Ponera takaminei

This rare species nests in the soil (Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification
Terayama (1996) - Easily separated from the other congeners in having the characteristic shape of petiolar node.

Leong et al. (2019) - Worker: Ponera takaminei is a large species (HW: 0.57–0.64 mm) that can be distinguished by its long antennal scape, a distinct metanotal groove, a petiolar node thick when observed in lateral view with upper portion of the posterior margin bulging, and with a convex posterior margin of the petiolar node in dorsal view.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan, Republic of Korea.

Nomenclature

 *  takaminei. Ponera takaminei Terayama, 1996: 11, figs. 7-9 (w.) JAPAN.

Worker
Holotype. Worker. HL 0.76mm; HW 0.65mm; SL 0.51 mm; CI 85; SI 79; WL 1.03 mm; PW 0.49 mm; PH 0.50 mm; PNL 0.30 mm; DPW 0.43 mm; PNI 88; TL 3.0 mm.

Head 1.17 x as long as wide, with gently convex sides and concave posterior margin in frontal view. Mandibles with 3 acute teeth occupying apical 1/3 of masticatory margin; remainder with very minute indistinct denticles. Clypeus with a distinct blunt median tooth. Eyes small, ca. 0.04 mm in diameter, each consisting of 4 or 5 indistinct facets. Antennae with 12 segments; scape not reaching the posterior margin of head; club not differentiated; terminal segment 1.6x as long as wide.

General form of alitrunk and petiole as in Fig; promesonotal suture distinctly incised; dorsal mesonotal-propodeal suture relatively weakly incised; posterolateral comers of propodeum dully angulate. Petiolar node thick and broad, with almost straight dorsal margin; dorsal length larger than that of basal length in profile; in dorsal view, disc 0.57 x as long as wide, with dully angulate posterolateral margins and concave posterior margin. Subpetiolar process with acute posterolateral teeth; fenestra oval.

Head and antennal scapes coarsely microreticulate; mandibles smooth and shining. Alitrunk, petiole and gaster coarsely microreticulate and punctate, excepting declivitous face of propodeum shining with scattered shallow punctures. Pubescence moderately abundant; erect or suberect hairs present on head, dorsa of alitrunk and petiolar node, and entire gaster.

Body reddish brown; clypeus yellowish; mandibles, antennae, legs and tip of gaster yellowish brown.

Leong et al. (2019) - (n=7): HL 0.68–0.75; HW 0.57–0.64; SL 0.47–0.52; A06L 0.04; A07L 0.04; A08L 0.06; A09L 0.08; A10L 0.09; PrW 0.44–0.50; WL 0.90–1.05; PeH 0.48–0.49; PeNL 0.27–0.30; PeW 0.41–0.60; ATL 0.55–0.60; ATW 0.55–0.62; CI 81–86, SI 77–82, PeI 93–95, LPeI 55–62, DPeI 145–171, ATI 94–101.

Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular and distinctly longer than broad (CI: 81–86), with convex posterior margin, slightly convex lateral margins and broadly rounded posterolateral corners (Fig. 53C). Eye small; composed of a total of 3–5 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with very strong and blunt medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible with a series of about 12 indistinct denticles, and three large teeth on the apical part. Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 8% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.19: 1.61: 2.16: 2.68 (n=7).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view slightly convex. Pronotum in dorsal view with well convex anterior margin, moderately convex lateral margins. Metanotal groove distinctly and clearly incised. Lateral mesopleural suture in lateral view deeply incised. Propodeal dorsum broad, with straight lateral margins. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum rounded, propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 130 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and arched, with slightly convex anterior margin, moderately concave posterior margin, and slightly convex lateral margins. Petiolar node in lateral view very remarkably and trapezoid, with straight anterior margin and moderately convex posterior margin; with upper portion bulging, anterodorsal corner higher than posterodorsal corner. Subpetiolar process thick with large and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, slightly concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of developed teeth. Third abdominal tergum as long as large (ATI: 94–101), with broadly convex anterior margin, slightly convex lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Mesosomal dorsum evenly punctate, particular rough in propodeal dorsum. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum evenly striate. Propodeal declivity smooth. Lateral face of petiole evenly punctate, posterior face shining, dorsum rough and evenly punctate. The third and fourth abdominal segments densely punctate, other segments smooth and shining with few punctures.

Pubescence. Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum and lateral face of petiole with scattered short hairs. Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node and gastral with many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

Color. Body color reddish brown. Mandible, clypeus, antennae, legs, and apex of gaster orange.

Queen
Leong et al. (2019) - (n=1): HL 0.79; HW 0.67; SL 0.46; A06L 0.04; A07L 0.05; A08L 0.09; A09L 0.10; A10L 0.12; PrW 0.56; WL 1.22; PeH 0.50; PeNL 0.28; PeW 0.49; ATL 0.70; ATW 0.67; CI 85, SI 69, PeI 88, LPeI 57, DPeI 173, ATI 105.

Head. Similar to worker caste, but with large and oval Eye, maximum diameter of each eye about 0.17 mm with 13 ommatidia along the maximum diameter. Three ocelli present, and forming a subequilateral triangle; median eye larger than lateral eye. Antennal scape similar to worker; average ratio of the length of antennomeres 7/6:8/6:9/6:10/6 = 1.07: 1.53: 1.80: 1.85 (n=1).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex. Pronotum in dorsal view with moderately convex anterior margin and broadly convex lateral margins. Scutum subpentagonal, with moderately convex anterior margin, almost straight posterior margin. Transcutal suture distinct and broad. Scutellum oval. Anapleural sulcus weakly incised. Propodeal-metapleural suture indistinct. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner in lateral view rounded; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 120 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view thick and arched, broader than long, with broadly convex anterior margin, moderately concave posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view trapezoidal and moderately thick, with straight anterior and posterior margins. Subpetiolar process with large and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, slightly concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of medium-sized teeth. The ratio of third abdominal segment slightly longer than worker caste (ATI: 105).

Sculpture, Pubescence, and Color: Similar to worker caste.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Miyako-jima, Okinawa Pref., 24.VII.1978, H. Takamine leg. Paratypes. 1 worker, same data as holotype; 4 workers, same locality, 10.11.1985, Y. Hashimoto leg.

Leong et al. (2019): Type material examined: JAPAN. Paratype. 1 worker, Miyako-jima, Okinawa Pref., 10 XI 1985, Y Hashimoto leg (: LCM_MT-Ponera-04).

Etymology
This species is named after the collector, MR. H. Takamine.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Leong C. M., B. Guénard, S. F. Shiao, & C. C. Lin. 2019. Taxonomic revision of the genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Taiwan and Japan, with a key to East Asian species. Zootaxa 4594: 1-86.
 * Terayama M. 1996. Taxonomic studies on the Japanese Formicidae, part 2. Seven genera of Ponerinae, Cerapachyinae and Myrmicinae. Nature & Human Activities 1: 9-32.
 * Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
 * Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
 * Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
 * Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
 * Yamane S., S. Ikudome, and M. Terayama. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp, 138-317.
 * Yamane S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp138-317.