Tetraponera furcata

Known from a variety of mountain forest habitats.

Identification
A member of the Tetraponera allaborans species-group.

Xu & Chai (2004) - Close to Tetraponera microcarpa, but in profile view dorsum of propodeum distinctly slope down backwards, posterodorsal corner of propodeum rounded and indistinct. Head relatively longer with CI 71-77. Scape relatively longer with SI 60-65. Petiole relatively longer with PLI 43-45 and PWI 35-38.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  furcata. Tetraponera furcata Xu & Chai, 2004: 70, figs. 43-47 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 4.4, HL 0.90, HW 0.62, CI 69, SL 0.40, SI 65, PW 0.43, AL 1.17, EL 0.30, REL 33, PDH 0.40, MTW 0.35, PDI 114, PL 0.63, PH 0.26, DPW 0 .23, PLI 42, PWI 37. Head roughly rectangular, distinctly longer than broad. In full face view, occipital margin short and relatively straight, occipital corners rounded. Anterior 21.3 of lateral side weakly concave. Mandible narrow and slender, with 3 teeth on the masticatory margin and 1 denticle on basal margin. Median lobe of clypeus narrow and protruding, ·anterolateral corners furnished with a pair of elongate teeth appears fork-like, anterior margin between the teeth straight. Apex of scape reached to 3/5 of the distance from antenna] socket to occipital corner. Eyes large and surpassed lateral sides of head. Ocelli absent. In profile view, pronotum slightly convex, lateral borders distinctly marginate. Mesonotum straight and slope down backward. Metanotal groove widely and deeply impressed. Anterior face of propodeum short and sloped, dorsum slightly convex and slope down backward, posterodorsal corner rounded, declivity straight and slightly longer than dorsum. In dorsal view, pronotum narrowed backward, humeral corners roundly prominent. Metanotum raised up as a small conical prominence between the spiracles. In posterior view, pronotum weakly convex, laterodorsal corners sharp and rightly angled. In profile view, anterior peduncle of petiole slender and weakly curved down, ventral face weakly concave, petiolar node roundly convex with anterodorsal corner a little higher. Postpetiolar node slightly lower than petiolar node.

Mandibles sparsely, finely and longitudinally striate. Head, pronotum and mesonotum very sparsely and finely punctate, interspace smooth. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral sides of propodeum weakly, finely and longitudinally rugulose. Metanotal groove with short longitudinal ridges. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster smooth. Dorsum of anterior peduncle of petiole densely and finely punctate. The whole body with sparse decumbent pubescences, standing hairs very sparse: 2 pairs on frontal carinae, 1 pair on vertex, 2 pairs on pronotum, 1 pair on petiole and 1 pair on postpetiole. Mesonotum and propodeum lack standing hairs. Gaster with sparse erect hairs. Scapes and tibiae with abundant pubescences, but lack standing hairs. Body color black. Mandibles and clypeus reddish brown. Mesofemora, metafemora and petiole blackish brown. Antennae, tibiae and tarsi yellow. Pro femora, mesocoxae, metacoxae and postpetiole yellowish brown.

Paratype workers. TL 4.1-4.7, HL 0.85-0.97, HW 0.62-0.70, CI 71-77, SL 0.40-0.43, SI 60-65, PW 0.43-0.50, AL 1.17-1.30, EL 0.30-0. 33, REL 34-39, PDH 0.37-0.40, MTW 0.33-0.40, PDI 100-110, PL 0.57-0.70, PH 0.25-0.30, DPW 0.22-0.25, PLI 43-45, PWI 35-38 ( 6 individuals measured). As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype. worker, No. A98-130, 1120 m, Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve, Guanping Village, Dadugang Town, Jinghong County, Yunnan Province, 5 Mar. 1998, collected by Mr. Liu TaiYong in the mountain rain forest.

Paratypes. Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, 1 worker, with same data as holotype; 1 worker, with same data as holotype but No. A98-83; 7 workers, with same data as holotype but No. A97-885, 7 Aug. 1997, collected by Mr. XU Zheng-Hui; 1 worker, with same data as No. A97-885 but No. A97-917; 1 worker, with same data as No. A97-885 but No. A97-975; 1 worker, No. A97-57, 960 m, Sanchahe, Mengyang Town, Jinghong County, 27 Feb 1997, collected by Mr. LI Tian-Sheng in the mountain rain forest; 2 workers, with same data as No. A97-57 but No. A97-81, collected by Miss Dai Se-Ping; 1 worker, No. A97-2221, 1 525 m, Nangongshan Mountain, Mengla County, 18 Aug. 1997, collected by Mr. HE Yun-Feng in the monsoon evergreen broad leaf forest; 2 workers, with same data as No. A97-2221 but No. A97-2722, 1 380m, 15 Sep. 1997, collected by Mr. Xu Zheng-Hui; 1 worker, with same data as No. A97-2221 but No. A98-852, 1 620 m, 15 Mar. 1998; 6 workers, No. A97-1692, 900 m, Manzhuang Village, Shangyong Town, Mengla County, 14 Aug. 1997, collected by Mr. He Yun-Feng in the semi-evergreen monsoon forest; 4 workers, No. A97-1994, 820 m, Nanqian Village, Shangyong Town, Mengla County, 15 Aug. 1997, collected by Mr. Xu Zheng-Hui in the secondary shrub; 2 workers, with same data as No. A97-1994 but No. A98-584, 11 Mar. 1998, collected by Mr. Zeng Guang.

Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, 3 workers, No. A00996, 1500 m, Taizhong, Taizhong Town, Jingdong County, 14 Apr. 2002, collected by Mr. Xu Zheng-Hui in the conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; 2 worker, No. A1226, 1 500 m, Wencha Village, Huashan Town, Jingdong County, 13 Apr. 2002, collected by Miss Chai Zheng-Qun in conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; 1 worker, with same data as No. A1226 but No. Al227.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chen Y., C. W. Luo, H. W. Li, Y. J. Liu, H. F. Zheng, and F. C. Yang. 2013. Investigation of ant species and distribution on Wuliang Mountain. Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences 42(5): 118-122.
 * Fontanilla A. M., A. Nakamura, Z. Xu, M. Cao, R. L. Kitching, Y. Tang, and C. J. Burwell. 2019. Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along tropical, subtropical, and subalpine elevational transects in southwest China. Insects 10, 128; doi:10.3390/insects10050128
 * Song Y., Z. Xu, C. Li, N. Zhang, L. Zhang, H. Jiang, and F. Mo. 2013. An Analysis on the Ant Fauna of the Nangun river Nature Reserve in Yunnan, China. Forest Research 26(6): 773-780.
 * Xu Z. and Z.-Q. Chai. 2004. Systematic study on the ant genus Tetraponera F. Smith (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 29(1): 63-76.