Stictoponera nanlingensis

This species has been found nests in dead wood of branch on ground in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, at an altitude of 1075 m.

Identification
Chen et al. (2017) - The workers of Stictoponera nanlingensis are easily distinguished from other Stictoponera by a combination of the following characters: large (HW≥1.44mm); pronotal humeral angle well-developed, but not forming denticle or spine; lateral margin of pronotum strongly convex, posterior margin concave; propodeum without denticle, posterodorsal corner rounded; pronotum, propleuron and propodeum, with strongly and irregularly rugulose; fourth abdominal tergite finely rugulose-punctate.

The workers of S. nanlingensis are morphologically similar to Stictoponera sichuanensis. However, in S. nanlingensis the subpetiolar process is triangular or cuneiform, while in S. sichuanensis the subpetiolar process is polygonal, with the anteroventral corner bluntly angular, the ventral margin concave, and the posteroventral corner rounded. S. nanlingensis has a narrow and inconspicuous occipital cephalic lamella, while the cephalic lamella of S. sichuanensis is well developed, but thin and almost translucent lamella. The fourth abdominal sternite in S. nanlingensis is reticulate-rugose, while in S. sichuanensis it is transversely striate.

Distribution
Guangdong, China.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Biology
This species nests in deadwood of ranch on ground in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, at the altitude of 1075 m.

Nomenclature

 * . Gnamptogenys nanlingensis Chen, Lattke & Zhou, in Chen, et al. 2017: 100, figs. 11-14 (w.) CHINA (Guangdong).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 4 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype China: Guangdong, Nanling National Nature Reserve, 24°54’38’’N, 113°01’23’’E, 1075 m., 15.v.2015, no. G150025 (Z. Chen); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depositories: GNUC (holotype); GNUC, IZAS, SFCY (paratypes).
 * Combination in Stictoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Status as species: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Distribution: China.

Worker
Holotype. TL 5.34, HL 1.65, HW 1.45, CI 87, SL 1.23, SI 85, ED 0.15, PW 1.21, MSL 2.11, PL 0.44, PH 1.05, DPW 0.66, LPI 238, DPI 150.

In full-face view head trapezoid, longer than broad and widened posteriorly, posterior margin broadly concave, posterior corner rounded, lateral margin almost straight. Mandible triangular, masticatory margin crenulate. Anterior margin of clypeus with convex to bluntly pointed median lobe. Antennal scape just reaching posterior corner of head. Eye small, with 9 ommatidia along maximum diameter, situated on the midpoint of cephalic lateral margin.

In lateral view posterior corner of head with small narrow, non-translucent lamella. Dorsum of mesosoma strongly convex. Promesonotal suture obvious. Propodeum without denticle, posterodorsal corner rounded. Petiole roughly trapezoid, about 2.25 times higher than long, dorsal margin weakly convex, anterior and posterior margin straight; subpetiolar process broadly triangular. Sting extruding.

In dorsal view pronotal humeral angle well-developed but not protuberant; lateral margin of pronotum almost straight, anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Metanotal groove inconspicuous. Petiole anterior corner rounded, posterior corner blunt.

Mandible and clypeus with longitudinally fine striae; head, side of mesonotum, petiole and third abdominal tergite rugulose-foveolate; middle part of mesonotum with five longitudinal striae; pronotum, propleuron and propodeum irregularly rugulose; fourth abdominal tergite finely rugulose-punctate, sternite densely coarsely punctate; propodeal declivity with 7–8 transverse striae. Head, mesosoma, petiolar node and gaster with abundant sub-erect hairs and sparse decumbent pubescence; mandible with decumbent hairs; scape and tibiae with sparse sub-decumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Body color black; mandible, antenna, and leg reddish-brown.

Paratype (n=3). TL 5.30–5.37, HL 1.62–1.66, HW 1.44–1.46, CI 86–88, SL 1.21–1.24, SI 82–85, ED 0.14–0.15, PW 1.20–1.22, MSL 2.10–2.13, PL 0.43–0.44, PH 1.03–1.05, DPW 0.63–0.66, LPI 237–239, DPI 148–151. As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype. worker. CHINA: Guangdong, Nanling National Nature Reserve, 24°54'38"N, 113°01'23"E, 1075m, 15.V.2015, leg. Zhilin Chen, No. G150025. Paratypes. 4 workers, data the same as holotype. [1 worker holotype and 2 workers paratype specimens are deposited in ; 1 worker paratype will be deposited in ; 1 worker paratype will be deposited.

Etymology
This species is named after its type-locality, “Nanling” National Nature Reserve of Guangdong Province, China.