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.

Taxonomic Notes
Leong et al. (2019): A specimen collected from KiuShiu, Shiroyama, Japan, is mistakenly labeled as a type of Ponera scabra at (AntWeb images, specimen CASENT0915299). Ponera scabra was described from Mt. Maya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Santschi (1937: 364) identified the KiuShiu specimen as a gynecoid worker of P. scabra. However, this specimen can be easily identified as P. kohmoku Terayama, 1996 by the combination of the following characters: large compound eye (ca. 30 facets), distinct metanotal groove and subcircular petiolar node in dorsal view; in contrast to P. scabra, which has small compound eye (ca. 5 facets), an indistinct metanotal groove and an arched petiolar node in dorsal view. Thus, there are no records of gynecoid workers in Ponera after the exclusion of Santschi’s record.

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.

Leong et al. (2019): Type material examined: JAPAN. Paratypes, 6 workers and 1 dealate queen, Kurio, Yaku-shima, Kagoshima Pref., 23 III 1981, M Terayama leg (: LCM_MT-Ponera-13, LCM_MT-Ponera-14, LCM_MT-Ponera-15). 1 worker, Sata-Misaki, Kagoshima Pref., 10 III 1981, M Terayama leg (LCM_MT-Ponera-16).

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