Stigmatomma mulanae

The monotypic genus Bannapone is only known from the holotype queen of mulanae. The specimen was collected from a soil sample in semi-evergreen monsoon forest.

Identification
Zu (2000) - Bannapone is distinctly a genus of the tribe Amblyoponini of the subfamily Ponerinae based on the articulation way of the petiole and the first gastral segment although known only from the dealate female caste. The 11-segmented antennae, the special mandible and the extremely small body size indicate the genus displays an isolate evolutionary way in the tribe. According to the features of the mandibles, the new genus is close to Prionopelta, but the 2 genera can be distinguished by the characters of mandibles, clypeus, antennae, and gaster. The new genus becomes the fifth living genera of the tribe Amblyoponini in Oriental and Indo-Australian Regions.

Distribution
Known only from Yunnan Province, China.

This taxon was described from China.

Castes
Workers and males have not been collected.

Nomenclature

 *  mulanae. Bannapone mulanae Xu, 2000b: 301, figs. 10-12 (q.) CHINA.

Queen
Holotype dealate female: TL 2.1, HL 0.38, HW 0.32, CI 84, SL 0.20, SI 63, PW 0.28, AL 0.58, ED 0.08, ML 0.30, PL 0.14, DPW 0.20, PH 0.19, LPI 136, DPI 105. Head rectangular and depressed, longer than broad, slightly broader anteriorly. Occipital margin weakly emarginate in the middle. Occipital corners roundly prominent. Lateral sides nearly straight. Mandibles long triangular, inner margin distinctly shorter than masticatory margin. Masticatory margin with 3 teeth, the apical tooth long and acute, bifid at most apex, then followed by 2 blunt finger-like teeth, which slightly expended at apex. Clypeus very narrow and transverse, anterior margin weakly convex. Antennae short, 11-segmented, apex of scape reached to 1/ 2 of the distance from antennal socket to occipital corner, funiculi 3- 9 broader than long. Eyes moderate large, situated at the midlength of the side of the head. Ocelli present. Alitrunk with full complement of flight sclerites and certainly winged when virgin. In profile view dorsum of alitrunk evenly convex. Dorsum of Propodeum slightly depressed, posterodorsal corner rounded, declivity depressed vertically. In profile view petiolar node roughly rectangular and higher than long, broadly attached to first gastral segment, anterodorsal corner roundly prominent. Subpetiolar process narrow, cuneiform. Gaster large, roughly cylindrical, segments with the similar length, constriction between the 2 basal segments indistinct. Sting long and functional. Mandibles finely rugulose, less shining .Head, alitrunk, petiole and gaster densely and finely punctured and relatively dull, gaster weakly punctured and more shining. Dorsum of head and body, and appendages with abundant decumbent pubescences, erect hairs very sparse and absent on scapes and tibiae. Body in color yellowish brown. Eyes, ocelli area and tegulae black.

Type Material
Holotype: dealate female, No.A98- 418, 900 m, Manzhuang Village, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, collected from a soil sample in semi-evergreen monsoon forest, 1998-III-10 ( LIU Tai-Yong). The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, Faculty of Resources, Southwest Forestry College, Kunming,Yunnan Province, P1 R1 China.