Ponera yuhuang

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Terayama (2009) - Separated from the Taiwanese congeners by the absence of posteroventral teeth of subpetiolar process, the small body size (TL 2.2 mm), and the brown body.

Leong et al. (2019) - Diagnosis (worker). Although Ponera yuhuang presents similarities with Ponera bishamon, Ponera japonica, and Ponera taiyangshen, it can be distinguished by its four segmented club and its subpetiolar process without distinct teeth.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 *  yuhuang. Ponera yuhuang Terayama, 2009: 110, figs. 52-54 (w.) TAIWAN.

Taxonomic Notes
Leong et al. (2019): P. yuhuang was described from a single specimen, for which the external morphology cannot be clearly observed. We redescribed P. yuhuang based on the holotype and additional specimens. Although P. yuhuangis closely related to Ponera taiyangshen, differences in the antennal segment ratios and the form of the subpetiolar teeth can demonstrate that they are separated species.

Worker
Holotype. Head coarsely microreticulate, 1.23 times as long as wide, with concave posterior margin in full face view. Antennal scape relatively short, not reaching posterior margin of head; SI = 82; club consist of 4 segments. Eye small, consisting of a single facet. Petiolar node with parallel anterior and posterior margins and weakly convex dorsum in profile: posterodorsal corner forming a dull angle; posterior margin in dorsal view almost straight. Subpetiolar process without posteroventral teeth.

Measurements (mm). HL 0.49, HW 0.40, SL 0.33, WL 0.70, PNL 0.15, PH 0.30, DPW 0.20, TL 2.2.

Color. Brown; legs and mandible yellowish brown.

Leong et al. (2019) - Holotype: HL 0.45; HW 0.37; SL 0.29; A06L 0.02; A07L 0.02; A08L 0.03; A09L 0.05; A10L 0.06; PrW 0.29; WL 0.62; PeH 0.28; PeNL 0.14; PeW 0.21; ATL 0.34; ATW 0.41; CI 83, SI 78, PeI 71, LPeI 51, DPeI 148, ATI 83. (n=1): HL 0.46; HW 0.37; SL 0.27; A06L 0.02; A07L 0.02; A08L 0.03; A09L 0.04; A10L 0.06; PrW 0.30; WL 0.62; PeH 0.31; PeNL 0.15; PeW 0.25; ATL 0.33; ATW 0.39; CI 81, SI 73, PeI 82, LPeI 49, DPeI 159, ATI 85.

Head. In full-face view, head rectangular and distinctly longer than broad (CI: 81–83), with slightly concave posterior margin, slightly convex lateral margins and rounded posterolateral corners. Eye small; composed of a total of 2–3 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with very blunt medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible with a series of about seven indistinct denticles, and three large on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 20% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.00: 1.35: 2.38: 3.47 (n=2).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex. Pronotum in dorsal view arched, with acutely convex anterior margin and slightly convex lateral margins. Metanotal groove distinct with a fine suture. Lateral mesopleural suture distinctly incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad with straight and parallel lateral margins. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum rounded, propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 125 angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and arched, with moderately convex anterior margin and straight posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and rectangular, with straight anterior and posterior margins, anterodorsal corner forming a right angle, anterodorsal corner as high as posterodorsal corner. Subpetiolar process with small and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, almost straight ventral margin, posterovental corner concave without distinct teeth. Third abdominal tergum distinctly broader than long (ATI: 85) with straight anterior and posterior margins, straight lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Mesosoma evenly punctate. Mesopleuron with slightly striate lower portion and sparsely punctate upper portion. Metapleuron and propodeum densely striate, but especially smooth in the portion contained between metapleuron and propodeum. Propodeal declivity smooth and shining. Lateral face of petiole evenly punctate, posterior face shining, dorsum with few punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments evenly punctate, other segments smooth and shining with few punctures.

Pubescence. Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum and lateral face of petiole with few short hairs. Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node, gastral sterna and posterior half of gastral terga with many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

Color. Body color black brown. Mandible, clypeus, antennae, legs, and apex of metasoma lighter.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Nanshan-Anleng, Yilan Pref., 28. vii. -2. viii. 1988. Type depository. NIAES.

Leong et al. (2019): Type material examined: TAIWAN. Holotype. Worker, Nanshan-Anleng, Yilan Pref., 28 VII to 2 VIII 1988. Note that “Nanshan-Aleng” mean Nanshan to Anleng, Taiwan, holotype specimen was collected by the members of the Japanese Society of Soil Zoology using Berlese funnel (per. comm. Dr. Maromu Terayama).

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

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Leong C. M., B. Guénard, S. F. Shiao, & C. C. Lin. 2019. Taxonomic revision of the genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Taiwan and Japan, with a key to East Asian species. Zootaxa 4594: 1-86.
 * Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
 * Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
 * Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.