Ponera taiyangshen

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Terayama (2009) - In Taiwan, separated from Ponera tamon by the rectangular petiolar node (in profile) of Ponera taiyangshen. Appears more closely related Ponera japonica, a species distributed from Hokkaido to Kyushu in Japan. However, it is separated from japonica by the longer head with concave dorsal margin.

Leong et al. (2019) - Worker: This species is characterized by a short antennal scape; a posterior margin of head moderately concave; a petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and rectangular, the anterodorsal corner slightly higher than the posterodorsal corner; and a subpetiolar teeth distinctly visible. Ponera taiyangshen can be distinguished from Ponera yuhuang by the presence of a five segmented club, versus four-segmented club in Ponera yuhuang.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 *  taiyangshen. Ponera taiyangshen Terayama, 2009: 112, figs. 59-61 (w.) TAIWAN.

Worker
Holotype. Head microreticulate, 1.21 times as long as wide, with concave posterior margin and parallel sides. Antennal scape short, not reaching the posterior margin of head; SI = 73; club consist of 5 segments. Eye small.

Alitrunk with straight dorsal margin; posterodorsal corner of propodeum dully angulate. Petiolar node rectangular, with parallel anterior and posterior margins and weakly convex dorsal margin; posterodorsal corner forming an angle; in dorsal view, dorsal disc with convex anterior margin and straight posterior margin. Subpetiolar process with dorsoventral teeth.

Measurements (mm). HL 0.50, HW 0.41, SL 0.30, WL 0.69, PL 0.16, PH 0.30, DPW 0.24, TL 2.1.

Color. Brown; head darker than alitrunk; mandible, antenna and legs yellow.

Leong et al. (2019) - Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular and distinctly longer than broad (CI: 81–87), moderately concave posterior margin, convex lateral margins, and rounded posterolateral corners,. Eye small; composed of a total of 4–5 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with blunt medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible with a series of about ten indistinct denticles, and three large on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 15% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.17: 1.77: 2.60: 3.58 (n=15).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex. Pronotum in dorsal view arched, with acutely convex anterior margin and moderately convex lateral margins. Metanotal groove distinct with a fine suture. Lateral mesopleural suture distinct and fine. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad, with straight lateral margins. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum angular, propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 125 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view arched, with broadly convex anterior margin and slightly concave posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and rectangular, with straight anterior margin and slightly convex posterior margin, anterodorsal corner forming a right angle, posterodorsal corner moderately convex with a projection, anterodorsal corner slightly higher than posterodorsal corner. Subpetiolar process with small and suboval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, almost straight ventral margin, posterovental corner concave with small teeth. Third abdominal tergum broader than long (ATI: 85–96) with slightly convex anterior and posterior margins, and slightly convex lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Mesosomal dorsum evenly punctate. Mesopleuron with weakly striate lower portion and sparsely punctate upper portion. Metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum striate, but especially smooth in the portion contained between metapleuron and propodeum. Propodeal declivity smooth and shining. Lateral face of petiole evenly punctate, posterior face smooth, dorsum with few punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments evenly punctate, other segments smooth and shining with few punctures.

Pubescence. Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum and lateral face of petiole with few short hairs. Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node, gastral sterna and posterior half of gastral terga with many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

Color. Body color black brown. Mandible, clypeus, antennae, legs, and apex of metasoma lighter.

Queen
Leong et al. (2019) - (n=2): HL 0.56; HW 0.48–0.49; SL 0.36; A06L 0.02; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.04; A09L 0.05; A10L 0.07; PrW 0.42; WL 0.89–0.90; PeH 0.37–0.38; PeNL 0.17–0.18; PeW 0.29; ATL 0.47–0.48; ATW 0.50–0.51; CI 85–87, SI 73–76, PeI 68, LPeI 46, DPeI 164–168, ATI 91–96.

Head. Similar to worker caste, but with large and circular Eye, maximum diameter of each eye about 0.13 mm with about 10 ommatidia along the maximum diameter. Three ocelli present and forming an equilateral triangle. Antennal scape similar to worker; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.20: 1.60: 2.31: 2.96 (n=2).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex. Pronotum in dorsal view pentagonal, with bluntly convex anterior margin, acutely convex posterior margin, slightly convex lateral margins. Scutum subpentagonal. Transcutal suture distinct and fine. Scutellum subrectangular with moderately convex anterior margin and straight posterior margin. Anapleural sulcus indistinct and weakly incised. Propodeal-metapleural suture indistinct. Propodeal dorsum broad, with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner angular; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 125 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view very thin and subrectangular, with slightly convex anterior margin and almost straight posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view moderately thick and subtrapezoidal, with straight anterior margin and convex posterior margin. Subpetiolar process with small and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, almost straight ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of small teeth. The third abdominal segment similar to worker caste (ATI: 91–96).

Sculpture. Mostly like worker caste, but the sculpture more increase especially in the lateral view of mesosoma.

Pubescence. Similar to worker caste.

Color. Similar to worker caste.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Taipingshan, Yilan Pref., 28. vii. -2. viii. 1988. 11 workers, same data as the holotype.

Leong et al. (2019): Type material examined: TAIWAN. Holotype. Worker, Taipingshan, Yilan Pref., 28 VII to 2 VIII 1988. Paratypes. 5 workers, Taipingshan, Yilan Pref., 28 VII to 2 VIII 1988 (: LCM_MT-Ponera-22, LCM_MTPonera-23).

Etymology
The specific epithet is the Chinese noun Taiyangshen, which is the name of a Taiwanese god.