SYSTEMATICS OF CHINESE SPECIES OF THE ANT GENUS PRISTOMYRMEX MAYR (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE)

Abstract  This paper examines the systematic relationships of four Chinese species of Pristomyrmex Mayr, i.e. P. brevispinosus Emery, P. formosae Forel, P, pungens Mayr, P. hamatus sp. nov. A key based on worker caste is provided for the known Chinese species. The new species, P. hamutw sp. nov., collected in the tropical rain forest of southern Yunnan Province is close to P. pungens Mayr, but inner margin of mandible with a distinct tooth, in dorsal view apices of propodeal spines curved inward and hook-like, in profile view domum of ditrunk roundly convex, petiolar node broad and with dorsum relatively straight. The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, Faculty of Resources, Southwest Forestry College, Kunming, yunnan Province, China.