Aphaenogaster polyodonta

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Zhou (2001) - Allied to Aphaenogaster geei, but differs from the latter in mesopleurae densely and coarsely punctate; postpetiole less than 1.5 X as broad as petiole; gaster colored lighter than head and alitrunk.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  polyodonta. Aphaenogaster polyodonta Zhou, 2001b: 145, 238, figs. 289, 290 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 7.7, HL 1.79, HW 1.35, CI 75, SL 2.01, SI 148, PW 0.88, AL 2.51, ED 0.33.

Head oval, posterior portion of head behind eyes narrowed, but not formed neck; with a small pit in median groove of head; occipital border convex, distinctly marginate. Mandible with 6 distinct teeth, apical tooth largest, reducing towards the base, followed by a row of indistinct denticles. Middle of clypeus slightly convex, anterior portion with median groove, laterally raised as ridges; middle of anterior border deeply concave. Frontal area triangular, deeply impressed, with a fine incomplete median ·ridge. Frontal carina short, prominent. Antennae relatively stout, with 4-segmented club, the terminal segment elongate, the other 3 segments not distinctly expanded; scapes extending beyond occipital border by 1/4 of their length, base strongly curved, beneath the curvature with a conspicuous lamella. Eyes rounded, situated in the midlength of the sides of head. Pronotum roundly convex; mesonotum oblique backward, without transverse ridge; basal face of propodeum slightly convex, about 2 X as long as declivity. Propodeal spines short and acute, backward and outward. Dorsum of petiolar node roundly convex, as long as peduncle; postpetiole rounded above, higher than petiolar node, longer than broad and narrower anteriorly in dorsal view, about 1.5 X as broad as petiolar node. Gaster oval.

Mandibles and clypeus with coarse longitudinal striations which on the latter sparser; antennal scapes with longitudinal striations and dense punctures; head coarsely sculptured and densely punctate; sculptures on the area between frontal carinae longitudinal, diverging backward, reticulate on vertex and occiput; there are feeble transverse striations among reticulations on occipital corners; sculptures on sides finer, longitudinal and somewhat oblique. Dorsum of alitrunk with irregular creases and densely coarse punctures; mesopleuron with densely coarse punctures; metapleuron with longitudinal sculptures, inters paces with punctures. Petiole and postpetiole densely punctate, dorsum of them slightly creased. Basal of first gastral segment feebly reticulate, remaining of the gaster smooth and shining.

Erect hairs yellow, fine and soft on head and alitrunk, coarse and blunt on petiole, postpetiole and gaster.

Color dark reddish brown. Mandibles, clypeus and antennae lighter, legs and gaster yellowish brown.

Paratypes 3: TL 6.9~8.7, HL 1.63~1.94, HW 1.25~1.47, CI 71~78, SL 1.80~2.17, SI 140~158, PW 0.78~0.94, AL 2.35~2.83, ED 0.31~0. 34.

Other diversities: one individual with only 2 distinct teeth on masticatory margin of mandible; clypeal median groove indistinct in another individual; color of the individual collected from northern of Guangxi (Nandan County) yellowish brown, legs yellow, gaster lighter than that of body, whole body distinctly lighter than other individuals; sculpture on head much feebler but shapes are the same.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Jinxiu County, Guangxi, 24.IX.1995, Shanyi Zhou leg. Para types: 2 workers, data as holotype; 1 worker, Nandan County, Guangxi, 26. X. 1995, Shanyi Zhou leg.