Pristomyrmex hamatus

The types were collected in monsoon forest.

Identification
Xu and Zhang (2002) - This new species is close to Pristomyrmex pungens, but the inner margin of mandible has a distinct tooth, in dorsal view, apices of propodeal spines are curved inward and hook-like, in profile view, dorsum of alitrunk roundly convex, petiolar node broad and with dorsum relatively straight.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  hamatus. Pristomyrmex hamatus Xu & Zhang, 2002: 70, figs. 9-12 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype worker: TL 3.2, HL 0.95, HW 0.90, CI 95, SL 0.88, SI 97, PW 0.63, AL 0.90, ED 0.16. Head nearly circular, slightly longer than broad. Occipital margin nearly straight, weakly emarginated in the middle, occipital corners rounded, lateral sides roundly convex. Inner margin of mandible with a tooth in the center, masticatory margin with 4 teeth and a short diastema between the 2nd and 3rd teeth. Clypeus with a longitudinal central carina, anterior margin roundly convex and armed with 8 blunt crenatures. Frontal carinae long, extending backward beyond the posterior margin level of the eyes. Antennal scrobes shallow and distinct. Antenna with 11 segments, scape surpassing occipital corner by about 1/4 of its length, antennal club consisted of the 3 apical segments. Eyes situated on the mid-line of the head and extruding outwards laterally: In profile view, dorsum of alitrunk roundly convex, sloping downwards at rear. Anterior margin of pronotum submarginate. Pronotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Propodeal spines long, curved inward at apices and hook-like. Propodeal lobes elongate and spine-like, about 1/3 times as long as propodeal spine. In profile view, petiole with short and stout peduncle anteriorly, petiolar node inclined backward, anterior corner higher than posterior one, dorsal face slightly convex, anterior face slope-like. Postpetiolar node short and high, strongly inclined backward. In dorsal view, petiolar node nearly square, postpetiolar node transverse and rectangular. Mandibles sparsely, longitudinally and coarsely striate. Head and alitrunk largely foveolate, interface formed a coarse reticulation system. Petiole and postpetiole longitudinally and coarsely striate. Gaster smooth and shining. Head and alitrunk with abundant erect long hairs and suberect short hairs. Petiolar node with a pair of erect hairs, postpetiolar node with 2 pairs of suberect long hairs. Gaster with sparse depressed short pubescence, without erect hairs. Scapes, femorae and tibiae with abundant suberect hairs. Body reddish brown in colour, appendages yellowish brown.

Paratype workers: TL 3.2-3.4, HL 0.93-0.95, HW 0.88-0.90, CI 95-97, SL 0.88-0.90, SI 97-100, PW 0.60-0.63, AL 0.88-0.90, ED 0.15-0.16 (5 individuals measured). As holotype, but body yellow to reddish brown in colour.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, No. A97-1165, 660 m, Cuipingfeng, Menglun Town, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, Aug. 10, 1997, collected in karst monsoon forest by Mr. LIU Tai-yong. Paratypes: 1 worker, No. A98-993, 650 m, Menglun Town, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, Sep. 15, 1998, collected by YANG Xiao-dong; 5 workers, with same data as No. A98-993, but No. A98-1012, Feb, 2, 1998, collected by ZHANG Zhi-ying; 1 worker, No. A97-1687, 900 m, Manzhuang Village, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, Aug. 14, 1997, collected in semi-evergreen monsoon forest by HE Yun-feng.

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.
 * Xu Z. and Z. Zhang. 2002. Systematics of Chinese species of the ant genus Pristomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomologia Sinica 9(4): 69-72.