Stictoponera sichuanensis

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Lattke (2004) - The following traits serve to separate Stictoponera from China that could be confused with S. sichuanensis. Stictoponera panda is distinguished by the anteromedian irregular strigae on the pronotum, the irregularly strigose mesopleuron, and the more weakly impressed mesopleural suture. The postpetiolar strigae lack anterior anastomization and the lateral rugulae of the fourth abdominal segment are lower, not as prominent. Stictoponera taivanensis can be separated from S. sichuanensis by its lack of an occipital lobe and the presence of short propodeal denticles. The postpetiolar dorsum of S. taivanensis is mostly longitudinally strigulose-punctate compared with the posterior thinning of the rugulae into very low transverse to arching strigulae in S. sichuanensis. The dorsum of the second gastric segment of S. taivanensis is mostly smooth with abundant punctae and occasional traces of longitudinal striae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Queen and male are unknown.

Nomenclature

 * . Gnamptogenys sichuanensis Lattke, 2004: 221, fig. 62 (w.) CHINA (Sichuan).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 1 paratype worker.
 * Type-locality: holotype China: Szechwan (= Sichuan), nr Muping, 6000 ft., vii.1929 (D.C. Graham); paratype with same data but spelled Szechuen.
 * Type-depositories: USNM (holotype); MCZC (paratype).
 * Combination in Stictoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Status as species: Zhou & Ran, 2010: 103; Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 27; Chen, et al. 2017: 110 (in key); Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Distribution: China.

Occipital lobe well developed in lateral view, with thin, almost translucent lamella. Promesonotum longitudinally rugose-punctate; pronotal side and mesopleuron with parallel longitudinal strigae; postpetiolar dorsum anterad with anastomizing rugae.

Brown (1958:300, Fig. 18) misidentified the present two specimens of S. sichuanensis as S. panda.

Worker
Metrics. [Holotype] Paratype: HL [1.37] 1.35, HW [1.24] 1.23, ML [0.72] 0.71, SL [1.10] 1.13, ED [0.15] 0.16, WL [1.70] 1.78 mm. CI [0.91] 0.91, SI [0.89] 0.92, MI [0.58] 0.58, OI [0.12] 0.13. Head with posterior margin straight to weakly concave in dorsal view; anterior clypeal margin convex; clypeus anterolaterally with longitudinal strigulae, rugose-punctate posterad; frontal triangle U-shaped, with smooth bottom; longitudinal strigulae arch posterad over eyes becoming rugose-punctate laterally, frons laterally longitudinally strigulose, areolate toward vertex; posterior cephalic margin convex in lateral view; occipital lobes well developed, with thin, almost translucent lamella. Humeral angle well developed, not protuberant, without shallow posterior sulcus, laterally with longitudinal strigae separated by broad sulci, with anteroventral blunt angle and posteroventral rounded lobe; pronotal dorsum longitudinally rugose-punctate, rugae more continuous medially than laterally; promesonotal suture partially impressed, not breaking sculpture; mesopleuron longitudinally strigose, mesopleural suture well defined; mesosomal dorsum with dense longitudinal strigae, strigae irregular on propodeum; propodeum rugose-punctate, declivituous face with transverse carinae, rest smooth; mesosoma evenly convex until propodeal declivity in lateral view, declivity vertical, slightly convex.

Petiolar node rugose-punctate; subpetiolar process broadly triangular in lateral view, ventrally not cuneiform; postpetiolar dorsum with anterior anastomizing rugae, rugae diverging and less prominent posterad, posteromedially with arching strigulae, laterally with parallel strigae; sternite transversely strigose-punctate; postpetiolar process forms two contiguous convex lobes in ventral view, with median cleft and brief median carinae; fourth abdominal tergite with patches of longitudinal striae centered around punctae on smooth background, posterior margin strigulose-striate; sternite transversely strigose. Fore coxae laterally transversely strigose; fore tarsal dorsum punctate, with abundant pilosity; basal concavity with row of stout setae; metacoxal tooth low, triangular. Dorsum of thorax and abdominal segments 1-4 with scattered erect to subdecumbent hairs. Body with abundant golden decumbent pilosity; body brown; legs, antennae, and mandibles ferruginous brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker. China, Szechwan [Sichuan], near Muping, 6000ft [1829m], July 1929, D.C. Graham leg. Deposited in. Paratype. Same data as holotype, but Sichuan is spelled "Szechuen," 1 worker in.

Etymology
The species name is derived from the name of the province that contains the type locality: Sichuan.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chen P., Y. Su, S. S. Rao, Y. F. Long, and C. H. Du. 2012. Study on the ant diversity in different Illicium verum stands. Journal of West China Forestry Science 41(1): 60-68.