Ponera rishen

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Terayama (2009) - Resembles to Ponera takaminei from the Ryukyus in Japan and Taiwan, but is separated from the latter by the straight posterior margin of petiolar node and the black body color.

Leong et al. (2019) - Worker: This large species (HW: 0.54–0.60 mm) is characterized by a long antennal scape; an indistinct metanotal groove; a thick petiolar node when observed in lateral view, the upper portion of the posterior margin protunding backward and convex; and a posterior margin of petiolar node in dorsal view slightly concave. Ponera rishen presents similarities with Ponera scabra, however the upper portion of the posterior margin of the petiolar node in lateral view is bulging in Ponera rishen, but not in Ponera scabra.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 *  rishen. Ponera rishen Terayama, 2009: 111, figs. 49-51 (w.) TAIWAN.

Worker
Holotype. Head densely punctate, with straight posterior margin and convex sides in full face view. Antennal scape reaching posterior margin of head, SI = 75; club consist of 5 segments. Eye small.

Pro- and mesonota moderately punctate, posterolateral corner of propodeum forming an angle. Petiolar node large and wide, upper portion of posterior margin produced backward in profile; in dorsal view, dorsal disc 0.5 times as long as wide, with convex anterior margin and almost straight posterior margin. Subpetiolar process with strong posteroventral teeth.

Measurements (mm). HL 0.73, HW 0.60, SL 0.45, WL 0.95, PL 0.25, PH 0.53, DPW 0.45, TL 3.2.

Color. Body black, mandible and antenna brown, legs yellow.

Leong et al. (2019) - Holotype: HL 0.66; HW 0.54; SL 0.46; A06L 0.04; A07L 0.04; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.08; A10L 0.09; PrW 0.49; WL 0.97; PeH 0.51; PeNL 0.28; PeW 0.46; ATL 0.54; ATW 0.63; CI 81, SI 86, PeI 94, LPeI 54, DPeI 167, ATI 84. (n=6): HL 0.65–0.73; HW 0.54–0.60; SL 0.45–0.51; A06L 0.03; A07L 0.04; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.07; A10L 0.09; PrW 0.46–0.49; WL 0.92–1.01; PeH 0.48–0.54; PeNL 0.25–0.27; PeW 0.44–0.48; ATL 0.50–0.54; ATW 0.61–0.65; CI 82–84, SI 82–85, PeI 94–100, LPeI 47–55, DPeI 166–188, ATI 79–84.

Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular and distinctly longer than broad (CI: 82–84), with almost straight posterior margin, convex lateral margins, and broadly rounded posterolateral corners. Eye small; composed of a total of 3 to 4 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with strong and blunt medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible with a series of about ten indistinct denticles, and three large teeth on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 5% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.27: 1.83: 2.42: 3.114 (n=6).

Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view almost straight. Pronotum in dorsal view with broadly convex anterior margin, and convex lateral margins. Metanotal groove very indistinct. Lateral mesopleural suture distinctly incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view slightly narrow with concave lateral margins. Propodeal corner in lateral view angular; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively; a 120 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and arched, with broadly convex anterior margin, and slightly concave posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view trapezoidal and thick, with straight anterior margin, and moderately convex posterior margin; with upper portion bulging, and anterodorsal corner distinctly higher than posterodrosal corner. Subpetiolar process large with large and suboval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, and slightly concave ventral margin with a pair of well developed teeth. Third abdominal tergum distinctly broader than long (ATI: 79–84), with straight anterior margin, and slightly convex lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Mesosoma densely punctate. Mesopleuron with densely striate lower portion, evenly punctate upper portion. Metapleuron and propodeum striate, but particular decreasing in the portion between metapleuron and propodeum. Propodeal declivity smooth and shining. Lateral face of petiole evenly punctate, posterior face smooth, dorsum with few punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments evenly punctate, other segments smooth and shining with few punctures.

Pubescence. Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum and lateral face of petiole with few short hairs, in particular glabrous in the upper portion of mesopleuron. Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node, gastral sterna and posterior half of gastral terga with many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

Color. Body color black. Mandible, clypeus, antennae, legs, and apex of metasoma lightly brown.

Queen
Leong et al. (2019) - (n=1): HL 0.74; HW 0.64; SL 0.54; A06L 0.05; A07L 0.06; A08L 0.07; A09L 0.09; A10L 0.10; PrW 0.56; WL 1.14; PeH 0.54; PeNL 0.27; PeW 0.51; ATL 0.61; ATW 0.75; CI 87, SI 83, PeI 91, LPeI 49, DPeI 193, ATI 82.

Head. Similar to worker caste, but with large and circular Eye, maximum diameter of each eye about 0.13 mm with 11 ommatidia along the maximum diameter. Three ocelli present and forming an equilateral triangle. Antennal scape similar to worker; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.27: 1.56: 2.04: 2.27 (n=1).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex, but with straight propodeal dorsum. Pronotum in dorsal view with broadly convex anterior margin, concave posterior margin and convex lateral margins. Scutum inverted-subtrapezoidal and narrow posteriad. Transcutal suture distinct. Scutellum subrectangular. Anapleural sulcus and propodeal-metapleural suture weakly incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view moderately broad with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner in lateral view angular; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 125 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick, with slightly convex anterior margin and almost straight posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view trapezoidal and moderately thick, with straight anterior margin, and convex posterior margin. Subpetiolar process with large and oval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, ventral margin slightly concave, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of developed and acute teeth. The third abdominal segment similar to worker caste (ATI: 82).

Sculpture. Similar to worker caste.

Pubescence. Mostly like worker caste.

Color. Similar to worker caste.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Riyuetan, Nantou Pref., 28.vii.- 2.viii.1988.

Paratypes. 6 workers, same data as the holotype.

Type depository. The holotype is deposited in NIAES, and paratypes in NIAES, NSMT and TARl.

Leong et al. (2019): Type material examined: TAIWAN. Holotype, 1 worker, Riyuetan, Nantou Pref., 28 VII to 2 VIII 1988. Paratypes, 2 workers, Riyuetan, Nantou Pref., 28 VII to 2 VIII 1988, M Terayama leg (: LCM_MT-Ponera-24).

Etymology
The specific epithet is the Chinese noun Rishen, which is the name of a Taiwanese god.

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.
 * Leong C. M., B. Guénard, S. F. Shiao, & C. C. Lin. 2019. Taxonomic revision of the genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Taiwan and Japan, with a key to East Asian species. Zootaxa 4594: 1-86.
 * 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 Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 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.