Polyrhachis rotoccipita

The type material was collected from karst monsoon forest, seasonal rain forest and semi-evergreen monsoon forest.

Identification
Xu (2000) - This new species is close to Polyrhachis rastellata, but has black legs; petiolar node with median teeth longer than lateral ones.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  rotoccipita. Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) rotoccipita Xu, 2002b: 528, figs. 30-33 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 5.3, HL 1.40, HW 1.35, CI 96, SL 1.85, SI 137, PW 1.05, AL 1.75, ED 0.40, MTL 2. 25. Head slightly longer than broad, roughly triangular. Occipital margin roundly convex. occipital corners rounded. Lateral sides evenly convex. Mandibles with 5 teeth. Clypeus evenly convex. without longitudinal central carina, anterior margin with a pair of small denticles and straight between the denticles. Antennae long, scape surpassing occipital corner by about 2/3 of its length. Eyes placed at occipital corners. In profile view, dorsum of alitrunk strongly convex, promesonotal suture distinct, metanotal groove absent. Propodeum unarmed, dorsum and declivity separated by a roundly blunt convex. In dorsal view, shoulders of pronotum rounded. In front view, lateral teeth of petiolar node short and acute, median teeth elongate and slender, spine-like and longer than lateral ones. In profile view, petiolar node triangular, ith median teeth bent backward. Mandibles finely punctured, relatively dull. Head, alitrunk, petiole and gaster with weak micro-reticulation, relatively shiny. The whole body with abundant depressed short pubescence. Anterior portion of head, ventral face and apex of gaster with spares suberect hairs, mesonotum with a pair of erect hairs. Occiput, pronotum, propodeum, petiole and dorsum of first gastral segment without erect hairs. Scapes, femora and tibiae without erect hairs. The whole body black, with blackish blue metallic luster, eyes yellowish brown, legs black. Hairs grayish white.

Paratypes. TL 5.2-5.6, HL 1.40-1.65, HW 1.35-1.55, CI 93-97, SL1.85-2.15, SI 135-146, PW 1.05-1.30, AL 1.75-2.10, ED 0.40-0.45, MTL 2.25- 2.60 (5 measured). As holotype, but in some individuals mesonotum without erect hairs.

Type Material
The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collections, Faculty of Resources. Southwest Forestry College. Kunming. Yunnan Province, China.

Holotype: worker, No. A97-2836, 830 m, Shihuishan Mountain, Menglun Town, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, IX.16.1997, collected by Dr. Xu Zheng-Hui in karst monsoon forest. Paratypes: 3 workers, with same data as holotype; 5 workers. No. A97-3140, 790 m, Bubang Village, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, XII.13.1997, collected by Mr. Hu Gang in seasonal rain forest; 1 worker. No. A97-1641. 900 m, Manzhuang Village, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, VIII.14.1997, collected by Mr. He Yun-Feng in semi-evergreen monsoon forest; 3 workers, with same data as No. A97-1641, but No. A97-1628; 2 workers, No. A96-728, 750 m, Huihancun Village, Mengla County, Yunnan Province. III.10.1996. collected by Miss Chen Zhi-Ping in seasonal rain forest.