Ponera wui

Ponera wui is only known from Orchid Island, Taiwan. Nothing has been reported about its biology.

Identification
Leong et al. (2019) - Worker: Ponera wui can be distinguished from other Asian Ponera species by the combination of the following characters: in Ponera wui, (1) the subpetiolar process has an acute and well-developed subpetiolar teeth, (2) the petiolar node is moderately thick and trapezoid, (3) the clypeal margin presents an acute median tooth, (4) the antennal scapes almost reach the posterior margin of head, and (5) in lateral view the propodeum is shining and smooth. Based on its morphology, Ponera wui is most similar to Ponera alisana, Ponera japonica, Ponera scabra, Ponera diodonta, Ponera chapmani and Ponera oreas. However, Ponera wui is distinct by the absence of a metanotal groove (strongly distinct in Ponera alisana, Ponera japonica, Ponera chapmani and Ponera oreas) and its thick petiolar node when observed in dorsal view (thin in Ponera diodonta). Also Ponera wui can be distinguished from Ponera scabra by its indistinctly incised mesopleural suture and relatively thin petiolar node in lateral view, contrasting with the distinctly incised lateral mesopleural suture and well thick petiolar node of Ponera scabra.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 *  wui. Ponera wui Leong, Guenard, Shiao & Lin, 2019: 72, figs. 65-70 (w.q.) TAIWAN.

Worker
Holotype. HL 0.61; HW 0.51; SL 0.42; A06L 0.03; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.08; PrW 0.38; WL 0.85; PeH 0.38; PeNL 0.20; PeW 0.31; ATL 0.42; ATW 0.49; CI 83, SI 84, PeI 82, LPeI 51, DPeI 159, ATI 85. Paratypes (n=4): HL 0.60–0.62; HW 0.49–0.52; SL 0.40–0.45; A06L 0.03; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.08; PrW 0.38–0.40; WL 0.80–0.86; PeH 0.39–0.41; PeNL 0.21–0.22; PeW 0.31–0.34; ATL 0.39–0.41; ATW 0.48–0.51; CI 81–84, SI 78–88, PeI 81–86, LPeI 52–57, DPeI 147–157, ATI 77–85.

Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular and distinctly longer than broad (CI: 81–84), with almost straight posterior margin, convex lateral margins and bluntly rounded posterolateral corners. Eye small; composed of a total of 4–5 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with distinctly acute medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandibles with a series of about eight indistinct teeth and three large teeth on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 5% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.42: 2.23: 2.74: 3.59 (n=5).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex. Pronotum in dorsal view arched, with convex lateral margins. Metanotal groove indistinct and almost obliterated. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view moderately broad, with straight lateral margins. Lateral mesopleural suture indistinctly incised and almost obliterated. Posterodorsal corner in lateral view augular; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 130 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view broader than long, with convex anterior margin, straight posterior margin, and broadly convex lateral margins. Petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and trapezoidal, with straight anterior margin, slightly convex posterior margin, and broadly convex dorsum. Subpetiolar process with medium and oval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of developed and acute teeth. The third abdominal tergum distinctly broader than long (ATI: 77–85) and moderately narrow anteriad, with slightly convex anterior and posterior margins, and slightly convex lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Mesosomal dorsum densely punctate. Mesopleuron with moderately striate lower portion, weakly striate and evenly punctate upper portion. Metapleuron with weakly striate lower portion and smooth upper portion. Lateral face of propodeum sparsely punctate. Propodeal declivity smooth. Lateral face of petiole with sparsely punctate, posterior face smooth, dorsum with few punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments with evenly punctate, others segments smooth and shining with sparsely punctate.

Pubescence. Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs; but upper portion of metapleuron smooth and glabrous. 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 numerous long erected hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

Color. Color dark brown. Mandible, clypeus, antennae, legs, and apex of metasoma yellowish brown.

Queen
Paratype alate (n=2): HL 0.65–0.67; HW 0.54–0.56; SL 0.42–0.46; A06L 0.04; A07L 0.04; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.07; A10L 0.09; PrW 0.49–0.50; WL 0.95–0.99; PeH 0.46; PeNL 0.23–0.24; PeW 0.39–0.40; ATL 0.48–0.51; ATW 0.59–0.60; CI 82–83, SI 75–86, PeI 77–81, LPeI 50–52, DPeI 160–174, ATI 79–86.

Head. Similar to worker caste, but with large and oval Eye, maximum diameter of eye about 0.18 mm with 8 ommatidia along the maximum diameter. Three ocelli present, and forming an equilateral triangle. Antennal scape similar to worker; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.26: 2.09: 2.96: 4.15 (n=2).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view broadly convex. Pronotum in dorsal view arched, with broadly convex lateral margins. Scutum subtrapezoidal and narrow posteriad, with broadly convex anterior margin, and straight posterior margin. Transcutal suture distinct. Scutellum oval. Anapleural sulcus distinctly incised. Propodeal-metapleural suture indistinct. Propodeal dorsum broad, with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner in lateral view round; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 120 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and subrectangular, distinctly broader than long, with slightly convex anterior margin, straight posterior margin, slightly convex lateral margins. Petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and subtrapezoidal, with straight anterior and posterior margins. Subpetiolar process with middle and oval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, straight ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with big teeth. The third abdominal segment similar to worker caste (ATI: 79–86).

Sculpture. Similar to worker caste; except lateral propodeum with increased puncture and striation.

Pubescence. Similar to worker caste; except lateral propodeum with increased short decumbent hairs.

Wing. Forewing: Rsf1 and Mf1 forming a blunt angle; Rsf short, Mf1 distinctly straight. Mf2 very short; almost absent, Rs+M with second abscissa distad 1m-cu, cell dc1 rectangular. 2rs-m juncture with Rsf4 distad 2r-rs. Mf1 diverging from M+Cu distad cu-a. Cell smc2 distinctly shorter than cell mc1. Hindwing: A vein reaching wing outer margin, but Rsf, Cuf, Mf almost reaching outer margin.

Color. Similar to worker caste.

Type Material
Worker. TAIWAN. Orchid Island, Taitung county, 11 IX 1997, WH Tsai leg (: CMPon029).

Paratypes. TAIWAN. 2 alate queens, (: CMPon004; : CMPon030) and 3 workers, same collection data as holotype, : CMPon002; : CMPon031; : CMPon032). 1 worker, Orchid Island, Taitung county, 17 V 1997, WH Tsai leg (: CMPon005).

Etymology
The specific name is given in honor of the Taiwanese entomologist, Dr. Wen-Jer Wu for his contribution to the entomological research in Taiwan.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.