Ponera tamon

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Terayama (1996) - In general appearance similar to Ponera japonica, but easily distinguished from the latter by 1) head much wider and CI 86-91 (77 -82 in japonica); 2) petiolar node thiner in dorsal view; 3) posterolateral corners of propodeum only weakly angulate, and 4) posterodorsal border of node not forming an angle.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan. Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  tamon. Ponera tamon Terayama, 1996: 11, figs. 10-16 (w.q.) JAPAN.

Worker
Holotype. HL 0.51 mm; HW 0.45 mm; SL 0.38 mm; 0 88; SI 84; WL 0.74 mm; PW 0.35 mm; PH 0.35 mm; PNL 0.18 mm; DPW 0.28 mm; PNI 80; TL 2.5 mm.

Head 1.17 x as long as wide, with slightly convex sides and slightly concave posterior margin in frontal view. Eyes small, each consisting of 3-4 indistinct facets. Antennae with 12 segments; scape short, not reaching the posterolateral margin of head; apical 5 segments forming a club.

Profile of alitrunk as in figure; dorsal margin almost straight; posterolateral comers of propodeum dully angulated. Petiolar node thick and wide, with straight anterior margin and convex posterior margin in lateral view; posterodorsal comer rounded, not forming an angle; viewed from above, node 0.45 x as long as wide, with very slightly concave posterior margin. Subpetiolar process with acute posterolateral teeth; fenestra circular.

First gastral tergite 0. 83 x as long as wide in dorsal view; 2nd tergite 0.62x as long as wide.

Head and alitrunk coarsely microreticulate; punctures separated by less than 0.5 x their own diameters. Gaster moderately punctate; punctures on 1st tergite less than those on 2nd.

Pubescence moderately abundant, and erect hairs present on the dorsa of alitrunk and petiole, and entire gaster.

Body black; clypeus reddish brown; mandibles, antennae and legs yellowish brown.

Variation. Dorsal width of petiole in workers varies in the materials of Okinawa and Amami Is. from 0.28 to 0.32 mm, and in that of Taiwan from 0.31 to 0.39 mm. Coloration of body also varies from dark brown to almost black. These differences may reflect the geographical variation within a single species. Morphometric data are summarized in Table 1.

Queen
Paratypes. HL 0.60-0.63 mm; HW 0.53-0.55 mm; SL0.45-0.46 mm; CI 87-88; SI 86-88; WL 0.90-0.92 mm; PW 0.48-0.53 mm; PNL 0.18-0.20 mm; PH 0.43-0.45 mm; DPW 0.35-0.38 mm; TL 3.0-3.2 = (n = 3).

Head slightly longer than wide. Antennal scapes almost reaching the posterolateral comers of head in frontal view. Eyes 0.13-0.14 mm in length. Ocelli forming an acute triangle.

Alitrunk and petiole as in Figures. Petiolar node with straight anterior margin and convex posterolateral corner in lateral view; disc thin, 0.32x as long as wide, with straight posterior margin in dorsal view.

Head and alitrunk coarsely microreticulate; punctures separated by less than 0.5 x their own diameters. Gaster moderately punctate. Color as in worker.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Uken-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., Japan, 1.VII.1983, M. Terayarna leg.

Paratypes. Japan: - 7 workers, 1 female, same data as holotype; 13 workers, Sumiyo-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., M. Terayarna leg.; 1 worker, Nazeshi, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., 21.III.1980, M. Terayama leg.; 9 workers, 1 female, Okinoerabu-jima, Kagoshima Pref., 17.III.1989, M. Terayama leg., 1 worker, Yoron-jima, Kagoshima Pref., 14.III.1980, M. Terayama leg.; 3 workers, 1 female, Hirara, Miyako-jima, Okinawa Pref., 20.VIII.1979, M. Terayama leg.; 2 workers, Sonai, Iriomote-jima, Okinawa Pref., 29.VII.1979, M. Terayama leg.; 29 workers, Izena-jima, Okinawa Pref., 31.III.1985, H. Takamine leg.; 16 workers, Nago, Okinawa-jima, Okinawa Pref., 3.X.1984, H. Takamine leg.; 33 workers, Naha, Okinawa-jima., Okinawa Pref., 15.XII.1984, H. Takamine leg.; 6 workers, 2 females, Sata-misaki, Kagoshima Pref., 9.VIII.1984, S. Kubota leg.

Leong et al. (2019): Type material examined: JAPAN. Paratypes, 2 workers, Okinoerabu-jima, Kagoshima Pref., 17 III 1989, M Terayama leg. 1 worker, Sonai, Iriomote-jima, Okinawa Pref., 31 III 1985, M Terayama leg (: LCM_MT-Ponera-25). 1 dealate queen and 2 workers, Uken-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., 1 VII 1983, M Terayama leg (: LCM_MT-Ponera-26, LCM_MT-Ponera-28). 3 workers, Nago, Okinawai Is., 3 X 1984, M Terayama leg (: LCM_MT-Ponera-27). 9 workers, Sumiyo-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref., VII 1983, M Terayama (: LCM_MT-Ponera-29, LCM_MT-Ponera-30, LCM_MT-Ponera-31, LCM_MT-Ponera-32).

Etymology
The specific name is the Japanese noun Tamon-ten, which is the name of one of the four guardian dieties in buddhism.