Protanilla lini

Biological notes, based on both field and laboratory observations, are provided by Hsu, P.-W. et al. (2017).

Identification
Terayama (2009) - Easily separated from the Chinese species; from Protanilla bicolor by the round petiole and postpetiole in dorsal view (petiole and postpetiole oval, and longer than wide, respectively, in bicolor), and the concolorous body (bicolored in bicolor), from Protanilla concolor by the reverse U-shaped petiolar node in profile (subtriangular in concolor), and round postpetiollar node in dorsal view (postpetiole short, wider than long in concolor), and from Protanilla furcomandibula by the thinner mandible (broader in furcomandibula), and the absence of lateroventral tooth of mandible (two lateroventral teeth present in furcomandibula).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan. Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  lini. Protanilla lini Terayama, 2009: 126, figs. 113-118 (w.) TAIWAN.

Worker
Holotype. Head long, smooth and shining, 1.26 times as long as wide, with almost straight posterior margin and convex sides in full face view. Mandible elongate-triangular, with about 10 peg-like denticles in ventral portion. In profile apical 1/3 of mandible curved ventrally. Anterior margin of clypeus concave at middle. Antenna with 12 segments; scape long, microreticulate, exceeding posterior margin of head, SI = 74; 2nd segment (pedicel) longer than wide, 3rd to 11th segments each almost as long as wide; terminal segment 2.3 times as long as wide. Eye lacking.

Alitrunk long and slender; pronotum smooth and shining; mesonotum thin, 0..5 times of width of pronotum in dorsal view; propodeum smooth and shining, with convex dorsal margin and convex posterodorsal corner in profile. Petiolar node higher than long, smooth and shining, with convex dorsal margin and almost straight anterior and posterior margins; in dorsal view, dorsal disc round, as long as wide; subpetiolar process low, bearing lobe-like. Postpetiole higher than long, and lower than petiole, with well convex dorsal and ventral margins; in dorsal view, dorsal disc round, as long as wide. Gaster largely smooth; in dorsal view, 1st gastral tergum with straight anterior margin and dully angulate anterolateral corners, 0.50 mm in maximum width.

HL 0.60, HW 0.48, SL 0.50, WL 0.93, PL 0.23, PH 0.33, DPW 0.23, PPL 0.23, PPH 0.33, PPW 0.24, TL 2.9.

Color. Body yellowish brown; antenna and legs somewhat yellowish.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Fusan, Taipei Pref., 18.iii. 1995, C.-C. Lin leg. Paratypes. 2 workers, same data as the holotype. Holotype in NIAES, and paratypes in the collection of the Social Insect Laboratory of NCUE.

Etymology
This species is named after the collector of this species. Dr. C.-C. Lin, who is a leading entomologist.