Two new ant species of the genus Leptogenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Hainan, China, with a key to the known Chinese species

Chao Chen; Zhilin Chen; Zhenghui Xu; Qishan Fu; Liwen Fu

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1195.115889

Two new ant species of the genus Leptogenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Hainan, China, with a key to the known Chinese species

Zookeys. 2024 Mar 15:1195:199-217. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1195.115889. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Chao Chen¹, Zhilin Chen², Zhenghui Xu³, Qishan Fu⁴, Liwen Fu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650221, China Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China.
² Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541004, China Guangxi Normal University Guilin China.
³ Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control in Yunnan Province, College of Biodiversity Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, Yunnan Province 650224, China Southwest Forestry University Kunming China.
⁴ Yinggeling Branch of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Administration, Baisha, 572800, China Yinggeling Branch of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Administration Baisha China.

Abstract

Two new species of ponerine ants from Hainan Province, China, Leptogenyshainanensissp. nov. and L.zhouisp. nov., are delineated and depicted based on the worker caste. Leptogenyshainanensissp. nov. belongs to the L.leleji species group, with mandibles elongate, slender and curved, lacking a distinct masticatory margin. On the other hand, L.zhouisp. nov. belongs to the L.crassicornis species group, distinguished by its square head, smooth body, mandibles with a dentate masticatory margin, and short antennae. A key to workers for the known species of Leptogenys in China are provided and a map is provided for the newly described species.

Keywords: L.crassicornis species group; L.leleji species group; Ponerinae; southern China; taxonomy.

Chao Chen, Zhilin Chen, Zhenghui Xu, Qishan Fu, Liwen Fu.

Grants and funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31860615)