Brachyponera xui Chen, Yu & Yi, 2025

Brachyponera xui Chen, Yu & Yi sp. nov.

Fig. 29 A – C View Figure 29

Type material.

Holotype (worker) China: • Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Sanmeng Township , laobianduan, 22.92752 ' N, 102.28553 ' E, 1749 m above sea level, from montane mossy evergreen broad-leaved forest, 24. iv. 2023, Chao Chen leg., No. KIZ 20231023 View Materials ( KIZ) . Paratypes: • 1 worker, same data as holotype, No. KIZ 20231004 View Materials ( SWFU) ; • 1 worker, Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Qimaba Township, Dongma village , 22.69017 ' N, 102.33054 ' E, 744 m above sea level, from monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, 10. x. 2023, Yu Yu leg., No. KIZ 20231736 View Materials ( GXNU) .

Non-type material examined.

• 2 workers, China: Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Qimaba Township , lali village, 22.81959 ' N, 102.30435 ' E, 1263 m above sea level, montane mossy evergreen broad-leaf forest, 21. iv. 2023, Chao Chen leg., No. KIZ 20230837.1 View Materials - KIZ 20230837.2 View Materials ( KIZ) ; • 1 worker ,, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Qimaba Township, Xiaoheijiang , 22.69476 ' N, 102.33646 ' E, 510 m Tropical seasonal rainforest, 10. x. 2023, Bolun Li leg., No. KIZ 20231480 View Materials ( KIZ) ;

Measurements and indices.

Holotype: (Fig. 29 A – C View Figure 29 ): HL 0.97, HLL 0.92, HLA 0.13, HW 0.96, ML 0.54, CML 0.08, CI 99, SL 0.97, SI 101, ED 0.16, PrL 0.65, PrH 0.48, PrW 0.67, WL 1.56, TL 4.9, PL 0.38, PH 0.78, DPW 0.56, LPI 205, PDPI 147. Paratypes (n = 2): HL 0.96–1.05, HLL 0.91–0.94, HLA 0.12–0.15, HW 0.96–1.04, ML 0.53–0.55, CML 0.08, CI 99–100, SL 0.97–1.01, SI 97–101, ED 0.14–0.17, PrL 0.63–0.67, PrH 0.45–0.50, PrW 0.66–0.69, WL 1.54–1.58, TL 4.8–5.1, PL 0.38–0.39, PH 0.77–0.79, DPW 0.55–0.58, LPI 203–205, PDPI 145–148.

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to Brachyponera pilidorsalis (Yamane) , but it differs in head and pronotum with densely deeply punctate surface with small pits, eye relatively small, pronotum has edges (Fig. 9 A View Figure 9 ), and dorsal surface of propodeum is longer. In B. pilidorsalis , head and pronotum are with sparsely lightly punctate sculpture with small pits, eye is relatively small, pronotum has weaker edges, and dorsal surface of propodeum is short.

Description.

In full-face view, head nearly square, with length and width roughly equal, posterior margin nearly straight, lateral margins moderately convex, posterolateral corners narrowly rounded. Mandible triangular with nine teeth, end tooth largest, and with a basal mandibular pit. Clypeus transverse, center of anterior margin moderately concave. Frontal carina short, frontal lobes well developed, covering antennal socket, frontal region with central longitudinal ridge. Antennae 12 - segmented, scape exceeds posterolateral corner of head by 1 / 5 of its length, flagellar segments gradually increase in size toward the end. Eye medium and maximum diameter consists of nine ommatidia (ED 0.16 mm).

In lateral view, lateral edge of pronotum has obvious edges. Pronotum and mesonotum significantly higher than propodeum. Promesonotal suture seams evident, metanotal groove deeply impressed. Mesonotum moderately convex. Dorsal surface of propodeum nearly straight, declivity steep slope, nearly straight, posterodorsal corner of propodeum broadly rounded. Propodeal spiracle rounded, there is a groove between spiracle and metanotal groove. Metapleural bulla small, roughly elliptical. Petiolar node as high as propodeum, upright, nearly trapezoidal; anterior margin nearly straight, posterior margin and dorsum moderately convex; subpetiolar process forms a wedge. Prora absent. Gaster subconical, basal two intersegments contracted, apex with sting.

In dorsal view, lateral edge of pronotum has obvious edges; equal width between upper and lower parts; pronotum broadest, lateral margins gradually narrower posteriorly. Mesonotum anterior margin convex, posterior margin slightly concave. propodeum nearly rectangular, gradually narrowing from the bottom to the top, forming a ridge. Petiolar node broader than long, anterior margin moderately convex, lateral margins strongly convex, posterior margin flat.

Mandible with sparsely punctate with small pits, head and pronotum with densely punctate with small pits. lateral face of pronotum, propodeum, petiolar node and gaster with hairy punctation. Mesopleuron, metapleural and lower part of lateral side of petiolar node smooth and shiny. dorsal surface of body with sparsely erect or suberect hairs and densely sub-decumbent hairs. Body color black, funiculus, mandible, and legs yellowish brown.

Ecological notes.

The new species was collected in the Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve in Yunnan. The type series was collected while foraging on the ground surface of a montane mossy evergreen broadleaf forest at an altitude of 1750 m (Suppl. material 1: fig. S 19), and one paratype was collected while foraging under a rock. One paratype was collected while foraging on the surface of a monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest at an elevation of 750 m (Suppl. material 1: fig. S 20). Another 107 workers of this new species were collected in seven sample plots in forest types including tropical seasonal rainforest, monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest, montane mossy evergreen broadleaf forest, mixed coniferous broadleaf forest, and deciduous broadleaf forest. Nesting sites included under rocks, in rotten wood, under rotten wood, and in soil. Foraging sites included surface and under stones. All sample plots were below 2000 m in elevation.

Etymology.

The new species is named in honor of Professor Zhenghui Xu (Southwest Forestry University, China) for his outstanding contributions to the ant fauna of China.