Ponera shennong

The holotype was taken from a Berlese leaf litter sample.

Identification
Easily separated from Taiwanese congeners by the minute body size and yellowish body color.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 *  shennong. Ponera shennong Terayama, 2009: 112, figs. 55-58 (w.) TAIWAN.

Worker
Holotype. Head long, 1.36 times as long as wide, with very weakly convex dorsal margin and almost straight lateral margins. Antennal scape very short, SI = 77; 2nd to 8th segments short; club thick, consist of 4-segments. Eye lacking.

Alitrunk with flat dorsum; mesometanotal suture distinct on the dorsum; posterolateral corner of propodeum dully angulate. Petiolar node rectangular, with a posterodorsal angle; in dorsal view, dorsal disc thick and trapezoidal, with weakly concave posterior margin. Subpetiolar process with a dull angle at midlength of ventral margin, and without posteroventral teeth.

First and 2nd gastral terga long; 1st segment as long as wide in dorsal view, 2nd segment slightly wider than long.

Measurements (mm). HL 0.30, HW 0.28, SL 0.21, WL 0.48, PL 0.15, PH 0.18, DPW 0.15, TL 1.5.

Color. Yellowish brown; legs yellow.

Type Material
Holotype. Kending, Pingdong Pref., 28. vii. -2. viii. 1988.

Type depository. NIAES.

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