Ponera pentodontos

The type material was collected from a soil sample in seasonal rain forest and from an unspecified ground sample.

Identification
This new species is close to Ponera sinensis, but mandible with 5 distinct subequal large teeth, Head relatively broad, CI 95-98, Petiolar node comparatively narrow, PNI 76-81, Anteroventral corner of subpetiolar process rounded. (Xu 2001)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  pentodontos. Ponera pentodontos Xu, 2001a: 53, figs. 1-3 (w.) CHINA.

Worker


Holotype. TL 2.7, HL 0.55, HW 0.53, CI 95, SL 0.45, SI 86, PW 0.40, AL 0.80, ED 0.03, ML 0.35, PNL 0.20, DPW 0.33, PH 0.40, PNI 81, LPI 50. Head nearly square, occipital margin weakly concave, occipital corners blunt, lateral sides weakly convex. Mandible with 5 distinct subequal large teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus convex and very bluntly angled in the middle. Apex of scape reached to 19/20 of the distance from antennal socket to occipital corner, antennal club consisted of the apical 5 segments. Eye with one facet. In profile view mesonotum weakly convex, promesonotal suture and metanotal groove distinct. Dorsum of propodeum and declivity subequal and flat, posterodorsal corner blunt. In profile view petiolar node distinctly tapering upward, anterior face straight and vertical, dorsal and posterior faces formed a single arched surface, anterodorsal corner blunt. Subpetiolar process cuneiform, fenestra circular and small, anteroventral corner rounded, posteroventral corner with a large tooth. In dorsal view petiolar node nearly semicircular, anterior and lateral borders formed a single arch, posterior border straight. Gaster weakly constricted between the two basal segments. Mandibles smooth and shining, with very sparse punctures. Head finely and closely punctured. Alitrunk, petiole and gaster finely and densely punctured. Surface of the whole body and appendages with dense decumbent pubescence, anterior portion of head, petiolar node and gaster with sparse erecj short hairs. Body in color black. Mandibles, antennae and legs yellowish brown.

Paratypes. TL 2.6-2.8, HL 0.55-0.58, HW 0.53-0.55, CI 95-98, SL 0.45-0.48, SI 82-86, PW 0.40-0.43, AL 0.80-0.83, ED 0.03-0.04, ML 0.35, PNL 0.20, DPW 0.33, PH 0.38-0.40, PNI 76-81, LPI 50-53 (5 measured).

Type Material
Holotype: worker, No. A9.7-2046, 730 m, Bubang Village, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, 17-VIH-1997, collected in a soil sample of seasonal rain forest by Zeng Guang. Paratypes: 1 worker, with same data as holotype, 1 worker, with same data as holoype but No. A97 - 2028, 8 workers, with same data as holotype but No. A97-2089, collected in a ground sample.

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

 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * 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