Leptothorax zhengi

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Zhou and Chen (2011) - This new species resembles Leptothorax acervorum but differs from the later by dorsum of head convex longitudinally, very thick from dorsal margin to the ventral margin of the head capsule in lateral view; head coarsely longitudinally rugose, alitrunk coarsely reticulate and puctate; color dark reddish brown.

Distribution
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  zhengi. Leptothorax zhengi Zhou & Chen, in Zhou, Peng, et al. 2011: 592, figs. 1-2 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.2, HL 0.78, HW 0. 55, CI 70, SL 0.44, SI 80, PW 0.37, AL 0.83. Head longer than broad, dorsum strongly longitudinally convex, very thick from dorsal margin to ventral margin of the head capsule in lateral view lateral sides weakly convex, occipital border nearly straight. Masticatory borders of mandibles with 3 distinct apical teeth, followed by 4 indistinct denticles. Anterior clypeal border straight. Antennal scapes not reached to occipital corners. Eyes large, situated at the midlength of the sides of the head. In lateral view, promesonotal dorsum relatively straight, promesonotal suture indistinct, visible on lateral sides; metanotal groove notched. Propodeal spines triangular in lateral view, brood at base, acute at tip. Propodeal dorsum feebly convex. Petiole without anterior peduncle, petiolar node roughly triangular, anterior face straight, posterior face convex, dorsum bluntly rounded. Subpetiolar process broad, anterior angle bluntly rounded. Dorsum of postpetiole rounded, lower than petiole, 1.5 times broad as petiole in, dorsal view. Gaster oval.

Mandibles finely longitudinally striate, interface smooth and shining. Clypeus coarsely longitudinally rugose and punctate. Dorsum of head coarsely longitudinally rugose, reticulate at occipital corners, interface coarsely punctate. Dorsum of alitrunk coarsely reticulate and punctate. Sides of alitrunk irregularly longitudinally rugose and coarsely punctate. Petiole and postpetiole densely punctate. Gaster smooth and shining. Color dark reddish brown; dorsum of head, alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole, and whole gaster darker, mandibles, antennae, and legs lighter.

Paratype. TL 3.2-3.4, HL 0.78-0.80, HW 0.55-0.58, CI 70-72, SL 0.44-0.48, SI 80-82, PW 0.37-0.40, AL 0.83-0.86 (3 individuals measured). As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Shatangzi Monitoring Station, Helanshan National Nature Reserve of Inner Mongolia, 29 July 2010, leg. CHEN Zhi-Lin. Paratypes; 3 workers, Shuimogou, Helanshan National Nture Reserve of Inner Mongolia, 26 July 2010, leg. CHEN Zhi-Lin.

Specimens deposited in the Insect Collection of Guangxi Normal University and the College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Harbin Normal University, collected by the authors from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Heilongjiang Province.

Etymology
The new species is names in honor of Professor ZHENG Zhe-Min for his outstanding contribution in systemic entomology.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Zhou S. Y., Y. L. Peng, Z. L. Chen, X. G. Zhou, and L. T. Liang. 2011. A new species and a new record of the genus Leptothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 36: 592-594.