Ponera longlina

The type collection is from a ground sample in mountain rain forest.

Identification
This new species is close to Ponera oreas from Philippines, but eye only with one facet. Petiolar node relatively narrow, DPW 0.25, PNI 71. In profile view subpetiolar process with posteroventral tooth smaller and posteriorly pointed. (Xu 2001)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  longlina. Ponera longlina Xu, 2001a: 56, figs. 16-18 (w.) CHINA.

Worker


Holotype. TL 2.2, HL 0.50, HW 0.45, CI 90, SL 0.35, SI 78, PW 0.35, AL 0.63, ED 0.03, ML 0.25, PNL 0.18, DPW 0.25, PM 0.33, PN 71, LPI 54. Head roughly square, slightly longer than broad, narrowed forward. Occipital margin weakly concave, occipital corners roundly prominent, lateral sides evenly convex. Mandible with 3 enlarged apical teeth followed by a series of minute denticles. Anterior margin, of clypeus weakly convex. Apex of scape reached to 9/10 of the distance from antennal socket to occipital corner, antennal club consisted of the 4 apical segments. Eye with one facet. In profile view dorsum of alitrunk weakly convex, promesonotal suture distinct, metanotal groove absent. Dorsum of propodeum about as long as declivity, declivity flat, posterodorsal corner quite blunt. In profile view petiolar node weakly tapering upward, anterior and posterior faces straight, dorsal face evenly convex, anterodorsal corner blunt, posterodorsal corner more blunter. Subpetiolar process with small circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, posteroventral corner with an enlarged tooth. In dorsal view the node roughly semicircular, anterior and lateral borders ,formed a single arch, posterior border weakly concave. Gaster weakly constricted between the two basal segments. Mandibles smooth and shining, sparsely punctured. Head densely and finely punctured, dim. Prothorax, mesothorax and gaster densely and weakly punctured, less shining; Propodeum and petiole smooth and shining, sparsely punctured. Surface of the whole body and appendages with dense decumbent pubescence, erect hairs only present on anterior portion of head and posterior half of gaster. Body in color reddish brown, head black, mandibles, antennae and legs yellowish brown.

Type Material
Holotype: worker. No. A97-1315, 1050 m, Longlin Village, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, 11-VIII -1997, collected in a ground sample of mountain rain forest by He Yunfeng.

The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, Southwest Forestry College, Kunming, Yunnan Province, P.R. China.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fontanilla A. M., A. Nakamura, Z. Xu, M. Cao, R. L. Kitching, Y. Tang, and C. J. Burwell. 2019. Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along tropical, subtropical, and subalpine elevational transects in southwest China. Insects 10, 128; doi:10.3390/insects10050128
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Li Q., Y. Chen, S. Wang, Y. Zheng, Y. Zhu, and S. Wang. 2009. Diversity of ants in subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest in Pu'er City, Yunnan. Biodiversity Science 17(3): 233-239.
 * Liu X. 2012. Taxonomy, diversity and spatial distribution characters of the ant family Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in southeastern Tibet. PhD Thesis 139 pages
 * Liu X., Z. Xu, N. Yu, and C. Zhang. 2016. Distribution patterns of ant species ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Galongla Mountains and Medog Valley of Southeastern Tibet. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 52(11): 88-95.
 * Song Y., Z. Xu, C. Li, N. Zhang, L. Zhang, H. Jiang, and F. Mo. 2013. An Analysis on the Ant Fauna of the Nangun river Nature Reserve in Yunnan, China. Forest Research 26(6): 773-780.
 * Xu Z. H. 2001. A systematic study on the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of China. Entomotaxonomia 23: 51-60.
 * Xu Z. 2001. Four new species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Yunnan, China. Entomotaxonomia 23(3): 217-226