Leptanilla yunnanensis

The type material was collected from a colony constructing a nest in soil in a deciduous broad-leaf forest. A queen and 25 workers were found.

Identification
Xu (2002) - This new species is close to Leptanilla thai, but in dorsal view lateral sides of pronotum roundly convex, both petiolar node and postpetiolar node are tranverse and broader than long; in profile view petiolar node roughly rectangular, sternite of petiole bluntly angled in ventral direction.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  yunnanensis. Leptanilla yunnanensis Xu, 2002a: 116, figs. 10-15 (w.q.) CHINA. See also: Xu & Zhang, 2002: 142.

Borowiec et al. (2011) - In the catalogue of Bolton et al. (2007) the names Leptanilla yunnanensis, Protanilla bicolor and Protanilla concolor are attributed to Xu & Zhang, 2002, who provided a key to differentiate the leptanilline species found in China, and not to Xu, 2002, who formally described the three species. This stems from the publication dates available for the two papers, with the Xu & Zhang paper predating the formal descriptions, according to imprint. However, the latest edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999) provides regulations (Articles 16.1, 16.4) that do not allow considering the Xu & Zhang treatment as a publication of valid new names. According to article 16.4, each name published after 1999 must be accompanied by explicit type designation along with information on the place of deposition. Additionally, article 16.1 states that each new name published after 1999 must be explicitly indicated as intentionally new. The Xu & Zhang paper of 2002 does not meet the above mentioned requirements, and therefore the correct authorship of Leptanilla yunnanensis, Protanilla bicolor and P. concolor is Xu, 2002.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.44, HL 0.30, HW 0.24, CI 80, SL 0.14, SI 58, PW 0.16, AL 0.36, PNL 0.08, PNW 0.11, PNH 0.12, PPNL 0.08, PPNW 0.13, PPNH 0.14.

Head longer than broad, roughly rectangular, narrowed forward. In full-face view occipital margin shallowly emarginate, occipital corners roundly prominent. Lateral sides weakly convex, anterolateral corners rounded. Anterior margin of clypeus weakly convex and complete. Anterior portion of head convex between antennal sockets. Mandible with 3 teeth, the large apical tooth followed by 2 small teeth. Antenna 12-segmented, apex of scape reached to 1/2 of the distance from antennal socket to occipital corner, segments 3-11 broader than long. In profile view dorsum of alitrunk relatively straight, promesonotal suture distinct, metanotal groove absent. In profile view petiolar node roughly rectangular, anterodorsal and posterodorsal corners blunt and distinct, dorsum slightly convex. Sternite of petiole roughly triangular, bluntly angled in ventral direction. Postpetiolar node also rectangular and similar to petiolar node in profile view, sternite of postpetiole large and anteroventrally pointed, rounded at apex. In dorsal view petiolar node roughly rectangular and broader than long, postpetiolar node broader than long and narrowed forward. Head, alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole and gaster smooth and shining. Head and body with sparse subdecumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Appendages with dense decumbent pubescence. Body in color orange yellow.

Paratypes. TL 1.2-1.4, HL 0.28-0.30, HW 0.23-0.24, CI 79-86, SL 0.13-0.14, SI 57-58, PW 0.16, AL 0.34- 0.36, PNL 0.07-0.08, PNW 0.11, PNH 0.11- 0.13, PPNL 0.07-0.08, PPNW 0.12-0.13, PPNH 0.14-0.15 ( n = 5). As holotype.

Queen
Paratype. TL 2.3, HL 0.36, HW 0.31, CI 89, SL 0.14, SI 45, PW 0.23, AL 0.58, PNL 0.14, PNW 0. 22, PNH 0.15 (n = 1).

Similar to holotype worker, but body much larger. Occipital margin distinctly emarginate, anterior margin of clypeus straight. Three mandiblular teeth located on the apical half of the masticatory margin. Pedicel with only 1 segment, petiolar node much broader than long in dorsal view. Gaster very large, unsegmented cerci present. Head and body with abundant subdecumbent hairs.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, No. A97-2306, 1600 m, Papo Village, Meng’a Town, Menghai County, Yunnan Province, from a colony constructing nest in soil in deciduous broad-leaf forest, 1997.IX.9 (Xu Zhenghui). Paratypes: 13 workers and 1 female, from the same colony as the holotype and with the same data.