Metapone sauteri

Known only from the holotype queen.

Identification
Head relatively narrow (HW 1.54, CI 68). Petiolar node in dorsal view more than twice as long as wide, with strong posterolateral tooth-like projections. Subpetiolar extension a long, low subrectangular, translucent lamina extending back almost to the subpetiolar angle; the latter acutely spine-like in lateral view. (Taiwan, gyne only, Figs 28–33)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 * . Metapone sauteri Forel, 1912m: 763 (q.) TAIWAN.
 * Type-material: syntype queens (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Taiwan: Banshoryo Dist., Sokutsu (H. Sauter).
 * Type-depository: MHNG (perhaps also in DEIB).
 * [Note: Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 516, refer to a holotype (MHNG), but in the original description Forel implies more than one specimen by saying “Longueur: 10.2-10.8 mm.” In his second description of the same material Forel, 1913f: 189, records the lengths as “10.5-11.1 mm.” Therefore at least one other type-specimen exists, probably in Sauter’s collection in DEIB.]
 * [Also described as new by Forel, 1913f: 189.]
 * Status as species: Viehmeyer, 1914c: 516; Wheeler, W.M. 1919h: 182 (redescription); Emery, 1921f: 20; Wheeler, W.M. 1929g: 59; Teranishi, 1940: 59; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 114; Gregg, R.E. 1958: 119; Kusnezov, 1960a: 126; Bolton, 1995b: 258; Lin & Wu, 2003: 64; Terayama, 2009: 190; Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 45; Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 515 (redescription).
 * Distribution: Taiwan.

Queen
General and diagnostic features as in original description (Forel, 1912), the key to Asian species above and relevant figures. Subpetiolar extension lamellate, more-or-less evenly translucent, about twice as long as deep, very obtusely rounded-subangulate at the summit, with less-obtuse rounded angles at either shoulder; base extending back almost to the subpetiolar angle, which is drawn to an acute tooth, barely a spine. Posterior subpetiolar face acutely triangular in oblique view, with a minute barely translucent marginal carina. Dimensions: HL 2.27; HW (across eyes) 1.54; CI 68; PetW 1.13; MSL 3.60.

Type Material
Gyne; Type locality: Sokutsu, Banshoryo District, Taiwan. The type locality is frequently cited for Taiwanese specimens collected by Sauter; its exact location has apparently never been determined.



References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
 * Forel A. 1912. Descriptions provisoires de genres, sous-genres, et espèces de Formicides des Indes orientales. Rev. Suisse Zool. 20: 761-774.
 * Forel A. 1912. Descriptions provisoires de genres, sous-genres, et espèces de Formicides des Indes orientales. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 20: 761-774.
 * Forel A. 1913. H. Sauter's Formosa-Ausbeute: Formicidae II. Arch. Naturgesch. (A)79(6): 183-202
 * Gregg R. E. 1958. Two new species of Metapone from Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 60: 111-121.
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Huang Jian-hua, Zhou Shan-yi. 2007. A checklist of family Formicidae of China - Myrmicinae (Part II) (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Journal of Guangxi Normal University : Natural Science Edition 25(1): 91-99.
 * Kusnezov N. 1960. La posición sistemática del género Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Acta Zoologica Lilloana 18: 119-126.
 * Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
 * Smith M. R. 1947. A new species of Metapone Forel from New Guinea (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 49: 75-77.
 * Taylor R. W., and G. D. Alpert. 2016. The myrmicine ant genus Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a global taxonomic review with descriptions of twelve new species. Zootaxa 4105(6): 501-545.
 * 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. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
 * Viehmeyer H. 1914. Papuanische Ameisen. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1914: 515-535.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1919. The ants of the genus Metapone Forel. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 12: 173-191.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1929. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Formosa, the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 24: 27-64.