Ponera tamon Terayama, 1996

Leong, Chi-Man, Guénard, Benoit, Shiao, Shiuh-Feng & Lin, Chung-Chi, 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), pp. 1-86 : 61-64

Ponera tamon Terayama, 1996

( Fig. 55 : worker; Fig. 56 : dealate queen)

Ponera tamon Terayama, 1996: 11 (w. q.). Type locality: Japan, Kagoshima Pref., Anami-oshima, Uken-son .

Type material examined: JAPAN . Paratypes, 2 workers, Okinoerabu-jima, Kagoshima Pref. , 17 III 1989, M Terayama leg (MTC). 1 worker, Sonai, Iriomote-jima, Okinawa Pref. , 31 III 1 985, M Terayama leg ( MTC: LCM_MT-Ponera-25). 1 dealate queen and 2 workers, Uken-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref. , 1 VII 1983, M Terayama leg ( MTC: LCM_MT-Ponera-26, LCM_MT-Ponera-28) . 3 workers, Nago, Okinawai Is. , 3 X 1984, M Terayama leg ( MTC: LCM_MT-Ponera-27) . 9 workers, Sumiyo-son, Amami-oshima, Kagoshima Pref. , VII 1983, M Terayama ( MTC: LCM_MT-Ponera-29, LCM_MT-Ponera-30, LCM_MT-Ponera-31, LCM_MT-Ponera-32) .

Non-type material examined: JAPAN . 4 workers and 1 dealate queen, Okuyona forest road, Okinawa Pref. , 20IV2001, CC Lin leg (CMPon175, CMPon176, CMPon177, CMPon178, CMPon179). 2 workers, Naha, Okinawa Pref. , 18 IV 2001, CC Lin leg (CMPon180, CMPon181) . 1 worker, Aminoko-toge, Setouchi-cho, Amami-Oshima Island , Kagoshima Pref. , 26 I 2008, Sk Yamane leg (CMPon169) . TAIWAN. 2 workers, Taroko Nat. Par. ( Wenshan ), Hualien county, 23 I 1989, CC Lin leg (CMPon68; CMPon69) . 1 worker and 1 dealate queen, 23.3549°N; 121.1867°E, Maravi , Hualien county, 31 X 2016, WH Lin leg (CMPon161, CMPon162) .

Measurements (mm) and indices. Workers (n=22): HL 0.51–0.59; HW 0.44–0.52; SL 0.32–0.41; A06L 0.02; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.04; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.07; PrW 0.33–0.40; WL 0.66–0.84; PeH 0.30–0.42; PeNL 0.16–0.21; PeW 0.26–0.33; ATL 0.37–0.45; ATW 0.41–0.52; CI 83–91, SI 71–86, PeI 74–87, LPeI 46–55, DPeI 152–184, ATI 76–93.

Queens (n=3): HL 0.59–0.61; HW 0.52–0.55; SL 0.40–0.45; A06L 0.03; A07L 0.03; A08L 0.05; A09L 0.06; A10L 0.08; PrW 0.44–0.50; WL 0.88–1.11; PeH 0.33–0.47; PeNL 0.19–0.21; PeW 0.27–0.39; ATL 0.40–0.54; ATW 0.46–0.65; CI 89–92, SI 77–81, PeI 65–80, LPeI 45–57, DPeI 150–185, ATI 84–90.

Diagnosis (worker). Ponera tamon can be easily by its short antennal scape not reaching the posterior margin of the head, a clypeus with blunt medial tooth, a metanotal groove distinctly visible, a subtriangular petiolar node when observed in lateral view with a moderately convex posterior margin, and its brown body color.

Description of worker. Head. In full-face view, head structure subrectangular and slightly longer than broad (CI: 84–91), with slightly convex posterior margin, moderately convex lateral margins and broadly rounded posterolateral corners ( Fig. 55C ). Eye small; composed of a total of 4 to 5 indistinct facets. Anterior clypeal margin with blunt medial tooth. Masticatory margin of mandible with a series of about ten indistinct denticles, and three large teeth on the apical part. 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 = 1.17:

1.89: 2.41: 3.08 (n=22).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view convex ( Fig. 55A ). Pronotum in dorsal view with acutely convex anterior margin, and convex lateral margins ( Fig. 55B ). Metanotal groove distinctly incised with fine suture. Lateral mesopleural suture weakly incised. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad, with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner in lateral view rounded; propodeal dorsum and declivity forming approximatively a 115 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view arched and moderately thin, with broadly convex anterior margin, and slightly convex posterior margin ( Fig. 55B ). Petiolar node in lateral view subtriangular and moderately thick, with straight anterior margin, and moderately convex posterior margin; with distinct projection on posterodorsal corner, dorsum forming a blunt angle ( Fig. 55A ). Subpetiolar process with small and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, concave ventral margin with small teeth. Third abdominal tergum generally broader than long (ATI: 76–93), with slightly convex anterior margin, almost straight lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head densely punctate. Mandible sparsely punctate. Mesosoma evenly punctate. Mesopleuron with weakly striate lower portion and sparsely punctate upper portion. Metapleuron with weakly striate lower portion and smooth upper portion. Propodeal declivity smooth and shining. Lateral face of petiole evenly punctate, posterior face smooth, dorsum with few punctures. The third and fourth abdominal segments evenly punctate, other segments with few punctures.

Pubescence. Head, antennae, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster with evenly distributed short hairs. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum and lateral face of petiole with few short hairs, and with glabrous upper portion of mesopleuron. 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 brown. Mandible, clypeus, antennae, legs, and apex of metasoma lighter.

Description of queen. Head. ( Fig. 56C ) Similar to worker caste, but with large and oval Eye, maximum diameter of each eye about 0.13 mm with 10 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 = 1.22: 1.74: 2.16: 2.75 (n=3).

Mesosoma. Mesosomal dorsum in lateral view broadly convex ( Fig. 56A ). Pronotum in dorsal view with convex anterior margin, and broadly convex lateral margins ( Fig. 56B ). Scutum subtrapezoidal, narrow posteriad, with broadly convex anterior margin, and concave posterior margin. Transcutal suture distinct and broad. Scutellum subrectangular. Anapleural sulcus clearly incised. Propodeal-metapleural suture indistinct. Propodeal dorsum in dorsal view broad, with straight lateral margins. Propodeal corner rounded and almost forming approximatively 115 degree angle.

Metasoma. Petiolar node in dorsal view oval and moderately thin, broader than long, with broadly convex anterior margin, and slightly convex posterior margin ( Fig. 56B ). Petiolar node in lateral view subconical and moderately thick, moderately convex anterior and posterior margins, dorsum well convex ( Fig. 56A ). Subpetiolar process with small and circular fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, concave ventral margin, and posteroventral corner concave with a pair of small teeth. The third abdominal segment similar to worker caste (ATI: 105).

Sculpture. Similar to worker caste.

Pubescence. Similar to worker caste.

Color. Similar to worker caste.

Description of male. Unknown.

Distribution. Japan (Kyushu, Okinawa Is., Satsunan Is., and Yaeyama Is.) and Taiwan (Taitung county: Maravi and Wenshan).

Figures

FIGURE 55. P. tamon paratype worker (LCM_MT-Ponera-25), A: body, lateral view, B: body, dorsal view, C: head, full-face view, D: specimen label.

FIGURE 56. P. tamon paratype dealate queen (LCM_MT-Ponera-26), A: body, lateral view, B: body, dorsal view, C: head, full-face view, D: specimen label.