Lioponera bispinata

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Chen & Zhou (2016) - The worker of new species may be confused with Lioponera suscitata, but in full-face view head is sub-rectangular, almost equally as long as broad (CI 91) in L. bispinatus while in L. suscitatus head is rectangular, distinct longer than broad (CI 81); in dorsal view petiole, is distinctly broader than long, posterior margin continous, with trapezoid posterior face of petiole, posterolateral margins of petiole forming a pair of short distinct blunt spines in L. bispinatus, while petiole is rectangular, distinctly longer than broad, posterior margin demarcated, posterolateral margins of petiole without denticles or spines in L. suscitatus.

The worker of L. bispinatus is also similar to Lioponera hewitti, but can be easily distinguished from the later by lateral surfaces of head and mesosoma with dense scattered fovea, while in L. suscitatus lateral surfaces of head and mesosoma are smooth and shiny with widely spaced piligerous fovea.

Distribution
The only material of this species, the type series, is from Guangxi, China.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  bispinata. Cerapachys bispinatus Chen & Zhou, in Chen, Shi & Zhou, 2016: 3, figs 1-10 (w.q.) CHINA.
 * Unpublished combination in Lioponera implied by Borowiec, 2016.

Taxonomic Notes
This species was described in the genus Cerapachys. However, the recent revision of the subfamily Dorylinae (Borowiec, 2016) redefines these genera and this species would appear to belong to Lioponera rather than Cerapachys.

Worker
Holotype. TL 6.09, HL 1.21, HW 1.10, CI 91, SL 0.79, SI 75, ED 0.31, PW 0.85, MSL 1.54, PL 0.71, PH 0.78, DPW 0.85, LPI 109, DPI 120. Paratypes. TL 6.01–6.21, HL 1.20–1.25, HW 1.02–1.13, CI 88–94, SL 0.76–0.82, SI 73–78, ED 0.31–0.32, PW 0.83–0.87, MSL 1.52–1.57, PL 0.71–0.73, PH 0.75–0.79, DPW 0.83–0.88, LPI 103–111, DPI 117–123. (n = 12).

In full-face view head sub-rectangular, slightly longer than broad (CI 91), posterior margin straight, posterior corners angular, lateral margin distinctly convex, posterior ridge prominent. Mandible elongated triangular, masticatory margin dentate. Clypeus more or less flat between the elevated frontal lobes; frontal carinae very short, constricted behind the frontal lobes; anterior clypeal margin with convex to bluntly pointed median lobe. Scape short, antenna 12-jointed, reaching posterior margin of eyes. Eyes large, situated at the middle of lateral margins of head.

In lateral view occiput lamella of head forming blunt point. Coarse, broad and deep scrobes extend from the base of mandible to the anterior margin of the eye. Dorsum of mesosoma moderately convex. Promesonotal suture reaching up to 3/5 of dorsal margin of mesosoma. Declivity of propodeum with distinct cariniform margins; propodeal declivity weakly concave. Petiole roughly trapezoidal, anterior surface sinuate, dorsal surface and posterior surfaces convex, anterodorsal corner angular. Subpetiolar process prominent, broad triangular, fenestra present. Sting extruding.

In dorsal view mesosoma constricted at mesothorax, distinctly widened posteriorly, anterior margin with ridge. Promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Petiole distinctly broader than long, with overhanging dorsolateral margins, anterior margin concave, lateral margins almost subparallel, posterior margin continues, backward descends into a trapezoid, posterolateral corners of petiole projected into short blunt spines.

Almost whole body densely foveate; mandibles finely rugulose with scattered piligerous punctures; gena irregularly coarsely rugulose and suture finely rugulose; mesopleuron and lateral surfaces of petiole smooth and shiny; petiole transversely finely rugose. Anterior margin of clypeus with seven macrosetae, masticatory margin with a row macrosetae. Head, mesosoma, petiolar node and gaster with abundant suberect hairs; mesopedes and metapedes with abundant decumbent pubescence. Scape and tibiae with sparse sub-erect hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Body black; mandible and clypeusdark brown; antenna and legs reddish-brown.

Queen
Paratype. TL 6.09, HL 1.21, HW 1.05, CI 97, SL 0.84, SI 70, ED 0.39, PW 1.11, MSL 1.91, PL 0.80, PH 0.81, DPW 0.94, LPI 101, DPI 175.

With similar morphological characters as worker, but relatively larger, three ocelli on vertex (two lateral and one median) distinct. Scape short, antenna 12-jointed, reaching the posterior margin of median ocellus. In lateral view oblique mesopleural furrow, promesonotal suture and metanotal groove distinct. In dorsal view lateral margins of mesosoma parallel; notaulus and scutoscutellar suture obvious; metanotum crescent-shaped.

Etymology
The species is named after its character of posterolateral corners of petiole forming a pair of short blunt spines.