish brown. Mandible, clypeus, antennae, legs, and apex of gaster lighter.

Queen

Paratypes. HL 0.81-0.83 mm; HW 0.65-0.68 mm; SL 0.66-0.69 mm; CI 78-80; SI 101-106; WL 1.36-1.38 mm; AW 0.68-0.70 mm; PH 0.55-0.58 mm; PNL 0.24-0.25 mm; DPW 0.43-0.45 mm; TL ca. 3.8 mm. (Four individuals were measured.)

General form of mandibles, clypeus, and antennae as in worker. Maximum diameter of compound eye 0.18 mm. Petiolar node as in worker's but slightly thinner in side view.

Leong et al. (2019) - (n=6): HL 0.82–0.84; HW 0.65–0.70; SL 0.64–72; A06L 0.06; A07L 0.07; A08L 0.09; A09L 0.10; A10L 0.12; PrW 0.60–0.65; WL 1.28–1.32; PeH 0.53–0.56; PeNL 0.25–0.29; PeW 0.42–0.43; ATL 0.62–0.64; ATW 0.72–79; CI 79–83, SI 103–106, PeI 66–72, LPeI 45–52, DPeI 146–171, ATI 81–87.

Head. Similar to worker caste, but with large and oval eye, maximum diameter of each eye about 0.20 mm with 11 ommatidia along the maximum diameter. Three ocelli present, and forming an equilateral triangle. Antennal scape similar to worker; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.20: 1.54: 1.82: 2.07 (n=6).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view broadly convex. Pronotum in dorsal view with acutely convex anterior margin and broadly convex lateral margins. Scutum subtrapezoidal and narrow posteriad, with moderately convex anterior margin and straight posterior margin. Transcutal suture distinct. Scutellum oval. Anapleural sulcus distinctly incised. Propodeal-metapleural suture indistinct. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner in lateral view angular; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively 115 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thin and broader than long, with broadly convex anterior margin and slightly convex posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view thin and trapezoidal, with straight anterior and posterior margins; posterodorsal corner higher than anterodorsal corner. Subpetiolar process with big and oval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, distinctly concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of developed teeth. The third abdominal segment similar to worker caste (ATI: 81–87).

Sculpture. Similar to worker caste; except metapleuron and lateral propodeum with increased puncture and striation.

Pubescence. Similar to worker caste; except metapleuron and lateral propodeum with increased short decumbent hairs. Wing. Forewing: Rsf1 and Mf1 forming a blunt angle; Rsf1 long, Mf1 distinctly straight. Mf2 long and straight, Rs+M juncture Mf2 with distad 1m-cu, cell dc1 subrectangular. 2rs-m juncture with Rsf4 distad 2r-rs; Rsf4 and Rsf2–3 with triangular gap. Mf1 diverging from M+Cu distad cu-a. Cell smc2 distinctly shorter than cell mc1. Hindwing: A vein reaching wing outer margin, but Rsf, Cuf, Mf almost reaching outer margin.

Color. Similar to worker caste.

Male

Leong et al. (2019) - (n=1): HL 0.62; HW 0.55; SL 0.06; PrW 0.77; WL 1.27; PeH 0.37; PeNL 0.20; PeW 0.30; ATL 0.62; ATW 0.60; CI 88, SI 11, PeI 39, LPeI 53, DPeI 151, ATI 104.

Head. In full-face view, head circular and longer than broad (CI: 88), excluding eye. Three ocelli present, and forming an equilateral triangle. Compound eye in lateral view big and oval, with convex anterior margin and straight posterior margin, the maximum diameter of each eye about 0.28 mm with 20 ommatidia along the maximum diameter. Labrum suboval, with convex anterior margin, and as long as the mandible. Palpal formula 4, 2; third maxillary palpomere slightly shorter than fourth maxillary palpomere; second labial palpomere broader than first labial palpomere, and 1/3 times as long as first labial palpomere. Mandible subtriangular with convex medial margin and straight lateral margins, masticatory margin edentate with sharp apex. A total of 13 antennal segments, scape short; the average ratio of the length of antennomeres approximately 1st to 13th = 1.0: 1.3: 4.1: 3.4: 3.9: 3.7: 3.7: 3.7: 4.2: 3.6: 3.6: 3.6: 5.9 from base (n=1).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view uneven, with sub-right anterior corner. Scutum in dorsal view well-developed and large, with broadly convex anterior margin, slightly convex lateral and posterior margins. Scutum in lateral view broadly convex. Transcutal suture distinct and broad. Scutellum subcircular. Anapleural sulcus distinctly and clearly incised. Propodeal-metapleural suture weakly incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad. Propodeal corner in lateral view angular; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 130 degree angle. Each fore, middle and hind leg bearing one pectinate tibial spur.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thin, and broader than long. Petiolar node in lateral view look subtriangular (broken), with straight and sloping anterior and posterior margins. Subpetiolar process subtriangular without fenestra. Third abdominal tergum arched (ATI: 64), and third abdominal sternum prior with a small spine. Helcium broad and crossribbed. Pygidium triangular, apex forming a median spine. Hypopygium subtriangular.

Sculpture. Head sparely punctate. Pronotum in dorsal view with abundance short striae forming two striped lines, with longitudinal striate on their posterior portion. Posterior portion of scutum with longitudinal striae. Anepisternum evenly punctate. Katepisternum and mesopleuron with scattered striae. Posterodorsal portion of propodeum evenly punctate. Propodeal declivity smooth with few punctures. Dorsal face of petiole smooth evenly punctate, smooth posterior face. The third and fourth abdominal segments with sparsely punctate, other segments smooth and shining with few punctures.

Pubescence. Body with evenly distributed short hairs. Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node and gaster with many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

Wing. Similar to gyne caste, except for Cu1f1 slightly convex in forewing.

Color. Body color reddish brown; mandible, antennae, legs, and apex of gaster lighter.

Type Material

Holotype. Worker, 3. VIII. 1980, Fenchihu (alt. ca. 1,400 m), Chiayi Hsien, Taiwan, M. Terayama leg.

Paratypes. Five workers, 4 alate females, from the same nest as holotype.

Type depository. The holotype and some paratypes will be deposited in the National Science Museum, Tokyo, and the other paratypes in the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Science, Japan, and the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute.

Leong et al. (2019): Type material examined: TAIWAN. Paratypes, 1 worker and 1 alate queen, Chiayi county, Fenchihu, ca. 1400 m alt., 3 III 1980, M Terayama leg (Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute), 1 worker and 1 alate queen, same collecting data (Laboratory of Insect Systematics, National Institute of Agro-environmental Sciences).

References

• Leong, C.-M., Guenard, B., Shiao, S.-F., Lin, C.-C. 2019. Taxonomic revision of the genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Taiwan and Japan, with a key to East Asian species. Zootaxa 4594 (1): 1–86 (DOI 10.11646/zootaxa.4594.1.1).
• Terayama, M. 1986. Two new ants of the genus Ponera (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Taiwan. Kontyû 54(4): 591-595. (page 591, figs. 1-5 worker, queen described)
• Yoshimura, M. & Fisher, B.L. 2009. A revision of male ants of the Malagasy region: key to genera of the subfamily Proceratiinae. Zootaxa 2216: 1-21.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
• Leong C. M., B. Guénard, S. F. Shiao, & C. C. Lin. 2019. Taxonomic revision of the genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Taiwan and Japan, with a key to East Asian species. Zootaxa 4594: 1-86.
• Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
• Terayama M. 1986. Two new ants of the genus Ponera (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Taiwan. Kontyû 54: 591-595.
• Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
• Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
• Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
• Xu Z., Zeng G., Liu T.-Y. and He Y.-F. 1999. [A study on communities of Formicidae ants in different subtypes of vegetation in Xishuangbanna District of China.] Zoological Research 20: 118-125
• Xu Z. 2001. Four new species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Yunnan, China. Entomotaxonomia 23(3): 217-226
• Yamane S., Y. Harada, and K. Eguchi. 2013. Classification and ecology of ants. Natural history of ants in Southern Kyushu. 200 pages
• Yoshimura M., S. Hosoishi, Y. Kuboki, K. Onoyama, and K. Ogata. 2009. New synonym and new Japanese record of the ant genus Ponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomological Science 12: 194-201.