Brachyponera myops Chen, Yu & Yi, 2025

Brachyponera myops Chen, Yu & Yi sp. nov.

Fig. 25 A – C View Figure 25

Type material.

Holotype: worker, China: • Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Niukong Town , niaoliuyaozhai, 22.95837 ' N, 102.28872 ' E, 1515 m above sea level, Eucalyptus forest (plantation), 24. iv. 2023, Chao Chen leg., No. KIZ 20231049 View Materials ( KIZ) . Paratypes: • 1 worker ( KIZ 20231049 A ), same data as holotype ( SWFU) ; 4 workers ( KIZ 20230651 View Materials , KIZ 20230651 A , KIZ 20230651 B , KIZ 20230651 C ): Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Qimaba Township, Omo village , 22.68445 ' N, 102.29683 ' E, 1518 m above sea level, from monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, 18. iv. 2023, Huiping Zeng leg. ( GXNU) .

Non-type material examined.

• 4 workers, China: Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Qimaba Township, Omo village , 22.68445 ' N, 102.29683 ' E, 1518 m above sea level, from monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, 18. iv. 2023, Huiping Zeng leg., No. KIZ 20230647 View Materials , KIZ 20230654.1 View Materials - KIZ 20230654.3 View Materials ( KIZ) ; • 18 workers, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Niukong Township , niaoliuyaozhai, 22.95837 ' N, 102.28872 ' E, 1515 m above sea level, Eucalyptus forest (plantation), 24. iv. 2023, Chao Chen leg., No. KIZ 20231046.1 View Materials - 20231046.18 View Materials ( KIZ) .

Measurements and indices.

Holotype: HL 1.09, HLL 0.98, HLA 0.18, HW 1.00, ML 0.61, CML 0.13, CI 92, SL 1.04, SI 104, ED 0.07, PrL 0.65, PrH 0.57, PrW 0.72, WL 1.58, TL 5.0, PL 0.40, PH 0.75, DPW 0.50, LPI 188, PDPI 125. Paratype (n = 5): HL 0.99–1.08, HLL 0.90–0.95, HLA 0.12–0.15, HW 0.90–0.98, ML 0.62–0.69, CML 0.10–0.14, CI 90–96, SL 0.98–1.1, SI 99–112, ED 0.06–0.07, PrL 0.62–0.68, PrH 0.50–0.57, PrW 0.74–0.79, WL 1.51–1.59, TL 4.9–5.3, PL 0.41–0.48, PH 0.71–0.76, DPW 0.45–0.48, LPI 148–185, PDPI 96–117.

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to Brachyponera luteipes ( Mayr, 1862) , but it differs in scape segments 3–7 longer than wide, small eye with maximum diameter consisting of five ommatidia (ED 0.07 mm), and inconspicuous or absent groove between spiracle and metanotal groove. In B. luteipes , scape segments 3–7 are subsquare, eye is moderately big with maximum diameter consisting of nine ommatidia (ED 0.13 mm), and groove between spiracle and metanotal groove is conspicuous.

Description.

In full-face view, head longer than broad, roughly trapezoidal, posterior margin weakly concave, posterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins moderately convex. 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 small, and maximum diameter consists of five ommatidia (ED 0.07 mm).

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

In dorsal view, pronotum widest in mesosoma, humeral corners bluntly rounded; lateral margins moderately convex. Mesonotum elliptical. Propodeum nearly rectangular, gradually narrowing from bottom to the top, forming a ridge. Petiolar node trapezoidal, front narrow and gradually widening backwards; anterior margin flat, posterior margin moderately convex.

Mandible with a row of hairy pits. Dorsal surface of body with densely hairy punctation. Mesopleuron and metapleural with longitudinally rugose. dorsal surface of body with sparsely erect or suberect hairs and densely sub-decumbent hairs. Body color brownish black, funiculus, mandible and legs yellowish brown.

Ecological notes.

The new species was collected in the Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve, Yunnan. The holotype and one paratype were collected in the same soil nest in a Eucalyptus forest (plantation) at an altitude of 1500 m, and four paratypes were found in a monsoon broad-leaved evergreen forest at an altitude of 1500 m. In addition, 22 workers of this new species were found to be nesting in the soil and foraging on forest floor (Suppl. material 1: fig. S 17).

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the relatively minute size of the compound eye that characterizes workers of this species.