Brachyponera tianzun

Nests are found in soil, or under stone.

Identification
This species is separated from Pachycondyla sharpi (Forel, 1901) by the angulate posterodorsal corner and much steeply sloped posterior margin of propodeum. Rather it resembles Pachycondyla sakishimensis Terayama, 1998, from the Ryukyus, Japan, and Pachycondyla pilosior (Wheeler, 1928) from Japan and Korea. But it is separated from the latter two by the narrow dorsal surface of propodeum and triangular subpetiolar process.

Distribution based on type material
Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 *  tianzun. Pachycondyla tianzun Terayama, 2009: 106, figs. 31-35, 38 (w.) TAIWAN. Combination in Brachyponera: Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014: 81.

Description
Holotype worker. Head rectangular, longer than wide (CI = 91), with concave posterior margin in full face view. Mandible with 10 teeth, and with a basal mandibular pit. Anterior margin of clypeus weakly convex. Antennal scape slightly exceeding the posterior margin of head; SI = 74. Eye small, consist of 6-7 facets, 0.04 mm in diameter.

Alitrunk with straight dorsal margin in profile. Propodeum with angulate poserodorsal corner and steeply sloped posterior margin in profile; in dorsal view dorsal surface relatively wide. Petiole higher than long in profile; subpetiollar process triangular, with dully angulate ventral corner.

Worker HL 1.18, HW 1.08, SL 0.80, WL 1.65, PNL 0.40, PH 0.75, DPW 0.57, TL 4.7. Female: HL 1.20, HW 1.10, SL 0.85, WL 1.80, PNL 0.42, PH 0.80, DPW 0.59, TL 5.2.
 * Measurements (mm).

Body dark reddish brown to blackish brown; head darker than alitrunk; antenna, mandible and legs reddish brown.
 * Color.

Worker, Nanshanxi, Nanfeng-Cun, Nantou Pref., 12.viii. 1980, M. Terayama leg.
 * Holotype.

1w, same data as the holotype; 1w, Chipen, Taitung City, 21.vii. 1982, M. Terayama leg; 1f, same locality, 5 viii. 1980, M. Terayama leg; 1f, Chipen wenchen, Taitung Pref., 21. viii. 1980, M. Terayama leg; 1f, Puli, Nantou Pref., 4. viii. 1980, M. Terayama leg.
 * Paratypes.

Holotype in NIAES, and paratypes in TARI.
 * Type depository.

The specific epithet is the Chinese noun Tianzun which is the name of a Taiwanese god.
 * Etymology.

Nests are found in soil, or under stone. Number of mandibular teeth varies 9 or 10 in workers.
 * Remarks.