Ponera bishamon

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Terayama (1996) - Unique in having an elongate gaster.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  bishamon. Ponera bishamon Terayama, 1996: 13, figs. 17-20 (w.) JAPAN.

Worker
Holotype. Worker. HL 0.48 mm; HW 0.38 mm; SL 0.28 mm; CI 79; SI 74; WL 0.58 mm; AW 0.28 mm; PNL 0.18 mm; PH 0.29 mm; DPW 0.23 mm; PNI 78; TL 1.9 mm.

Head slender, 1.27 x as long as wide, with subparallel sides and weakly concave posterior comer in frontal view. Mandibles with 3 apical teeth followed by minute several denticles. Antennae with 12 segments; scape not reaching posterior comer of head; apical 5 segments forming a club. Clypeus with a distinct median tooth. Eyes small, consisting of a single facet only.

Dorsal margin of alitrunk almost straight from the midlength of pronotum to posterior end of propodeum in lateral view; posterodorsal comer of propodeum dully angulate in lateral view. Petiolar node thick; disc 0.40x as long as wide, with concave posterior margin in dorsal view. Subpetiolar process with small and dull posterolateral teeth; fenestra circular.

Gaster long; 1st segment 1.15 x as long as wide in dorsal view; 2nd segment slightly shorter than 1st, 1.0x as long as wide.

Head, antennal scapes and pronotum microreticulate; mesonotum and propodeum moderately punctate; petiole smooth with punctures sparsely; 1st and 2nd gastral tergites moderately punctate.

Body blackish brown; mandibles, antennae and legs yellow.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Iriomote-jima, Okinawa Pref., H. Takamine leg.

Etymology
The specific name is the Japanese noun bishamon-ten, which is the name of one of the four guardian deities in buddhism.