Ponera alisana

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
This new species is distinguished easily from the other species by the combination of the following characters: size relatively small (HL 0.76-0.80 mm, HW 0.58-0.60 mm); narrow head (CI 74--79); shape of petiole; long scapes which exceed the median occipital border (SI 101-109); presence of mesonotal-propodeal suture on the dorsum of alitrunk. (Terayama 1986)

Key to Ponera of China

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  alisana. Ponera alisana Terayama, 1986: 591, figs. 1-5 (w.q.) TAIWAN. See also: Yoshimura, Hosoishi, et al. 2009: 198.

Worker
Holotype. Head length (HL) 0.76 mm; head width (HW) 0.60 mm; scape length (SL) 0.61 mm; cephalic index (CI: HWx 100/HL) 79; scape index (SI: SLx 100/HW) 101; Weber’s length of alitrunk (WL) 1.10 mm; pronotum width (PW) 0.48 mm; petiole height (PH) 0.49 mm; petiolar node length (PNL) 0.25 mm; dorsal petiole width (DPW) 0.36 mm; total length (TL) ca. 3.3 mm.



Head relatively long with convex sides and slightly concave occipital border. Mandibles with 3 well developed teeth occupying approximately apical 1/3 of masticatory border; remainder of border with minute indistinct denticles. Clypeus slightly produced in the middle, with a distinct blunt median tooth. Eyes small, with 2 or 3 indistinct facets; situated about 0.73 X the distance from lateral occipital border to midpoint of anterior genal border. Antennal scapes long, clearly exceeding median occipital border. Antennal club 5-segmented; ratio of length from the base about 7: 8: 9: 10: 24; apical segment 1.8xas long as broad.

Alitrunk and petiole as in Fig. 2; dorsal face of meso no tum, in side view, slightly convex; mesonotal-propodeal border dipping well below level of basal face of propodeum; dorsal face of propodeum horizontal, posterolateral corners not markedly pronounced, forming blunt angles. Mesonotal-propodeal suture incised. Petiolar node, in side view, massive, rectangular, angulate in posterior corner; dorsal face, viewed from above, half-circler, posterior border straight. Posterolateral teeth of subpetiolar process acute; subpetiolar fenestra moderately large, oval.

Mandibles smooth and shining. Head, pro- and mesonota, and gaster shagreened; propodeum and petiole less shagreened. Pubescence moderately abundant, distributed evenly over the entire body, including mandibles, antennae, and legs. Erect hairs present on antennal scapes, head, dorsum of alitrunk and gaster.

Color dull reddish brown; antennae, mandibles, and tip of gaster yellow.

Paratypes. Four paratype workers from the same series as Holotype with following dimensions and indices: HL 0.78-0.80 mm; HW 0.58-0.60 mm; SL 0.63 mm; CI 74-77; SI 105-109; WL 1.10-1.23 mm; A W 0.48-0.49 mm; PH 0.49-0.50 mm; PNL 0.24-0.25 mm; DPW 0.36-0.38 mm.

Queen
Paratypes. HL 0.81-0.83 mm; HW 0.65-0.68 mm; SL 0.66-0.69 mm; CI 78-80; SI 101-106; WL 1.36-1.38 mm; AW 0.68-0.70 mm; PH 0.55-0.58 mm; PNL 0.24-0.25 mm; DPW 0.43-0.45 mm; TL ca. 3.8 mm. (Four individuals were measured.)

General form of mandibles, clypeus, and antennae as in worker. Maximum diameter of compound eye 0.18 mm. Petiolar node as in worker's but slightly thinner in side view.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, 3. VIII. 1980, Fenchihu (alt. ca. 1,400 m), Chiayi Hsien, Taiwan, M. Terayama leg.

Paratypes. Five workers, 4 alate females, from the same nest as holotype.

Type depository. The holotype and some paratypes will be deposited in the National Science Museum, Tokyo, and the other paratypes in the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Science, Japan, and the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute.