Ponera kohmoku

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Terayama (1996) - Distinguished from the other congeners by the large eyes which consist of more than 20 facets in worker.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  kohmoku. Ponera kohmoku Terayama, 1996: 9, figs. 1-6 (w.q.) JAPAN.

Worker
Holotype. HL 0.80 mm; HW 0.68 mm; SL 0.65 mm; CI 84; SI 96; WL 1.25 mm; PW 0.58 mm; PNL 0.35 mm; PH 0.63 mm; DPW 0.45 mm; PNI 78; TL 3.6 mm.

Head subrectangular, with slightly convex sides and almost straight posterior margin in frontal view. Mandibles with 3 developed apical teeth followed by a series of about 10 minute denticles. Clypeus with a blunt but distinct median tooth. Eyes large for this genus, slightly convex, and each consisting of about 25 indistinct facets; maximum diameter 0.10 mm. Antennae with 12 segments; scape relatively long, slightly exceeding median posterior margin of head in frontal view; club not differentiated; 8th to 12th segments in a ratio of about 7:7:9:11:18 in length; terminal segment 1.4 x as long as wide.

General shape of alitrunk and petiole as in Fig. 5; lateral promesonotal and dorsal mesonotal-propodeal sutures distinctly incised; posterolateral corner of propodeum dully angulate. Petiolar node wider than long in dorsal view, with broadly convex anterior margin and straight posterior margin. Subpetiolar process with a pair of strong posterolateral teeth; fenestra relatively rarge and oval.

Head and antennal scapes microreticulate; mandibles smooth and shining. Dorsum of alitrunk and petiole microreticulate and closely punctate; mesepisterna and lateral faces of propodeum shining and weakly punctate; declivitous face of propodeum smooth and shining. Gaster closely punctate; punctures on 2nd gastral tergite weaker than those on the 1st. Pubescence moderately abundant; erect or suberect hairs present on mandibles, antennal scapes, dorsa of alitrunk and petiolar node, and entire gaster.

Body black with brownish tinge; clypeus and subpetiolar process brown; mandibles, antennae, legs and tip of gaster reddish brown.

Variation. Ten paratype workers with the following measurements and indices: HL 0.83-0.89 mm; HW 0.70-0.75 mm; SL0.63-0.66 mm; CI 85-88; SI 97-91; WL 1.20-1.28 mm; PW 0.58-0.61 mm; PNL 0.34-0.35 mm; PH 0.63-0.68 mm; DPW 0.43-0.48 mm; PNI 71-78; TL 3.4-3.7 mm.

Eyes consisting of 22 to 30 indistinct facets.

Queen
Paratypes. HL 0.93-0.95 mm; HW 0.78-0.80 mm; SL0.70-0.71 mm; CI 84-85; SI 89-90; WL 1.55-1.18 mm; AW 0.75-0.67 mm; PNL 0.38-0.39 mm; PH 0.68-0.70 mm; DPW 0.51-0.53 mm; PNI 74-75; TL4.0-4.3 mm (n = 4).

Head and alitrunk as inFigs. Eyes large, 4.0-4.3 mm in diameter. Ocelli small, forming an acute triangle. Antennal scapes exceeding posterior margin of head. Petiolar node converging above in lateral view; disc 0.53 x as long as wide, with weakly concave posterior margin in dorsal view. Color as in worker.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Kurio, Yaku-shima, Kagoshima Pref., 23.III.l981, M. Terayama leg.

Paratypes. 23 workers, 1 female, same data as holotype; 2 females, Kusukawa, Yaku-shima, Kagoshima Pref., 22.III.1981, M. Terayama leg.; 2 workers, Yaku-shima, Kagoshima Pref., 16.X.1984, M. Terayarna leg.; 4 workers, Anbou, Yaku-shima, Kagoshima Pref., M. Terayarna leg.; 3 workers, 20.VIII.1983, Shiroyarna, Kagoshima-shi, Kagoshima Pref., 20.VIII.1983, S. Kubota leg.; 2 workers, same locality, 21.VIII.1983, S. Kubota leg.; 1 worker, Sata-misaki, Kagoshima Pref., 10.VIII.1984, M. Terayarna leg.; 1 female, Yaku-shima, Osumi Is., Kagoshima Pref., 19.VIII.1983, Sk. Yamane leg.; 28 workers, Shimonoseki, Fukuoka Pref., 6.IV.1993, O. Kitade leg.

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