Gnamptogenys nanlingensis Chen, Lattke & Zhou, 2017

Chen, Zhilin, Lattke, John E., Shi, Fuming & Zhou, Shanyi, 2017, Three new species of the genus Gnamptogenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from southern China with a key to the known Chinese species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 54, pp. 93-112 : 97-99

Gnamptogenys nanlingensis Chen, Lattke & Zhou sp. n. Figs 11-14 ; Map 1

Type material.

Holotype. worker. CHINA: Guangdong, Nanling National Nature Reserve, 24°54'38"N, 113°01'23"E, 1075m, 15.V.2015, leg. Zhilin Chen, No. G150025. Paratypes. 4 workers, data the same as holotype. [1 worker holotype and 2 workers paratype specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China (GXNU); 1 worker paratype will be deposited in the Insect Collection, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China (SWFU); 1 worker paratype will be deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (IZCAS)]

Holotype worker

(Figs 11-14 ). TL 5.34, HL 1.65, HW 1.45, CI 87, SL 1.23, SI 85, ED 0.15, PW 1.21, MSL 2.11, PL 0.44, PH 1.05, DPW 0.66, LPI 238, DPI 150. In full-face view head trapezoid, longer than broad and widened posteriorly, posterior margin broadly concave, posterior corner rounded, lateral margin almost straight. Mandible triangular, masticatory margin crenulate. Anterior margin of clypeus with convex to bluntly pointed median lobe. Antennal scape just reaching posterior corner of head. Eye small, with 9 ommatidia along maximum diameter, situated on the midpoint of cephalic lateral margin.

In lateral view posterior corner of head with small narrow, non-translucent lamella. Dorsum of mesosoma strongly convex. Promesonotal suture obvious. Propodeum without denticle, posterodorsal corner rounded. Petiole roughly trapezoid, about 2.25 times higher than long, dorsal margin weakly convex, anterior and posterior margin straight; subpetiolar process broadly triangular. Sting extruding.

In dorsal view pronotal humeral angle well-developed but not protuberant; lateral margin of pronotum almost straight, anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Metanotal groove inconspicuous. Petiole anterior corner rounded, posterior corner blunt.

Mandible and clypeus with longitudinally fine striae; head, side of mesonotum, petiole and third abdominal tergite rugulose-foveolate; middle part of mesonotum with five longitudinal striae; pronotum, propleuron and propodeum irregularly rugulose; fourth abdominal tergite finely rugulose-punctate, sternite densely coarsely punctate; propodeal declivity with 7-8 transverse striae. Head, mesosoma, petiolar node and gaster with abundant sub-erect hairs and sparse decumbent pubescence; mandible with decumbent hairs; scape and tibiae with sparse sub-decumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Body color black; mandible, antenna, and leg reddish-brown.

Paratype workers

(n = 3). TL 5.30-5.37, HL 1.62-1.66, HW 1.44-1.46, CI 86-88, SL 1.21-1.24, SI 82-85, ED 0.14-0.15, PW 1.20-1.22, MSL 2.10-2.13, PL 0.43-0.44, PH 1.03-1.05, DPW 0.63-0.66, LPI 237-239, DPI 148-151. As holotype.

Queen and male.

Unknown.

Habitat.

This species nests in deadwood of ranch on ground in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, at the altitude of 1075 m.

Etymology.

This species is named after its type-locality, “Nanling” National Nature Reserve of Guangdong Province, China.

Differential diagnosis.

The workers of Gnamptogenys nanlingensis are easily distinguished from other Gnamptogenys by a combination of the following characters: large (HW≥1.44mm); pronotal humeral angle well-developed, but not forming denticle or spine; lateral margin of pronotum strongly convex, posterior margin concave; propodeum without denticle, posterodorsal corner rounded; pronotum, propleuron and propodeum, with strongly and irregularly rugulose; fourth abdominal tergite finely rugulose-punctate.

The workers of Gnamptogenys nanlingensis are morphologically similar to Gnamptogenys sichuanensis . However, in Gnamptogenys nanlingensis the subpetiolar process is triangular or cuneiform, while in Gnamptogenys sichuanensis the subpetiolar process is polygonal, with the anteroventral corner bluntly angular, the ventral margin concave, and the posteroventral corner rounded. Gnamptogenys nanlingensis has a narrow and inconspicuous occipital cephalic lamella, while the cephalic lamella of Gnamptogenys sichuanensis is well developed, but thin and almost translucent lamella. The fourth abdominal sternite in Gnamptogenys nanlingensis is reticulate-rugose, while in Gnamptogenys sichuanensis it istransversely striate.

Figures

Map 1. Distribution of ten known species of the genus Gnamptogenys in China. The data came from collection specimens and literatures.

Figures 11 - 14. Gnamptogenys nanlingensis holotype worker (No. G 150025). 11 head in full-face view 12 petiole in lateral view 13 body in dorsal view 14 body in lateral view.