Protanilla concolor

This species has been found nesting in forest soils in high altitude mountain areas (Xu 2002).

Identification
Xu (2002) - Close to Protanilla rafflesi, but with body larger, head relatively broader, and scape comparatively shorter.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  concolor. Protanilla concolor Xu, 2002a: 118, figs. 18-20 (w.) CHINA. See also: Xu & Zhang, 2002: 140.

Borowiec et al. (2011) - In the catalogue of Bolton et al. (2007) the names Leptanilla yunnanensis, Protanilla bicolor and Protanilla concolor are attributed to Xu & Zhang, 2002, who provided a key to differentiate the leptanilline species found in China, and not to Xu, 2002, who formally described the three species. This stems from the publication dates available for the two papers, with the Xu & Zhang paper predating the formal descriptions, according to imprint. However, the latest edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999) provides regulations (Articles 16.1, 16.4) that do not allow considering the Xu & Zhang treatment as a publication of valid new names. According to article 16.4, each name published after 1999 must be accompanied by explicit type designation along with information on the place of deposition. Additionally, article 16.1 states that each new name published after 1999 must be explicitly indicated as intentionally new. The Xu & Zhang paper of 2002 does not meet the above mentioned requirements, and therefore the correct authorship of Leptanilla yunnanensis, Protanilla bicolor and P. concolor is Xu, 2002. (Borowiec et al., 2011)

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.9, HL 0.57, HW 0.47, CI 82, SL 0.47, SI 100, PW 0.38, AL 0.80, PNL 0.22, PNW 0.23, PNH 0.33, PPNL 0.20, PPNW 0.26, PPNH 0.34. Head longer than broad, narrowed forward. In full-face view occipital margin weakly emarginate. Occipital corners rounded. Lateral sides of head roundly convex and constricted at the antennal socket position. Clypeus with a depressed longitudinal central line, anterior margin straight. Mandibles long triangular and curved down at apex, masticatory margin with 13 peg-like teeth. Scape of antenna surpassed occipital corner by about 1/10 of its length, segments 4-10 about as broad as long. In profile view promesonotum higher than propodeum, mesothorax weakly constricted. Promesonotal suture distinct, metanotal groove shallowly depressed. Dorsum of propodeum straight and longer than declivity, posterodorsal corner rounded. In profile view petiolar node narrowed upward, anterior face straight, dorsal and posterior faces convex, anterodorsal corner roundly prominent and higher than posterodorsal corner, the latter rounded. Anteroventral corner of petiolar sternite bluntly extruded, with a circular subtransparent fovea. Postpetiolar node inclined forward, anterodorsal corner roundly prominent, sternite higher than long and inclined forward. In dorsal view both petiolar node and postpetiolar node transverse and broader than long, narrowed forward. First segment of gaster large, about 3/5 as long as gaster. Mandibles sparsely and finely punctured. Head, alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole and gaster smooth and shining, Head and body with sparse suberect hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence. Scapes and tibiae with sparse erect hairs and dense pubescence. Body in color reddish brown. Mandibles and clypeus yellow. Antennae and legs light yellowish brown.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, No. A98-993, 1980 m, Peak of Nangongshan Mountain, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, collected from a soil sample of the mossy evergreen broad-leaf forest, 1998.III.16 (Xu Zhenghui).

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.
 * Xu Z. H. 2002. A systematic study on the ant subfamily Leptanillinae of China (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Acta Entomologica Sinica 45: 115-120.
 * Xu Z. 2002. A systematic study on the ant subfamily Leptanillinae of China (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Acta Entomologica Sinica 45(1): 115-120.