Simopone yunnanensis, Zhilin Chen, Shanyi Zhou & Liwei Liang, 2015

Zhilin Chen, Shanyi Zhou & Liwei Liang, 2015, Simopone yunnanensis sp. nov. – the first record of Simopone Forel, 1891 from China (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Cerapachyinae), Asian Myrmecology 7, pp. 5-10 : 8-9

Simopone yunnanensis sp. nov. ( Figs. 1-4)

Measurements & indices of holotype worker. TL 5.27, HL 0.93, HW 0.65, SL 0.20, EW 0.21, ES 0.23, SW 0.12, FCW 0.34, EL 0.26, PW 0.50, AIIW 0.52, AIIL 0.63, AIIIW 0.57, AIIIL 0.58, WL 1.27, PL 0.65, PH 0.41, DPW 0.50, MFL 0.50, CI 70, SI 31, EL/HW 0.40, EP 1.17, AIIW/ AIIL 0.83, AIIIW/AIIIL 0.98.

In full-face view head nearly rectangular, longer than broad, sides weakly convex behind eyes, and shallowly concave in front of eyes; posterior margin distinctly concave, posterior corners angular. Mandibles subtriangular, masticatory margin finely dentate. Anterior margin of clypeus bluntly angled, dorsum without median carina. Frontal carinae not elevated, widely separated and weakly divergent posteriorly, extending beyond anterior margins of eyes, frontal area broad. Antennae 11 -segmented, scapes short, but quite broad apically, not beyond anterior margin of eye. Head with short, narrow and deep scrobes extending from the antennal socket to the anterior margin of the eye. Eyes large, occupying about 1 / 3 length of head side, located about at midlength of head side, outer margin of eye almost reaching to head sides. Ocelli present, minute and closely approximated.

Dorsum of mesosoma weakly convex, weakly and narrowly depressed at promesonotal suture. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly angled, lateral borders of declivity lowly carinate. Dorsum of petiole moderately convex, anteroventral process a distinct recurved hook or spur. Postpetiole longer and higher than petiole, dorsum moderately convex. Constriction behind postpetiole distinct.

In dorsal view lateral margins of mesosoma weakly marginate, narrowest across mesonotum (maximum width 0.46), and broadest across propodeum (maximum width 0.50). Pronotum with sharp anterior carina and acute humeral corners, sides weakly convergent posteriorly. Promesonotal suture slightly anteriorly curved, represented by short longitudinal rugae. Metanotal groove absent. Petiole ( AII) longer than broad ( AIIW / AIIL 0.83), with a strong anterior carina, sides almost straight, distinctly marginate and weakly widening posteriorly. Postpetiole ( AIII) almost square, as broad as long, sides almost straight and parallel.

Body surface smooth and shining. Mandibles, head and mesosoma with scattered minute piligerous punctures. Body dorsum with very sparse suberect short hairs. Scapes and tibiae with very sparse suberect hairs, flagella with abundant suberect hairs and decumbent pubescence. Gastral apex with abundant long hairs. Body color black. Mandibles and clypeus reddish brown. Antennae and legs yellowish brown.

Holotype worker. China: Yunnan Province, Yingjiang County, Jiemao, July 31, 2005, Zhao Tan leg., No. 7005 .

Etymology. The new species is named

after its type-locality, Yunnan.

Comparison Notes. S. yunnanensis sp. nov belongs to the grandidieri species group. So far this group covers seven species, four of them from the Oriental and Malesian region. The new species is most allied to S. oculata Radchenko , but distinctly differs from the latter. In Simopone yunnanensis sp. nov., anterior margin of clypeus bluntly angled; metanotal groove absent; in dorsal view petiole weakly widening posteriorly, posterior margin almost straight; in lateral view petiole distinctly marginate laterally; sides of petiole and postpetiole with very sparse hairs. But in S. oculata , anterior margin of clypeus weakly convex; metanotal groove weakly impressed and visible; in dorsal view petiole distinctly widening posteriorly, posterior margin obviously concave; in lateral view petiole not marginate laterally; sides of petiole and postpetiole with rich hairs.

The new species is also allied to S. chapmani Taylor, 1966 , but differs from the latter by posterior margin of head distinctly and widely concave in full-face view, head nearly rectangle, dorsolateral borders of pronotum and mesonotum approximately right-angled, marginated laterally.