Myopias luoba

There types were collected as foragers from the ground in secondary rain forest.

Identification
Xu & Liu (2012) - This new species is close to Myopias amblyops Roger, but differs from it by the anterior margin of clypeus with distinct protruding triangular median lobe; in profile view petiole with large triangular subpetiolar process.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 * . Myopias luoba Xu & Liu, 2012: 822, figs. 1-4 (w.) CHINA (Tibet).
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: China: Tibet, Medog County, Medog Town, Yarang, 820 m., 20.v.2008, no. A08-875, on ground in secondary rainforest (Z. Xu).
 * Type-depository: SFCY.
 * Status as species: Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 60; Xu, Burwell & Nakamura, 2014b: 166 (in key); Probst, Guénard & Boudinot, 2015: 205 (in key).
 * Distribution: China.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.8, HL 0.80, HW 0.65, CI 81, SL 0.58, SI 88, ML 0.53, ED 0.09, PW 0.50, AL 1.08, PL 0.36, PH 0.45, DPW 0.36, LPI 124, DPI 100.

Head nearly rectangular, longer than broad, weakly widened forward. Occipital margin slightly concave, occipital corners roundly prominent, lateral sides slightly convex. Mandibles elongate triangular, inner margin weakly convex, about as long as masticatory margin. Masticatory margin with 4 teeth, including 1 basal tooth, 1 middle tooth, and 2 minute apical denticles. Median lobe of clypeus protruding forward, nearly triangular, widened forward, length : width = 4:5, anterior margin straight. Antennae 12-segmented, apices of scapes almost reach to occipital corners, antennal clubs 4-segmented. Longitudinal furrow between frontal lobes distinct. Eyes small, with 6 facets in the maximum diameter.

In profile view, promesonotum evenly convex, promesonotal suture distinct but not depressed, metanotal groove slightly depressed. Propodeal dorsum slightly convex, about 2 times as long as declivity, posterodorsal corner rounded. Petiolar node nearly square, anterior face straight, dorsal and posterior faces weakly convex, anterodorsal corner blunt, about as high as posterodorsal corner, the latter roundly prominent. Subpetiolar process large, triangular, anteroventral corner blunt. In dorsal view, petiolar node trapezoid, widened backward, length : width = 1:1.3, anterior and lateral margins weakly convex, anterolateral corners rounded, posterior margin nearly straight. Constriction between the two basal gastral segments distinct. Sting developed and laterally compressed.

Mandibles smooth and shining, with sparse fine punctures. Head densely finely punctured, interfaces smooth. Alitrunk, petiole, and gaster smooth and shining, with sparse fine punctures. Lateral sides of metathorax below propodeal spiracles finely longitudinally striate. Dorsa of head and body with sparse suberect hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence, pubescence on the head dense. Scapes and tibiae with sparse subdecumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Color blackish brown. Head almost black. Mandibles, clypeus, antennae, legs, and gastral apex brownish yellow.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, CHINA: Tibet, Medog County, Medog Town, Yarang, 820m, forages on the ground in the secondary rain forest, 2008.V.20, Zheng-Hui Xu leg., No. A08-875.

Etymology
The new species is named after the Chinese minority nationality Luoba who mainly live in southeastern Tibet.

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.
 * Liu X. 2012. Taxonomy, diversity and spatial distribution characters of the ant family Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in southeastern Tibet. PhD Thesis 139 pages
 * Xu Z.-H., and X. Liu. 2011. Three new species of the ant genus Myopias (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from China with a key to the known Chinese species. Sociobiology 59: 819-834.
 * Xu Z.-H.; C. J. Burwell., and A. Nakamura. 2014. A new species of the ponerine ant genus Myopias Roger from Yunnan, China, with a key to the known Oriental species. Sociobiology 61(2): 164-170.