Stictoponera panda

The types were found in bamboo humus on a ridge summit. Individuals were observed moving slowing and freezing on disturbance.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - The frontal triangle of G. panda is deeper than in Stictoponera sichuanensis and Stictoponera taivanensis. These two species have broader, more triangular metacoxal teeth than S. panda and more regularly shaped strigulae on the propodeal declivity. The relatively broad lateroventral granulose area on the pronotum of S. panda is not found in S. sichuanensis or S. taivanensis.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Queen and male are unknown.

Nomenclature

 * . Stictoponera panda Brown, 1948a: 263 (w.) CHINA (Sichuan).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 1 paratype worker.
 * Type-locality: holotype China: Szechuan (= Sichuan) Prov., W Kuanhsien, nr Chao Kung Mt, 4.ix.1945 (W.L. Brown); paratype with same data.
 * Type-depositories: MCZC (holotype); USNM (paratype).
 * Combination in Gnamptogenys: Brown, 1958g: 228;
 * combination in Stictoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Status as species: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 30; Brown, 1958g: 228, 300; Wang, M. 1992: 677; Wu, J. & Wang, 1992: 1302; Bolton, 1995b: 210; Wu, J. & Wang, 1995: 37; Zhou, 2001b: 34; Zhang, W. & Zheng, 2002: 218; Lattke, 2004: 219 (redescription); Zhou, 2006: 579; Zhou & Ran, 2010: 102; Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 27; Chen, et al. 2017: 109 (in key); Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Distribution: China.

Lattke (2004):

Head with occipital lamella forming blunt point in lateral view; anterior clypeal margin with median convex to bluntly pointed lobe; humeral angles prominent, upturned with parallel posterior convexity.

Brown (1948) described the type locality as the summit of a ridge near Chao Kung Mountain between 1524 and 2286m, 1.5 days travel on foot west of Guan Xian (Kuanshien). Guan Xian (31/00'N 103/37'E) is in Sichuan. The ants were found in bamboo humus on a ridge summit and were observed as moving slowing, freezing on disturbance. Brown (1958) mentioned seeing additional specimens of G. panda, but study of these specimens showed them to be Stictoponera sichuanensis. S. panda is also mentioned in Wu and Wang (1992, 1995). Wang (1992) reported this species from an altitude of 1050m in the Wuling Mountains of southwestern China. The altitude on the USNM specimen label is partially illegible, probably 6000 ft. The altitude on the holotype label is also partially illegible and may be 7000 ft.

Worker
Lattke (2004) - Metrics. [Holotype] Paratype: HL [1.28] 1.24, HW [1.14] 1.11, ML [0.61] 0.64, SL [1.12] 1.09, ED [0.12] 0.11, WL [1.70] 1.60 mm. CI [0.89] 0.90, SI [0.98] 0.98, MI [0.54] 0.54, OI [0.11] 0.10. Head with broadly concave posterior margin in frontal view; anterior margin of clypeus with convex to bluntly pointed median lobe; clypeus longitudinally strigulose with shallow median sulcus, laterally and posteriorly strigulose-punctate; frontal triangle oval, laterally bordered by arching sulcus; head with occipital lamella forming blunt point in lateral view. Humeral angle prominent, upturned with parallel posterior convexity, pronotal dorsum irregularly strigose, pronotum irregularly strigose laterally, lateroventrally convex, dull and granulate sculpture separated from shiny rugosity by longitudinal crest at height of mesopleural sulcus, promesonotal suture distinct; mesonotum longitudinally strigulose; mesopleuron strigose, metapleuron longitudinally strigulose; propodeal declivity transversely strigulose, propodeal dorsum irregularly strigose. Mesosoma with convex dorsal margin in lateral view, pronotum slightly higher, with brief vertical drop to mesonotum, propodeal declivity concave.

Postpetiolar process forms two contiguous convexities in ventral view with brief posteromedian carinae; postpetiole and fourth abdominal sternite transversely strigulose-punctate, strigulae on side of fourth abdominal segment not as prominent as on dorsum; fore tarsal base with row of stout setae; procoxa laterally transversely strigulose. Dorsum of thorax and abdominal segments 1-4 with relatively short, scattered erect to subdecumbent hairs. Metacoxal tooth relatively low, apically parallel sided.

Type Material
Lattke (2004) - Holotype worker: China, Szechwan [Sichuan], Chao Kung Mt. (Brown) [Examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Staab M., A. Schuldt, T. Assmann, H. Bruelheide, and A.M. Klein. 2014. Ant community structure during forest succession in a subtropical forest in South-East China. Acta Oecologia 61: 32-40.
 * Zhou S.-Y. 2001. Ants of Guangxi. Guangxi Normal University Press, Guilin, China, Guilin, China. 255 pp.