Ponera menglana

The type material was collected from a soil sample in seasonal rain forest and two ground samples, with one of the latter from a karst monsoon forest.

Identification
This new species is close to Ponera sinensis, but with body larger, HL 0.65-0.68, HW 0.58-0.60. In profile view posterodorsal corner of petiolar node more convex. Posteroventral corner of subpetiolar process only with a minute denticle.(Xu 2001)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Singapore. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  menglana. Ponera menglana Xu, 2001a: 54, figs. 7-9 (w.) CHINA.

Worker


Holotype. TL 2.9, HL 0.68, HW 0.60, CI 89, SL 0.50, SI 83, PW 0.50, AL 0.90, ED 0.03, ML 0.40, PNL 0.23, DPW 0.43, PH 0.50, PNI 85, LPI45. Head roughly square, lightly longer than broad. Occipital margin slightly concave, occipital corners blunt, lateral sides weakly convex. Mandible with 3 enlarged apical teeth followed by a series of minute denticles. Anterior margin of clypeus evenly convex. Apex of scape reached to 9/10 of the distance from antennal socket to occipital corner, antennal club consisted of the apical 5 segments. Eye with one facet. In profile view dorsum of alitrunk slightly convex, promesonotal suture distinct, metanotal groove very weak with fine visible trace. Dorsum of propodeum about as long as declivity, posterodorsal corner of propodeum rounded, lateral sides of propodeum weakly depressed, declivity obviously. depressed, lateral sides of declivity distinctly marginate. In profile view petiolar node higher than long, anterior face straight and vertical, dorsal and posterior faces formed a single arched surface, anterodorsal corner blunt. Subpetiolar process with small circular fenestra, anteroventral corner obliquely truncate, posteroventral corner with a minute denticle. In dorsal view petiolar node roughly semicircular, anterior and lateral borders formed a single arch, posterior face weakly concave. Gaster distinctly constricted between the two basal segments. Mandibles smooth and shining. Head, alitrunk and the two basal segments of gaster densely and finely punctured. Petiole with anterior and lateral faces weakly finely punctured,. posterior face smooth. Segments 3 - 6 of gaster smooth and shining. The whole body surface with sparse erect or suberect hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Scapes and tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence, but without erect hairs. Body in.color black. Mandibles, antennae, legs, subpetiolar process and apex of gaster yellowish brown.

Paratype workers: TL 2.7- 3.1, HL 0.65-.0.68, HW 0.58-0.60, CI 85-89, SL 0.48-0.53, SI 83-88, PW 0.45-0.48, AL 0.85-0.90, ED 0.03, ML 0.33-0.38, PNL 0.20-0.23, DPW 0.40-0.43, PH 0.45-0.50, PNI 84-94, LPI 43-50 (5 measured).

Type Material
Holotype: worker, No. A97-2046, 730 m, Bubang Village, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, 17-VIH-1997, collected in a soil sample of seasonal rain forest by Zeng Guang. Paratypes: 4 workers and 2 males, with same data as holotype, 3 workers, with same data as holotype but No. A97-2024, collected in a ground sample, 9 workers, with same data as holotype but No. A97-2029, 7 workers and 1 dealate female, No. A97-1134, 660 m, Cuipingfeng, Menglun Town, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, 10-VIII-1997, collected in a ground sample of karst monsoon forest by He Yunfeng; 6 workers, with same data as No. A97-1134 but No. A9i-1153, collected by Liu Taiyong; 9 workers and 2 females, with same data as No. A97-1134 .but No. A97-1162, collected by Xu Zhenghui.

The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, Southwest Forestry College, Kunming, Yunnan Province, P.R. China.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Alcantara M. J., S. Modi, T. C. Ling, J. Monkai, H. Xu, S. Huang, and A. Nakamura. 2019. Differences in geographic distribution of ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) between forests and rubber plantations: a case study in Xishuangbanna, China, and a global meta-analysis. Myrmecological News 29: 135-145.
 * Fontanilla A. M., A. Nakamura, Z. Xu, M. Cao, R. L. Kitching, Y. Tang, and C. J. Burwell. 2019. Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along tropical, subtropical, and subalpine elevational transects in southwest China. Insects 10, 128; doi:10.3390/insects10050128
 * 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
 * Liu X., Z. Xu, N. Yu, and C. Zhang. 2016. Distribution patterns of ant species ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Galongla Mountains and Medog Valley of Southeastern Tibet. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 52(11): 88-95.
 * Xu Z. H. 2001. A systematic study on the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of China. Entomotaxonomia 23: 51-60.
 * Xu Z. 2001. Four new species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Yunnan, China. Entomotaxonomia 23(3): 217-226