Ponera taipingensis

Known only from the type material. They were collected from a "rotting branch."

Distribution
This taxon was described from West Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 *  taipingensis. Ponera taipingensis Forel, 1913k: 12 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA. See also: Taylor, 1967a: 56.

Worker
Taylor (1967) - Syntypes. The following notes are based on 2 syntype workers kindly loaned from the Forel collection by Dr C. Besuchet. One of these is here designated as lectotype and has been so labeled. Dimensions ( lectotype cited first): HL 0.64 mm, 0.60 mm; HW 0.54 mm, 0.52 mm; SL 0.47 mm, 0.45 mm; CI 84, 86; SI 87; PW 0.45 mm, 0.41 mm; PNL 0.23 mm, 0.21 mm; PH 0.47 mm, 0.45 mm; DPW 0.38 mm, 0.35 mm; PNI 84, 85. General features as in fig. 43-45. Mandibles with 3 large teeth occupying slightly less than apical 1 /2 of masticatory border, followed by a series of 5 to 7 small regular denticles. Median clypeal tooth well developed. Eyes apparently 1-faceted, situated about 0.77 x distance from lateral occipital border to midpoint of anterior genal border. Scapes almost exactly reaching median occipital border when laid back along head. Funiculus incrassate but lacking a segmentally differentiated club; apical antennomere about as long as 2 preceding together. General form of mesosoma much as in P. scabra, mesometanotal suture not distinctly incised dorsally, but represented by a shallow broad transverse convexity. Lateral mesonotal suture almost obliterated. Posterolateral angles of propodeum each marked by a slightly raised carina, forming angles of a little less than 90° when viewed from above. Lateral and declivitous faces of propodeum, viewed from same aspect, almost straight, sides converging slightly anteriorly. Petiolar node as in figs. 44 and 45. Dorsal face, viewed from above forming an almost exact half-circle; posterior border very slightly sinuate, feebly convex in middle, and weakly concave at sides.

Mandibles smooth and shining, clypeus irregularly shagreened, moderately shining. Head opaque, closely covered with moderately large, almost contiguous, punctae, about 0.01 mm in diameter. Occipital area shining, with scattered small punctures. Pronotum moderately shining, finely and closely punctate. Mesonotum with puncturation similar to that of head, but a little more scattered ; dorsum of propodeum similarly, but more sparsely punctate — the inter-punctural intervals slightly more than average diameter of punctae. Sides of mesosoma moderately punctate and feebly shining, a little more so on middle of lateral faces of pronotum and propodeum. A somewhat effaced longitudinal striate-rugosity on lower 1/2 of mesepisternum and on mete pi sternal area. Declivitous face of propodeum shining, with traces of an effaced transverse rugosity, much as described above for P. chapmani. Sculpture of node and gaster as in chapmani, the almost vertical striation of the posteroventral parts of the sides of the node less distinct, and the punctae of the 1st 2 gastric tergites smaller.

Pilosity sparse, limited to a few fine erect to suberect hairs on mandibles, clypeus, frontal lobes, dorsa of mesosoma and node and entire gaster, where they are relatively very sparse. Pubescence everywhere moderately abundant. Color as described above for P. chapmani.