Ponera bawana

The type material was collected in pine forest.

Identification
This new species is close to Ponera japonica, but in full face view lateral sides of head more straight, occipital corners more prominent, dorsum of propodeum longer than declivity, posteroventral border of subpetiolar process with only a minute denticle, fenestra small and circular. (Xu 2001)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  bawana. Ponera bawana Xu, 2001c: 220, figs. 19-21 (w.q.) CHINA.

Worker


Holotype. TL 2.8, HL 0.67, HW 0.53, CI 80, SL 0.43, SI 87, PW 0.42, AL 0.80, ED 0.03, ML 0.30, DPW 0.30, PNI 72, PH 0.40, PNL 0.20. LPI 50, Head roughly rectangular, distinctly longer than broad, weakly narrowed forward. In full face view, occipital margin nearly straight, occipital corners roundly prominent, lateral sides weakly convex. Masticatory margin of mandible with 3 apical teeth and followed by a tow of indistinct minute denticles. Anterior margin of clypeus bluntly angled. Antennae short, apex of scape failed to reach occipital corner by 1/7 of its length, antennal club with 5 segments. Eye with 4 facets. In profile view, dorsum of thorax evenly convex, promesonotal suture depressed, metanotal groove distinct. Dorsum of propodeum slightly longer than declivity, posterodorsal corner rounded. In profile view, petiolar node trapezoid, narrowed upward, anterior and posterior faces straight, dorsal face evenly convex, anterodorsal and posterodorsal corners rounded and about at same level. Subpetiolar process cuneiform, fenestra small and circular, anteroventral corner obliquely truncate., posteroventral border with a minute blunt denticle. In dorsal view, petiolar node semicircular, anterior and lateral borders roundly convex, posterior border straight, length: width = 1:2. Mandibles smooth and shining. Head closely and finely punctured, dull. Thorax densely and finely punctured, relatively shining. Petiole and gaster superficially, densely and finely punctured, shining. Dorsum of head and thorax with dense decumbent pubescence, without erect hairs. Petiolar node and gaster with sparse suberect hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Scapes with sparse suberect hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Dorsa of tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence, without erect hairs. Head, propodeum and upper portion of petiole blackish brown. Pronotum, mesonotum, lower portion of petiole and gaster reddish brown. Mandibles, antennae and legs brownish yellow.

Queen
Paratype females: TL 3.5-3.6, HL 0.75-0.77, HW 0.60, CI 78-80, SL 0.50-0.52, SI 83-86, PW 0.57, AL 1.10, ED 0.20-0.22, ML 0.37-0.40, DPW 0.38. PNI 68, PH 0.50, PNL 0.23-0.25. LPI 47-50 (2 individuals measured). Similar to holotype, but with body much larger, eyes normal and large, with 3 ocelli, Mesothorax and meta thorax complete and winged, the wings shedable, mesopleuron with a transverse furrow. In profile view petiolar node thinner. Color of body similar to holotype but head, propodeum and petiolar node black.

Type Material
Holotype; worker, No. A98-2097. 1500 m, Bawan. Bawan Town, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, ll-VII-1998, collected by Miss Long Qizhen in Yunnan pine forest. Paratypes: 2 females, with same data as holotype.

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. Four new species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Yunnan, China. Entomotaxonomia 23: 217-226.
 * Xu Z. 2001. Four new species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Yunnan, China. Entomotaxonomia 23(3): 217-226