Proceratium zhaoi

Specimens have been collected the soil in deciduous broad-leaf forest.

Identification
The new species is close to Proceratium itoi, but occipital margin straight, frontal carinae suberect and without laterally expended frontal lobes, mandible with 4 teeth, subpetiolar process large and roughly rectangular, body smaller. (Xu 2000)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  zhaoi. Proceratium zhaoi Xu, 2000c: 435, figs. 3-10 (w.q.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.4, HL O.62, HW O.52, CI 84, SL O.34, SI 65, PW O.38, AL 0.70, ED 0.03, ML 0.30, PL 0.22, DPW 0.23, PH 0.28. Head roughly rectangular, slightly longer than broad and slightly narrowed forward. Occipital margin straight, occipital corners rounded. Lateral side weakly convex. Frontal carinae suberect, without laterally expended frontal lobes. Antennal sockets completely exposed. Anterior margin of clypeus with a triangular projection in the middle. Mandible with 4 teeth. Antenna stout, apex ofscape reaching to 112 of the distance from antennal socket to occipital corner, segments 3-11 broader than long. Eye minute, with only 1 facet. In profile view dorsum of alitrunk complete and weakly convex, lowed down backward, without sutures. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly angled, without tooth, declivity depressed. Metapleural lobe rounded at apex. In profile view petiolar node thick, narrowed upward and inclined backward, anterior and dorsal faces weakly convex, anterodorsal corner higher than posterodorsal corner. Subpetiolar process large and roughly rectangular, with a posteriorly pointed tooth. In dorsal view petiolar node transverse and broader than long, narrowed forward. Mandibles finely and longitudinally striate. Head, alltrunk, petiole and gaster finely and densely punctured, relatively dim. Head, body and appendages with dense decumbent pubescence, but without hairs. Body in color yellowish brown.

Paratypes. TL 2.0-2.5, HL O.60-0.64, HW O.52-0.56, CI 86-90, SL O.32-0.34, SI 61-65, PW 0.34-0.38, AL 0.66-0.74, ED 0.02-0.03, ML 0.28-0.34, PL 0.20-0.24, DPW 0.22-0.26, PH O.26-0.30 (n = 6). As holotype, but subpetiolar process rectangular to triangular.

Queen
Paratypes. TL 3.0-3.3, HL O.70-0.72, HW O.60-0.64, CI 86-89, SL O.36-0.38, SI 58-61, PW 0.48-0.50, AL 0.94-1.00, ED 0.12-0.14, ML 0.30-0:38, PL 0.24-O. 32, DPW O.26-0.30, PH O.34-0.40 (n = 5). As holotype worker but body much larger. Occipital margin slightly emarginate. Eyes large, with ocelli. Alitrunk massive and winged, dorsum weakly convex. Propodeum with a pair of blunt teeth. Subpetiolar process triangular. Body in color yellowish brown, eyes and ocellar area black.

Type Material
Holotype worker, No.A97-2338, 1280 m, Papo Village, Meng' a Town, Menghai County, Yunnan Province, collected in a soil sample in deciduous broad-leaf forest, 10. IX. 1997. (XU Zheng-Hui). Paratypes 1 worker, with same data as holotype; 5 workers and 24 alate females, with same data as holotype but No. A97-2380, collected from a nest which containing 45 individuals in a soil sample.

Etymology
This new species is named after Mr. ZHAO Qing-Shan (South Institute of Forest Plant Quarantine, Department of Forestry of China, Yiyang, Jiangxi Province) for his contribution in translation "The Fauna of British India Including Ceylon and Burma. Hymenoptera. Volume II. Ants and Cuckoo-wasps" from English into Chinese for the Chinese readers.