Leptogenys mengzii

Collected in forest habitats, little else is known about the biology of .

Identification
This new species is close to Leptogenys confucii, but with head densely punctate; lateral sides of head nearly parallel; body blackish brown to black. (Xu 2000)

Key to Leptogenys of China

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  mengzii. Leptogenys mengzii Xu, 2000a: 124, figs. 45-52 (w.q.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype: TL5.2, HL 1.10, HW 0.75, CI 68, SL 1.03, SI 138, PW 0.68, AL 1.63, ED 0.22, ML 0.57, PL 0.57, PH 0.63, DPW 0.43, LPI 112, DPI 76. Head distinctly longer than broad, nearly rectangular. Occipital margin straight, occipital carina obvious. Occipital corners rounded. Lateral sides of head relatively straight, slightly convex. Mandibles slender, inner margin without tooth, masticatory margin without tooth except the apical one, basal corner bluntly angled. Clypeus with sharp longitudinal central carina, median lobe extruding at apex. Scape of antenna surpassed occipital corner by about 1/3 of its length. Segments of flagellum longer than broad, the second and third joints equal. Eyes moderate large. In profile view dorsum of alitrunk notched at metanotal groove. Promesonotal suture distinct. Dorsum of propodeum straight for most of its length, about 2.5 times as long as declivity, declivity straight. In profile view petiolar node roughly trapezoid, lowering down forward, anterior face very short, slightly convex, about 1/3 as high as posterior face, posterior face straight, dorsal face evenly convex, anterodorsal corner rounded, posterodorsal corner roundly extruding. In dorsal view the node about as broad as long, length : width = 6 : 5, narrowed forward. Subpetiolar process nearly triangular, posteroventral corner dentate. Constriction between the two basal gastral segments distinct. Mandibles smooth, sparsely punctate. Clypeus longitudinally striate. Head densely punctate, surface between punctures smooth. Alitrunk longitudinally rugose and sparsely punctate, but pronotum, median portions of lateral sides of mesonotum and metanotum, and dorsum of propodeum smooth and shining. Petiolar node and gaster smooth and shining, but lateroposterior margin of petiolar node with coarse rugae and punctures. Dorsum of head and body with abundant erect long hairs and suberect short hairs, dorsum of head with dense decumbent pubescence. Scapes, femora and tibiae with sparse subdecumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Body black. Mandibles, clypeus, antennae, legs and gastral apex reddish brown.

Paratypes: TL 4.5-5.1, HL 1.03-1.05, HW 0.72-0.73, CI 68-71, SL 0.97--1.02, SI 132-142, PW 0.63-0.68, AL 1.50-1.53, ED 0.18-0.20, ML 0.47-0.50, PL 0.50-0.57, PH 0.60-0.63, DPW 0.40-0.43, LPI 112-120, DPI 71-83 (5 measured). As holotype, but body blackish brown to black.

Queen
Paratypes: TL 4.9-5.1, HL 1.07-1 .17, HW 0.77-0.83, CI 71-72, SL 0.90-1.00, SI 117-120, PW 0.67-0.70, AL 1.50-1.53, ED 0.18-0.20, ML 0.53-0.57, PL 0.43-0.50, PH 0.67-0.73, DPW 0.50-0.53, LPI 147-154, DPI 107-123 (3 measured). As holotype, but petiolar node anteroposteriorly compressed with width : length = 5 : 3 in dorsal view, antennae relatively shorter, gaster relatively larger.

Type Material
Holotype: Worker, No. A97-2249, 1 600 m, deciduous broad-leaf forest, Papo, Meng' a Town, Menghai County, Yunnan Province, Sep. 9, 1997, Xu Zheng-hui. Paratypes: 8 workers, with same data as holotype; 1 ergatogyne, with same data as holotype but No. A97-2250; 2 workers, 1 ergatogynes, No.A97-1176, 660 m, karst monsoon forest, Cuipingfeng, Menglun Town, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, Aug. 10, 1997, Zeng Guang; 7 workers, 1 ergatogyne, No. A98-945, 660 m, karst monsoon forest, Cuipingfeng, Menglun Town, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, Mar. 17, 1998, Zeng Guang; 8 workers, No. A98-72, 1 120 m, mountain rain forest, Guanping, Jinghong County, Yunnan Province, Mar. 5, 1998, Liu Tai-yong.