Cerapachys zhengyangwangi, Liu, Garcia, Peng & Pierce, 2024

Cerapachys zhengyangwangi View in CoL sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/ E1612A06-963D-4ABA-A278-17D5A9C2BF77

Fig 3 View Fig .

Type material. HOLOTYPE, pinned worker, CHINA, Yunnan, Gaoligong Mountains, Baihualing , 25.30059N, 098.80075E, 1635m, secondary forest, leaf litter, 03.VII.2019 (C. Liu & G. Fischer) ( ISAS: MCZ-ENT00763371 ). GoogleMaps PARATYPES, two pinned workers, CHINA, Yunnan, Gaoligong Mountains, Baihualing , 25.30059N, 098.80075E, 1635m, secondary forest, leaf litter, 03.VII.2019 (C. Liu & G. Fischer) ( MCZ: MCZ-ENT00763372 , ZMHB: MCZ-ENT00763373 ). GoogleMaps

Diagnosis

Cerapachys zhengyangwangi differs from other congeners by the following combination of characters: total length of 8.31–8.5 mm; head slightly longer than wide (CI 91); whole body with abundant yellowish hair; head, mesosoma, and gaster shiny with a faint bluish tint; mandible with regular rogues towards the tip; torulo-posttorular complex vertical, lack of a small projector/tooth between them; petiole in dorsal view with several irregular ridges with a smooth and shinning space in the middle.

Worker measurements (N=3)

TL 8.31–8.50; HL 1.35–1.39; HW 1.23–1.26; MaL 0.55–0.59; SL 0.92–0.96; EL 0.22–0.24; PH 0.89–0.92; PW0.89–0.92; DWL 2.03–2.06; WL 2.12–2.15; MFL 1.38–1.45; PTL 0.77–0.83; PTH 0.68–0.71; PTW 0.74–0.77; A3L 0.95–0.98; A3W 1.08–1.11; A4L 1.57–1.60; A4W 1.54–1.57; CI 91–92; SI 76–81; MaI 45–46; DMI 42–43; DMI2 96–97; LMI 42–43; MF 112–115; LPI 113–117; DPI 92–96; DA3I 113; DA4I 98.

Worker description

Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular, slightly longer than wide (CI 91), posterior head margin straight to weakly concave; occipital corner in lateral view forming conspicuous angle. Occipital margin bearing distinct carina.Antennal scapes relatively long (SI 76–81), extending beyond 2/3 of head length but not reaching posterior head margin. Torulo-posttorular complex in full-face view vertical with broader median part, in full-face view anterior (frontoclypeal) margin not forming small projection/tooth.Anterior clypeal margin straight, not concealed by curved anterior extension of frontal carina. Parafrontal ridges strongly elevated, incompletely surrounding antennal sockets, forming well-marginated triangular lobes. Mandible elongated triangular, masticatory margin without noticeable teeth except at apices. Eyes large.

Mesosoma. Promesonotum in profile view weakly convex dorsally; in dorsal view lateral margins of promesonotum slightly compressed laterally around mesopleura. Pronotal flange strongly marginated from collar by distinct ridge. Promesopleural suture completely fused, suture visible, but only faintly recognizable as shallow groove. Mesometapleural groove weakly impressed, inconspicuous. Concavity surrounding pleural endophragmal pit weak and inconspicuous. Propodeal declivity with strong margin or edge dorsally and rectangular in posterior view. Propodeal lobes well developed.

Metasoma. Petiole (abdominal segment II) in dorsal view rectangular, slightly longer than wide (DPI 92–96), with weakly convex lateral margins; in profile view longer than high, anterior face almost straight with posterodorsal face weakly concave; dorsal outline of petiole convex. Subpetiolar process relatively elongate, rectangular, and projecting down. Abdominal segment III in dorsal view strongly wider posteriorly, 1.13 wider than long (DA3I, 113); anteriorly narrower than petiole. Abdominal segment IV in dorsal view slightly wider than long, with convex lateral margins.

Sculpture. Head smooth and shiny with sparse seta-bearing foveae except having few irregular rugae around the parafrontal ridges. Mesosoma smooth and shiny with sparse seta-bearing foveae dorsally and laterally. Dorsal surface of petiole with coarse longitudinal and irregular rugae with smooth and shinning space in the middle; lateral surfaces of petiole with some oblique or irregular rugae. Gaster smooth and shiny.

Pilosity and pubescence. Whole body covered with abundant erect hairs.Antennae with abundant suberect and erect hairs. Mandibles with numerous thin and long hairs. Head, mesosoma, and petiole with erect pilosity dorsally and laterally. All legs with dense suberect to erect hairs. Gaster with dense erect pilosity on both dorsum and ventral.

Coloration. Body black with dark red mandibles, antennae, and legs. Head, mesosoma, and gaster with a faint bluish tint.

Etymology.

This new species is dedicated to Dr. Zhengyang Wang, a conservation biologist whose research has significantly contributed to our understanding of insect diversity and conservation in China’s Hengduan Mountains.

Distribution and ecology

At present, the new species is known only from the Gaoligong Mountains in Yunnan, China. The type locality is a montane forest on Mount Tiantan, situated at an elevation of 1635m. Three workers of the new species were collected through leaf litter extraction. No additional information is available about the ecology of this species due to the limited number of collected specimens.