Ponera guangxiensis

This rarely encountered species is known from a few collections in Guangxi Province, China and Lạng Son Province, Vietnam (Leong et al., 2018). Nests have been found inside rotten wood and under moss or stones in humid environments. In Hong Kong, Ponera guangxiensis is relatively common and is most commonly encountered in native secondary forests, either in leaf litter samples or by searching under stones or rotting logs. It appears to be widespread in Hong Kong, though no observations on its biology or ecology have been made (Pierce et al., 2019)..

Identification
Leong et al. (2018): Ponera guangxiensis can be distinguished from the other congeners by a combination of the following characteristics in the worker: masticatory margin of mandible edentate except for the apical and two preapical teeth; antennal scape, when laid backward, not reaching the posterior corner of head, with the remaining distance of head to posterior corner of head about 5% of the scape length; antennal club five-merous; metanotal groove distinct and thin; petiolar node in dorsal view semicircular, with strongly and roundly convex anterior margin, and almost straight and roundly concave posterior margin, in lateral view with posteromedian portion of the dorsum slightly sloping posteroventrad; petiolar node in lateral view slightly higher at the anterodorsal corner than at the posterodorsal corner; subpetiolar process with distinct posteroventral teeth.

Zhou (2001): Related to Ponera alisana but differs from the latter in anterior clypeal border without median tooth; eye with 5~8 ommatidia. Besides, the new species distinguished from the latter by much smaller in size.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  guangxiensis. Ponera guangxiensis Zhou, 2001b: 37, 227, figs. 33, 34 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype: TL 2.6, HL 0.56, HW 0.48, CI 85, SL 0.39, SI 81, PW 0.39, AL 0.78, PH 0.40, PNL 0.20, DPW 0.29.

Paratypes 5: TL 2.5~2. 6, HL 0.56~0.57, CI 83~89, SL 0.38~0.40, SI 78~83, PW 0.37~0.40, AL 0.78~0.80, PH 0.38~0.40, PNL 0.19~0.21, DPW 0.28~0.31.

Head subrectangular, with slightly convex sides and slightly concave occipital border. Mandible with 3 developed teeth, occupying apical 2/5 of the length of masticatory margin, followed by a row of very indistinct denticles. Clypeus 'slightly convex, without median tooth. Eyes small, with 5 ommatidia (one specimen with 8), situated in front of the midlength of head, about 1/7 of the distance from the anterior genal border to the midpoint of occipital 'border. Antennal scapes not reaching occipital border. Antennal club 5-segmented, ratio of length from base about 3 : 4 : 5 : 7 : 14, terminal segment 1.67 X as long as broad. Dorsum of alitrunk slightly .convex in profile view. Promesonotal suture and mesopropodeal suture distinct but not impressed. Posterolateral corners of propodeum. pronounced, forming blunt angle. Petiolar node massive, rectangular in profile view, anterior face semicircular, posterior face straight in dorsal view. Posteroventral angle of subpetiolar process developed. Subpetiolar fenestra relatively large, circular.

Mandibles smooth and shining. Head, alitrunk, petiole shagreened. Erect hairs short, present on antennae, head, dorsum of alitrunk and gaster. Pubescence moderately abundant, distributed over the entire body, including mandibles, antennae and legs.

Color dull redish brown; mandibles, antennae, legs and apex of gaster yellow.

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.
 * Leong C. M., C. C. Lin, S. F. Shiao, D. D. Nguyen, and K. Eguchi. 2018. Taxonomic notes on Ponera guangxiensis Zhou, 2001 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae), with a new distribution record from Vietnam and the fi rst description of queen, male, and larva. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 125: 201-215.
 * Pierce M. P., C. M. Leong, and B. Guenard. 2019. A new species and new record of the cryptobiotic ant genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Hong Kong. ZooKeys 867: 9–21.
 * Zhou S.-Y. 2001. Ants of Guangxi. Guangxi Normal University Press, Guilin, China, Guilin, China. 255 pp.