Ponera tamon

Ponera tamon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Ponera
Species:	P. tamon
Binomial name
	Ponera tamon; Terayama, 1996 Specimen Label

Common Name

Minami-hime-hari-ari
Language:	Japanese

This species nests in the soil. Larvae spin cocoons within which they pupate. Common in the Nansei Islands, Japan (Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification

Terayama (1996) - In general appearance similar to Ponera japonica, but easily distinguished from the latter by 1) head much wider and CI 86-91 (77-82 in japonica); 2) petiolar node thiner in dorsal view; 3) posterolateral corners of propodeum only weakly angulate, and 4) posterodorsal border of node not forming an angle.

Leong et al. (2019) - Worker: Ponera tamon can be easily by its short antennal scape not reaching the posterior margin of the head, a clypeus with blunt medial tooth, a metanotal groove distinctly visible, a subtriangular petiolar node when observed in lateral view with a moderately convex posterior margin, and its brown body color.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 30.359° to 23.3549°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan.
Palaearctic Region: Japan (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

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

Worker


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Queen


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Leong et al. 2019. Figure 56. Paratype dealate queen LCM_MT-Ponera-26.

Nomenclature

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

tamon. Ponera tamon Terayama, 1996: 11, figs. 10-16 (w.q.) JAPAN.

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

Description

Worker

Terayama 2009. Figures 39-64.

Holotype. HL 0.51 mm; HW 0.45 mm; SL 0.38 mm; 0 88; SI 84; WL 0.74 mm; PW 0.35 mm; PH 0.35 mm; PNL 0.18 mm; DPW 0.28 mm; PNI 80; TL 2.5 mm.

Head 1.17 x as long as wide, with slightly convex sides and slightly concave posterior margin in frontal view. Eyes small, each consisting of 3-4 indistinct facets. Antennae with 12 segments; scape short, not reaching the posterolateral margin of head; apical 5 segments forming a club.

Profile of alitrunk as in figure; dorsal margin almost straight; posterolateral comers of propodeum dully angulated. Petiolar node thick and wide, with straight anterior margin and convex posterior margin in lateral view; posterodorsal comer rounded, not forming an angle; viewed from above, node 0.45 x as long as wide, with very slightly concave posterior margin. Subpetiolar process with acute posterolateral teeth; fenestra circular.

First gastral tergite 0. 83 x as long as wide in dorsal view; 2nd tergite 0.62x as long as wide.

Head and alitrunk coarsely microreticulate; punctures separated by less than 0.5 x their own diameters. Gaster moderately punctate; punctures on 1st tergite less than those on 2nd.

Pubescence moderately abundant, and erect hairs present on the dorsa of alitrunk and petiole, and entire gaster.

Body black; clypeus reddish brown; mandibles, antennae and legs yellowish brown.

Variation. Dorsal width of petiole in workers varies in the materials of Okinawa and Amami Is. from 0.28 to 0.32 mm, and in that of Taiwan from 0.31 to 0.39 mm. Coloration of body also varies from dark brown to almost black. These differences may reflect the geographical variation within a single species. Morphometric data are summarized in Table 1.

Leong et al. (2019) - (n=22): HL 0.51–0.59; HW 0.44–0.52; SL 0.32–0.41; A06L 0.02; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.04; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.07; PrW 0.33–0.40; WL 0.66–0.84; PeH 0.30–0.42; PeNL 0.16–0.21; PeW 0.26–0.33; ATL 0.37–0.45; ATW 0.41–0.52; CI 83–91, SI 71–86, PeI 74–87, LPeI 46–55, DPeI 152–184, ATI 76–93.

Head. In full-face view, head structure subrectangular and slightly longer than broad (CI: 84–91), with slightly convex posterior margin, moderately convex lateral margins and broadly rounded posterolateral corners. Eye small; composed of a total of 4 to 5 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with blunt medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible with a series of about ten indistinct denticles, and three large teeth on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 5% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.17: 1.89: 2.41: 3.08 (n=22).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex. Pronotum in dorsal view with acutely convex anterior margin, and convex lateral margins. Metanotal groove distinctly incised with fine suture. Lateral mesopleural suture weakly incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad, with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner in lateral view rounded; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 115 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view arched and moderately thin, with broadly convex anterior margin, and slightly convex posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view subtriangular and moderately thick, with straight anterior margin, and moderately convex posterior margin; with distinct projection on posterodorsal corner, dorsum forming a blunt angle. Subpetiolar process with small and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, concave ventral margin with small teeth. Third abdominal tergum generally broader than long (ATI: 76–93), with slightly convex anterior margin, almost straight lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Mesosoma evenly punctate. Mesopleuron with weakly striate lower portion and sparsely punctate upper portion. Metapleuron with weakly striate lower portion and smooth upper portion. Propodeal declivity smooth and shining. Lateral face of petiole evenly punctate, posterior face smooth, dorsum with few punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments evenly punctate, other segments with few punctures.

Pubescence. Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum and lateral face of petiole with few short hairs, and with glabrous upper portion of mesopleuron. Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node, gastral sterna and posterior half of gastral terga with many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

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

Queen

Paratypes. HL 0.60-0.63 mm; HW 0.53-0.55 mm; SL0.45-0.46 mm; CI 87-88; SI 86-88; WL 0.90-0.92 mm; PW 0.48-0.53 mm; PNL 0.18-0.20 mm; PH 0.43-0.45 mm; DPW 0.35-0.38 mm; TL 3.0-3.2 = (n = 3).

Head slightly longer than wide. Antennal scapes almost reaching the posterolateral comers of head in frontal view. Eyes 0.13-0.14 mm in length. Ocelli forming an acute triangle.

Alitrunk and petiole as in Figures. Petiolar node with straight anterior margin and convex posterolateral corner in lateral view; disc thin, 0.32x as long as wide, with straight posterior margin in dorsal view.

Head and alitrunk coarsely microreticulate; punctures separated by less than 0.5 x their own diameters. Gaster moderately punctate. Color as in worker.

Leong et al. (2019) - (n=3): HL 0.59–0.61; HW 0.52–0.55; SL 0.40–0.45; A06L 0.03; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.08; PrW 0.44–0.50; WL 0.88–1.11; PeH 0.33–0.47; PeNL 0.19–0.21; PeW 0.27–0.39; ATL 0.40–0.54; ATW 0.46–0.65; CI 89–92, SI 77–81, PeI 65–80, LPeI 45–57, DPeI 150–185, ATI 84–90.

Head: Similar to worker caste, but with large and oval Eye, maximum diameter of each eye about 0.13 mm with 10 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 = 1.22: 1.74: 2.16: 2.75 (n=3).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view broadly convex. Pronotum in dorsal view with convex anterior margin, and broadly convex lateral margins. Scutum subtrapezoidal, narrow posteriad, with broadly convex anterior margin, and concave posterior margin. Transcutal suture distinct and broad. Scutellum subrectangular. Anapleural sulcus clearly incised. Propodeal-metapleural suture indistinct. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad, with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner rounded and almost forming approximatively 115 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view oval and moderately thin, broader than long, with broadly convex anterior margin, and slightly convex posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view subconical and moderately thick, moderately convex anterior and posterior margins, dorsum well convex. Subpetiolar process with small and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of small teeth. The third abdominal segment similar to worker caste (ATI: 105).

Sculpture, Pubescence, and Color: Similar to worker caste.

Type Material

Holotype. Worker, Uken-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., Japan, 1.VII.1983, M. Terayarna leg.

Paratypes. Japan: - 7 workers, 1 female, same data as holotype; 13 workers, Sumiyo-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., M. Terayarna leg.; 1 worker, Nazeshi, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., 21.III.1980, M. Terayama leg.; 9 workers, 1 female, Okinoerabu-jima, Kagoshima Pref., 17.III.1989, M. Terayama leg., 1 worker, Yoron-jima, Kagoshima Pref., 14.III.1980, M. Terayama leg.; 3 workers, 1 female, Hirara, Miyako-jima, Okinawa Pref., 20.VIII.1979, M. Terayama leg.; 2 workers, Sonai, Iriomote-jima, Okinawa Pref., 29.VII.1979, M. Terayama leg.; 29 workers, Izena-jima, Okinawa Pref., 31.III.1985, H. Takamine leg.; 16 workers, Nago, Okinawa-jima, Okinawa Pref., 3.X.1984, H. Takamine leg.; 33 workers, Naha, Okinawa-jima., Okinawa Pref., 15.XII.1984, H. Takamine leg.; 6 workers, 2 females, Sata-misaki, Kagoshima Pref., 9.VIII.1984, S. Kubota leg.

Leong et al. (2019): Type material examined: JAPAN. Paratypes, 2 workers, Okinoerabu-jima, Kagoshima Pref., 17 III 1989, M Terayama leg (Maromu Terayama Collection). 1 worker, Sonai, Iriomote-jima, Okinawa Pref., 31 III 1985, M Terayama leg (Maromu Terayama Collection: LCM_MT-Ponera-25). 1 dealate queen and 2 workers, Uken-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., 1 VII 1983, M Terayama leg (Maromu Terayama Collection: LCM_MT-Ponera-26, LCM_MT-Ponera-28). 3 workers, Nago, Okinawai Is., 3 X 1984, M Terayama leg (Maromu Terayama Collection: LCM_MT-Ponera-27). 9 workers, Sumiyo-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., VII 1983, M Terayama (Maromu Terayama Collection: LCM_MT-Ponera-29, LCM_MT-Ponera-30, LCM_MT-Ponera-31, LCM_MT-Ponera-32).

Etymology

The specific name is the Japanese noun Tamon-ten, which is the name of one of the four guardian dieties in buddhism.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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