Brachyponera candida Chen, Yu & Yi 2025, sp. nov.

Brachyponera candida Chen, Yu & Yi sp. nov. Fig. 22 A-C Type material. Holotype: worker, China: • Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Banpo Township, mohelongtang, 22.61721 ' N, 102.33585 ' E, 1263 m above sea level, from mixed coniferous-broad forest, 13. iv. 2023, Chao Chen leg., No. KIZ 20230168 (KIZ). Paratypes: • 5 workers, same data as holotype (KIZ 20230168 A, KIZ 20230168 B deposited at SWFU; KIZ 20230168 C, KIZ 20230168 D, KIZ 20230168 E deposited at GXNU). Non-type material examined. 16 workers, China: • Yunnan Province, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Banpo Township, mohelongtang, 22.61721 ' N, 102.33585 ' E, 1263 m above sea level, from mixed coniferous-broad forest, 13. iv. 2023, Chao Chen leg., No. KIZ 20230168.1 - KIZ 20230168.16 (KIZ); • 1 worker, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Banpo Township, Erfu Village, 22.62882 ' N, 102.35430 ' E, 1497 m Monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, 13. iv. 2023, Chao Chen leg., No. KIZ 20230194 (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, 13. iv. 2023, Qiwei Shen leg., No. KIZ 20230373 (KIZ); • 1 worker, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lvchun County, Banpo Township, Bayanhongdong, 22.63598 ' N, 102.34737 ' E, 1258 m Monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, 17. iv. 2023, Huiping Zeng leg., No. KIZ 20230502 (KIZ). Measurements and indices. Holotype: HL 1.07, HLL 0.97, HLA 0.12, HW 0.99, ML 0.52, CML 0.11, CI 93, SL 1.00, SI 101, ED 0.17, PrL 0.64, PrH 0.53, PrW 0.71, WL 1.63, TL 5.2, PL 0.43, PH 0.75, DPW 0.53, LPI 174, PDPI 123. Paratypes (n = 5): HL 1.04–1.11, HLL 0.92–0.97, HLA 0.11–0.19, HW 0.94–1.00, ML 0.50–0.58, CML 0.10–0.12, CI 88–95, SL 0.99–1.09, SI 101–114, ED 0.15–0.17, PrL 0.62–0.67, PrH 0.51–0.57, PrW 0.73–0.79, WL 1.62–1.70, TL 5.0–5.3, PL 0.44–0.47, PH 0.75–0.79, DPW 0.51–0.58, LPI 160–173, PDPI 113–126. Diagnosis. The new species is similar to B. pilidorsalis (Yamane, 2007). However, it can be separated by relatively short scape that exceeds the posterolateral corner by 1 / 10 of its length (in B. pilidorsalis scape is longer, exceeding posterolateral corner with more than ¼ of its length); slightly shorter distance between anterior clypeal margin to anterior margin of torulus, CML 0.11 (relatively long in B. pilidorsalis, CML 0.15), dorsal length of propodeum longer than declivity, mesopleuron usually without a groove, dorsum of mesosoma with slightly short erect hairs (dorsal length of propodeum slightly longer than declivity, mesopleuron often with a transverse groove, dorsum of mesosoma with slightly long standing hairs in B. pilidorsalis). Description. In full-face view, head longer than broad, roughly rectangular, posterior margin weakly concave, posterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins moderately convex. Mandible triangular with eight teeth, apical 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 1 / 10 exceeds posterolateral corner, flagellum gradually increases in size toward the end. Eye medium and maximum diameter consists of eleven ommatidia (ED 0.17 mm). In lateral view, pronotum and mesonotum significantly higher than propodeum. Promesonotal suture seams evident, metanotal groove deeply impressed. Mesonotum moderately convex. Dorsal surface of propodeum nearly straight, with a length ~ 1.3 × that of declivity, slope of declivity steep, nearly straight. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum broadly rounded. Propodeal spiracle rounded, with a groove between spiracle and metanotal groove. Metapleural bulla not visible. Petiolar node as high as propodeum, upright, thick (PDPI 123), nearly trapezoidal; anterior margin and dorsum moderately convex, posterior margin nearly straight; subpetiolar process forms a 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. Anterior margin of mesonotum convex, posterior margin slightly straight. 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. Dorsal surface of body with densely 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 brownish black. Ecological notes. The new species was collected in the Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve in Yunnan. The type series was collected from a nest in soil, which was built in a coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest at an altitude of 1250 m. Sixteen workers of this new species were collected foraging on the forest floor. An additional 61 workers of this new species were collected in five sample plots. The forest types include tropical seasonal rainforest, monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, and mountain moss evergreen broad-leaved forest. The new species builds its nest in the soil. Workers were found foraging on the ground and tree trunks. The altitude of all sample plots is below 2000 m (Suppl. material 1: fig. S 15). Etymology. The new species name refers to its smooth and shiny body, with only a relatively small number of punctures.