Ponera sinensis Wheeler, 1928

(Figs. 47, 48: worker; Fig. 49: dealate queen)

Ponera sinensis Wheeler, 1928a: 6 (w.). Type locality: Hong Kong. Taylor, 1967: 53 .

Type material examined: HONG KONG. Holotype, worker, “ X 11 24 ” (MCZ: ENT20483) [images examined].

Non-type material examined: TAIWAN. 1 worker, Kenting Bot. G., Pingtung county, 12VIII1969, M Kubota leg (MCZ: ENT000594458). 3 workers, 24.0803°N; 121.0209°E, 762 m alt., Huisun, Nantoung county, 21 V 2016, CM Leong leg (CMPon074, CMPon075, CMPon076) . 2 workers, Huisun, Nantoung county, 21 VI 1994, CC Lin leg (CMPon077; CMPon078) . 4 workers, 24.9888°N; 121.6790°E, 300 m alt., Huangdidian, New Taipei city, 23 VI 2016, CM Leong (CMPon088, CMPon091; CMPon092, CMPon093) . 4 workers and 1 dealate queen, 24.9673°N; 121.6185°E, 626 m alt., Ergeshan, New Taipei city, 23 VII 2016, via Winkler extractor, CM Leong leg (CMPon112, CMPon113, CMPon114, CMPon115, CMPon111) . 3 workers, 25.0162°N; 121.5521°E, 34 m alt., Fujhoushan, Taipei city, 0 9 IX 2016, CM Leong (CMPon117, CMPon118, CMPon119) .

Measurements (mm) and indices. Holotype. Worker: HL 0.61; HW 0.55; SL 0.43; A06L 0.02; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.07; A10L 0.08; PrW 0.38; WL 0.82; PeH 0.39; PeNL 0.19; PeW 0.34; ATL N.A.; ATW N.A.; CI 90, SI 78, PeI 90, LPeI 50, DPeI 178, ATI N.A. [measured from images]

Non-type specimens. Workers (n=16): HL 0.57–0.61; HW 0.49–0.56; SL 0.40–0.44; PrW 0.36–0.43; A06L 0.03; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.08; WL 0.73–0.88; PeH 0.38–0.45; PeNL 0.18–0.22; PeW 0.31–0.38; ATL 0.41–0.48; ATW 0.46–0.53; CI 86–94, SI 77–85, PeI 81–94, LPeI 46–54, DPeI 159–181, ATI 80–92.

Non-type specimens. Queen (n=1): HL 0.64; HW 0.59; SL 0.47; A06L 0.03; A07L 0.04; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.07; A10L 0.09; PrW 0.54; WL 1.07; PeH 0.48; PeNL 0.24; PeW 0.44; ATL 0.56; ATW 0.66; CI 91, SI 80, PeI 83, LPeI 49, DPeI 188, ATI 85.

Diagnosis (worker). Ponera sinensis is characterized by its antennal scape almost reaching the posterior corner of the head, a triangular petiolar node with a broadly convex posterior margin when observed in lateral view; and in dorsal view a petiolar node remarkably thin and arched. P onera sinensis presents similarities with P. tamon, P. oreas and P. guangxiensis, but P. sinensis can be distinguished by its remarkable thin petiolar node in dorsal view and triangular petiolar node in lateral view; with its dorsum forming an acute corner.

Description of worker. Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular and longer than broad (CI: 86–94), with slightly concave posterior margin, moderately convex lateral margins, and broadly rounded posterolateral corners (Fig. 47C). Eye small; composed of a total of 4 to 7 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with distinct and blunt medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible edentate (Fig. 48D), but with three large teeth on the apical part (Fig. 48D). Antennal scape, when laid backward, with a remaining distance of about 5% of the scape length to the posterolateral corner; average ratio of the length of antennomeres = 1.16: 1.81: 2.55: 3.14 (n=17).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view slightly convex (Fig. 48A). Pronotum in dorsal view with well convex anterior margin and moderately convex lateral margins (Fig. 48B). Metanotal groove in dorsal view distinctly incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view moderately broad, with straight lateral margins. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum in lateral view angular, propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 120 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view remarkably thin and arched, with broadly convex anterior margin, and moderately concave posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view (Fig. 48A), moderately thick and triangular, with straight anterior margin, broadly convex posterior margin, and dorsum forming an acute corner. Subpetiolar process with small and suboval/circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, slightly concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of developed teeth. Third abdominal tergum distinctly broader than long (ATI: 80–92), with almost straight anterior and posterior margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Pronotum and mesonotum evenly punctate. Mesopleuron with weakly striate lower portion and sparsely punctate upper portion. The portion contained between metapleuron and propodeum very smooth. Propodeal declivity smooth. Lateral face of petiole sparsely punctate, with smooth posterior face, dorsum with few punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments evenly punctate, other segments smooth and shining with few punctures.

Pubescence. Head with dense and short hairs. Mesosoma with evenly distributed short hairs; mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum with scattered short hairs. Petiolar node with scattered short hairs in lateral and anterior faces, posterior and dorsal faces with few short hairs. Dorsal and ventral faces of head, anterior margin of clypeus, sides of mandibles, dorsum of petiolar node, gastral sterna and posterior half of gastral terga with many long erect hairs. Subpetiolar process with a few long erect hairs.

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

Description of queen. Head. (Fig. 49C) Similar to worker caste, but with large and oval Eye, maximum diameter of each eye about 0.18 mm with 12 ommatidia along the maximum diameter. Three ocelli present and forming an equilateral triangle. Antennal scape similar to worker; average ratio of the length of antennomeres = 1.21: 1.59: 1.82: 2.31 (n=1).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex. Pronotum in dorsal view with broadly convex anterior margin, moderately convex lateral margins (Fig. 49B). Scutum subtrapezoidal and narrow posteriad, with moderately convex anterior margin and slightly convex posterior margin. Transcutal suture distinct. Scutellum subtrapezoidal. Anapleural sulcus superficially incised (Fig. 49A). Propodeal-metapleural suture very weakly incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad with slightly concave lateral margins. Propodeal corner angular; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 115 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view remarkably thin, with broadly convex anterior margin, moderately concave posterior margin. Petiolar node in lateral view thin and triangular, with straight anterior margin, well convex posterior margin, and dorsum forming an acute corner (Fig. 49A). Subpetiolar process with small and suboval fenestra, with anteroventral corner blunt, straight ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with small teeth. The third abdominal segment similar to worker caste (ATI: 85).

Sculpture. Similar to worker caste; except metapleuron and lateral propodeum with increased puncture and striation.

Pubescence. Similar to worker caste; except metapleuron and lateral propodeum with increased short decumbent hairs.

Color. Similar to worker caste.

Distribution. Guangxi, Hong Kong, Taiwan (new records from Nantou county: Huisun, Pingtung county: Kenting, New Taipei city: Huangdidian, Ergeshan, Taipei city: Fujhoushan), and Yunnan.