Leptogenys zhuangzii

Known only from the type material that was collected in secondary monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest.

Identification
This new species is close to Leptogenys confucii, but with body black; head, alitrunk and petiole with close fine punctures and retirugulae; head as broad in front as in post; masticatory margin of mandible with 1 small tooth in the middle.

Key to Leptogenys of China

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  zhuangzii. Leptogenys zhuangzii Xu, 2000a: 122, figs. 37-40 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype worker: TL 7.4, HL 1.70, HW 1.10, CI 65, SL 1.63, SI 148, PW 0.93, AL 2.53, ED 0.25, ML 0.87, PL 0.80, PH 0.93, DPW 0.70, LPI 117, DPI 88.

Head rectangular, much longer than broad. Occipital margin straight, occipital carina distinct. Occipital corners rounded. Lateral sides of head nearly parallel. Mandibles slander, masticatory margin as long as inner margin, inner margin without tooth, masticatory margin with 1 small tooth in the middle of the blade except the apical tooth, the basal corner rounded. Clypeus with sharp longitudinal central carina, median lobe extruding at apex. Scape of antenna surpassed occipital corner by 113 of its length. Joints of flagellum longer than broad, ratio of length of the basal 3 segments expressed as, segment 1: segment 2 : segment 3 = 4 5 : 4. Eyes moderate large. In profile view dorsum of alitrunk deeply notched at metanotal groove. Promesonotum convex, promesonotal suture distinct. Dorsum of propodeum weakly convex, about 2.5 times as long as declivity, declivity weakly convex. In profile view petiolar node roughly trapezoid, anterior face short, slightly convex, about 1/2 as high as posterior face, anterodorsal angle rounded, posterodorsal corner roundly extruding, dorsal face convex, posterior face straight. In dorsal view the node slightly broader than long, width : length = 10 : 9, narrowed forward. Subpetiolar process cuneiform, ventral face with a rounded notch. Constriction between the two basal segments distinct. Mandibles weakly longitudinally rugulose. Clypeus longitudinally striate. Head, alitrunk and petiole with close fine punctures and retirugulae, lateral sides of mesonotum and metanotum coarsely and longitudinally rugose. Gaster smooth and shining, with very sparse piliferous punctures. Dorsum of head and body with abundant erect long hairs, suberect short hairs and sparse decumbent pubescence. Head with dense pubescence. Scapes, femora and tibiae with abundant suberect long hairs, subdecumbent short hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Body black. Mandibles, flagella, femora, tibiae, tarsi and gastral apex blackish brown to yellowish brown.

Paratypes: TL 7.1-7.8, HL 1.63-1.70, HW 1.10-1.13, CI 65-68, SL1.63-1.67, SI 147-148, PW0.93-0.97, AL2.47-2.60, ED0.23-0.27, ML 0.87-0.90, PL 0.77-0.83, PH 0.87-0.93, DPW 0.67-0.70, LPI 108-122, DPI 83-88 (5 measured). As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype: Worker, No. A97-2331, 1280 m, secondary monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest, Papo, Meng’a Town, Menghai County, Yunnan Province, Sep. 10. 1997, Xu Zheng-hui. Paratypes: 7 workers, with same data as holotype.