Vollenhovia menshen

Identification
This species resembles Vollenhovia emeryi Wheeler, 1906, distributed from Hokkaido to Yakushima island in Japan, but is separable from the latter by the much developed lamellar wall of subpetiolar process and the absence of distinct propodeal spines.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 *  menshen. Vollenhovia menshen Terayama, 2009: 148, fig. 204 (w. ergatoid q.) TAIWAN.

Description
Head microreticulate, 1.19 times as long as wide, with concave posterior margin. CI = 84, SI = 71, eye 0.13 mm in diameter. Promesonotum densely punctate, promesonotal dorsum almost straight, metanotum very weakly concave in profile; prosterodorsal corner of propodeum with an angle. Petiolar node higher than long, with convex dorsal margin, posterolateral corner not forming an angle, subpetiolar process developed, its thin lamellar wall higher than long. Postpetiole higher than long, dorsal outline convex in profile. Gaster smooth and shining.

HL 0.63, HW 0.53, SL 0.38, WL 0.78, PL 0.20, PH 0.33, DPW 0.20, PPL 0.20, PPH 0.23, PPW 0.20, TL 2.5
 * Measurements (mm).

Reddish brown; frons with a large brown spot; alitrunk and pedicel reddish brown; gaster blackish brown.
 * Color.

Worker, Nanshanxi, Nanfen-Cun, Nantou Pref., 30. vii. 1986, M. Terayama leg.
 * Holotype.

2w, same data as the holotype, 2w, 1 ergatoid female, same locality, 28.vii.-3.iii. 1988, 1w, Wushe, Nantou Pref., 23. viii. 1987, M. Terayama leg.
 * Paratypes.

Types are preserved in NIAES.
 * Type depository.

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

Females (queens) of V. emeryi are all alate, while this species produces ergatoid females.
 * Remarks.