Ponera diodonta

The holotype worker was collected in monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest.

Identification
This new species is close to Ponera japonica Wheeler, but lateral sides of head more straight; in profile view anterodorsal corner of petiolar node higher than posterodorsal corner, subpetiolar process with fenestra small, posteroventral border with 2 teeth. (Xu 2001)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  diodonta. Ponera diodonta Xu, 2001c: 221, figs. 25-27 (w.) CHINA.

Worker


Holotype. TL 2.5, HL 0.60, HW 0.50, CI 83, SL 0.43, SI 87, PW 0.38, AL 0.77, ED 0.02, ML 0.27, DPW 0.32, PNI 83. PH 0.43, PNL 0.20. LPI 46. Head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, weakly narrowed forward. In full face view, occipital margin weakly emarginate, occipital corners roundly prominent, lateral sides weakly convex. Masticatory margin of mandible with 3 apical teeth and followed by a row of indistinct minute denticles. Anterior margin of clypeus evenly convex. Antennae short, apex of scape failed to reach occipital corner by 1/7 of its length, antennal club with 5 segments.

Eye with only one facet. In profile view, dorsum of thorax weakly convex, promesonotal suture depressed, metanotal groove fine and distinct. Dorsum of propodeum as long as declivity, posterodorsal corner rounded. In profile view, petiolar node roughly rectangular, slightly narrowed upward, anterior and posterior faces straight, dorsal face evenly convex, anterodorsal corner prominent and higher than posterodorsal corner, the latter rounded. Subpetiolar process cuneiform, fenestra small and circular, anteroventral corner rounded, posteroventral border with 2 teeth. In dorsal view, petiolar node semicircular, anterior and lateral borders roundly convex, posterior border slightly concave, length: width = 5:9. Mandibles smooth and shining. Head closely and finely punctured, dull. Pronotum, mesonotum and gaster densely and finely punctured, relatively shining. Propodeum and petiolar node superficially and finely punctured, shining. Dorsum of head and thorax with sparse short erect hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Petiolar node and gaster with abundant erect hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Scapes with sparse erect hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Dorsa of tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence, without erect hairs. Body in color reddish brown. Head and middle portion of gaster blackish brown. Mandibles, antennae and legs brownish yellow.

Type Material
Holotype: worker: No. A008, 1600 m, Shangjiang, Shangjiang Town, Lushui County, Yunnan Province, 23-III-2000, collected by Mr. Xu Zhenghui in monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Liu X. 2012. Taxonomy, diversity and spatial distribution characters of the ant family Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in southeastern Tibet. PhD Thesis 139 pages
 * Xu Z. H. 2001. Four new species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Yunnan, China. Entomotaxonomia 23: 217-226.
 * Xu Z. 2001. Four new species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Yunnan, China. Entomotaxonomia 23(3): 217-226