Ponera baka

The types were collected from a soil sample in seasonal rain forest.

Identification
Close to Ponera chiponensis, but with head as broad in front as in the back. Anterior margin of clypeus without a blunt tooth in the middle. Mandible only with 3 apical teeth. In profile view petiolar node relatively thin, subpetiolar process with small fenestra, anteroventral corner bluntly angled, posteroventral corner only with a small tooth. (Xu 2001)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  baka. Ponera baka Xu, 2001a: 57, figs. 22-24 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.9, HL 0.43, HW 0.33, CI 76, SL 0.25, SI 77, PW 0.25, AL 0.53, ED 0.03, ML 0.18, PNL 0.15, DPW 0.18. PH 0.25, PNI 70, LPI 60. Head rectangular, distinctly longer than broad. Occipital margin weakly concave, occipital corners bluntly prominent, lateral sides weakly convex. Mandible only with 3 apical teeth, the basal portion of masticatory margin without teeth or, denticles. Anterior margin of clypeus convex and very bluntly angled in the middle. Antennae short, apex of scape reached to 4/5 of the distance from antennal socket to occipital corner. antennal club consisted of the 4 apical segments. Eye with one facet. In profile view dorsum of alitrunk weakly convex, promesonotal suture distinct, metanotal groove only with trace. Dorsum of propodeum longer than declivity, posterodorsal corner of propodeum very bluntly angled. In profile view petiolar node thick, tapering upward, anterior, posterior and dorsal faces straight, anterior face vertical, and formed a right angle with dorsal face, posterior face steeply sloped and formed a more blunter angle with dorsal face. Subpetiolar process with small circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, posteroventral corner with a small tooth. In dorsal view the node trapezoid, narrowed forward, anterior border straight, lateral borders weakly convex, posterior border slightly concave. Gaster slightly constricted between the two basal segments. Mandibles smooth and shining, very sparsely punctured. Head and gaster densely and finely punctured, relatively dim. Alitrunk and petiole abundantly and superficially punctured, relatively shining. Surface of the whole body and appendages with dense decumbent pubescence, erect hairs only present on anterior portion of head and apex of gaster. Body in color yellowish brown.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, No. A97-2990, 840 m, Bakaxiaozhai Villge, Menglun Town, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, 08-XII-1997, collected in a soil sample of seasonal rain forest by Yang Bilun.

The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, Southwest Forestry College, Kunming, Yunnan Province, P.R. China.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fontanilla A. M., A. Nakamura, Z. Xu, M. Cao, R. L. Kitching, Y. Tang, and C. J. Burwell. 2019. Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along tropical, subtropical, and subalpine elevational transects in southwest China. Insects 10, 128; doi:10.3390/insects10050128
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Liu X. 2012. Taxonomy, diversity and spatial distribution characters of the ant family Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in southeastern Tibet. PhD Thesis 139 pages
 * Liu X., Z. Xu, N. Yu, and C. Zhang. 2016. Distribution patterns of ant species ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Galongla Mountains and Medog Valley of Southeastern Tibet. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 52(11): 88-95.
 * Song Y., Z. Xu, C. Li, N. Zhang, L. Zhang, H. Jiang, and F. Mo. 2013. An Analysis on the Ant Fauna of the Nangun river Nature Reserve in Yunnan, China. Forest Research 26(6): 773-780.
 * Xu Z. H. 2001. A systematic study on the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of China. Entomotaxonomia 23: 51-60.
 * Xu Z. 2001. Four new species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Yunnan, China. Entomotaxonomia 23(3): 217-226
 * Zhang N. N., Y. Q. Chen, Z. X. Lu, W. Zhang, and K. L. Li. 2013. Species diversity, community structure difference and indicator species of leaf-litter ants in rubber plantations and secondary natural forests in Yunnan, southwestern China. Acta Entomologica Sinica 56(11): 1314-1323.