Ponera taylori

Ponera taylori seems to be rare in the Shivalik range of Northwest Himalaya and was collected from three non-forested areas of the region each with a water body. The species was found along the edges of water body, twice under the large stones and once in soil sample.

Identification
Ponera taylori lacks posteroventral teeth of subpetiolar process, a character shared only by 2 Oriental species of Ponera: Ponera nangongshana from China and Ponera yuhuang from Taiwan. However, it is a blind species with reddish yellow colour, what well differentiates it from the latter which possess eyes and are brown in colour. P. taylori, further differentiates from P. nangongshana by the following combination of characters: apex of scape reaches occipital margin; antennal club 5 segmented; mandible possess 7 teeth with anterior margin of clypeus concave while in latter apex of scape fails to reach occipital margin; mandible with 3 enlarged apical teeth followed by a series of minute denticles and convex anterior margin of clypeus. P. taylori additionally separates from P. yuhuang by undifferentiated antennal club while in latter antennal club is 4 segmented; scapes in P. yuhuang also fail to reach the posterior margin of head. Morphometrically, P. taylori is a relatively larger species than P. yuhuang with HL 600–670; HW 560–610 and SL 430–460 whilst latter has HL 490; HW 400 and SL 330.

Distribution
Known from the Shivalik range of Northwest Himalaya.

This taxon was described from India.

Nomenclature

 *  taylori. Ponera taylori Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012: 221, figs. 7-12 (w.m.) INDIA.

Worker
Morphometric data of the holotype: HL 670; HW 610; HS 640; SL 450; PrW 390; WL 850; PL 170; PW 240; PH 380. Indices: CI 0.910; SI 0.738; PNI 0.615; LPI 0.447; DPI 1.412.

Head: Head longer than broad, sides convex, frontovertextal margin concave. Mandible with 7 teeth, occupying the entire masticatory margin. Eyes absent. Median portion of anterior clypeal margin concave. Apex of scape, when laid straight back from its insertion in full-face view touches the midpoint of the posterior margin; funiculus incrassate towards apex but slender than in P. indica, antennal club not differentiated.

Mesosoma and petiole: In lateral view mesosoma with convex dorsal margin; in dorsal view sutures distinct; pro-mesonotal suture with concentric horizontal striations; metanotal groove prominent. Propodeal dorsum, with subparallel sides, passes into a convex declivity. Seen from above petiole subrectangular, distinctly broader than long, with sides diverging backward; in lateral view sloping behind. Subpetiolar process triangular; fenestra round; posteroventral teeth of subpetiolar process absent.

Gaster: base of cinctus of second gastral tergite with cross ribs; sting exerted.

Sculpture: Head capsule sharply reticulate punctuate; dorsal mesosomal sculpturing consists of punctures restricted mainly to sides. Petiole and gaster with superficial punctures, obviously much less strongly and densely sculptured than rest of the body. Mandible microreticulate at base with scattered punctures.

Pilosity: Dense; reclinate, suberect.

Colour: Reddish yellow; anterior margin of head and mandibular margins brown.

Male
Morphometric data: HL 580; HW 480; HS 530; WL 1070; PL 190; PW 260; PH 300; SL 90.

Indices: CI 0.828; SI 0.188; LPI 0.633; DPI 1.263; OI 0.56 (n = 1).

Head almost as broad as long, including the large compound eyes. Mandible reduced, triangular, without any dentition, apex simple and acute; basal cavity visible in full-face view. Antenna filiform, 13 segmented, antennal scrobe absent. Clypeus convex, its median portion entire without any emargination.

Notauli absent. Mesepimeron bearing distinct epimeral lobe. Jugal lobe of hind wing absent. Petiolar node in general shape as in worker, but more slender. Apical margin of abdominal tergum VIII projecting into sharp spine. Claws simple. Terminal abdominal sclerites and genitalia conforming to general plan for genus.

Sculpture much reduced, than that of workers. Head brown, eyes black; gaster reddish yellow, rest of body yellow.

Type Material
Holotype worker – India, Himachal Pradesh, Andretta, 32.0744°N 76.5856°E, 940 m, 11 June, 2010, hand picking. Paratypes: 4 workers same data; 2 workers, India, Uttarakhand, Assan Barrage 30.4417°N 77.6754°E, 740 m, 10 May, 2009, soil core; 5 workers and 1 male, India, Himachal Pradesh, Rewalsar, 31.6345°N 76.8343°E, 1360 m, 30 June, 2010, hand picking (coll. Aijaz A. Wachkoo).

Holotype and paratypes of both the species have been deposited in PUPAC, Punjabi University Patiala Ant Collection, Patiala. One paratype of both species will be deposited in and.

Etymology
The species is dedicated to Robert W. Taylor.