taxonID	type	description	language	source
D83B1B41FF99FFDAFE4EFC1CFDA7FEE5.taxon	diagnosis	DIAGNOSIS. Workers of Brachyponera can be distinguished from other ponerine genera by the following combination of characters: 1) mandible usually with basal pit (obsolete or vestigial in some species); 2) eye small and placed near mandibular insertions; 3) antenna 12 - segmented; 4) metanotal groove deep; 5) propodeum located lower elevation than promesonotum and usually strongly narrowed dorsally; 6) propodeal spiracle small and round; 7) petiole squamiform; 8) prora absent from anterior margin of first gastral sternite; 9) gaster with only a slight girdling constriction; 10) metatibiae with two spurs (Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014). In Southeast Asia, Brachyponera is most similar to the large size species of Hypoponera, but the latter lacks the mandibular pit, has a metatibial spur, and tend to be slightly smaller. Brachyponera is also similar to small size species of Ectomomyrmex, but Brachyponera can be separated from Ectomomyrmex by 1) body size tends to be smaller; 2) mesopleuron lacks a transverse groove (divided mesopleuron in Ectomomyrmex); 3) propodeum located lower in elevation than promesonotum and usually strongly narrowed dorsally (same level in Ectomomyrmex). Brachyponera kumtongi Duanchay et Jaitrong, sp. n. https: // zoobank. org / NomenclaturalActs / EBE 88190 - 5 DBC- 427 E- 98 AC- 3404 E 20 CF 5 A 7 Fig. 1	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
D83B1B41FF99FFDAFE4EFC1CFDA7FEE5.taxon	materials_examined	TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype – worker (THNHM-I- 00029078, THNHM), Thailand: Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Dao Cave, 9. I 2023, W. Jaitrong leg., WJT 090123 - 01. Paratypes: 14 workers (THNHM-I- 00029079 to THNHM-I- 00029092, THNHM), same data as holotype. NON-TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED. Sixteen workers (THNHM-I- 00029093 to THNHM-I- 00029104, THNHM-I- 00029106 to THNHM-I- 00029109), Thailand: Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Dao Cave, 9. I 2023, W. Jaitrong leg., WJT 090123 - 05; 19 workers (THNHM-I- 00029110 to THNHM-I- 00029128), same locality, date and collector, WJT 090123 - 03; 4 workers (THNHM-I- 00029135 to THNHM-I- 00029138), same locality and collector, 3. I 2023, TH 23 - WJT- 04; 5 workers (THNHM-I- 00029143 to THNHM-I- 00029145, THNHM-I- 00029150 to THNHM-I- 00029151), same locality, date and collector, WJT 090123 - 04; 5 workers (THNHM-I- 00029105, THNHM-I- 00029139 to THNHM-I- 00029142), same locality and collector, 10. I 2023, TH 23 - WJT- 951; 4 workers (THNHM-I- 00029129, THNHM-I- 00029146 to THNHM-I- 00029148), same locality and collector, 10. I 2023, TH 23 - WJT- 954; 2 workers (THNHM-I- 00029130 to THNHM-I- 00029131), same locality and collector, 11. I 2023, TH 23 - WJT- 959; 3 workers (THNHM-I- 00029132 to THNHM-I- 00029134), same locality and collector, 3. I 2023, TH 23 - WJT- 05, 16 workers (THNHM-I- 00029154, THNHM-I- 00029157 to THNHM-I- 00029169, THNHM-I- 0002188 to THNHM-I- 00029189), same locality, 3. X 2019, S. Jantarit leg., 9 workers (THNHM-I- 00029174 to THNHM-I- 00029182), Thailand: Nan Province, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Dao Cave, 19. V 2018, S. Jantarit leg.; 5 workers (THNHM-I- 00029183 to THNHM-I- 00029187); Thailand: Lamphun Province, La District, Luang Weang Keaw Cave, 13. V 2018, S. Jantarit leg.; 4 workers (THNHM-I- 00029170 to THNHM-I- 00029173), Thailand: Lamphun Province, La District, Luang Weang Keaw Cave, 12. V 2018, S. Jantarit leg.; 2 workers (THNHM-I- 00029155 to THNHM-I- 00029156), Thailand: Tak Province, Umphang District, Husi Lapoo Cave, 6. III 2019, S. Jantarit leg.	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
D83B1B41FF99FFDAFE4EFC1CFDA7FEE5.taxon	description	DESCRIPTION. Worker. Medium size (head width 0.78 – 0.90 mm); body reddish brown; eye very small, with 6 – 7 ommatidia (with 2 – 3 ommatidia along longest axis); mandible with basal pit; antennal scape relatively short compared with head width (SI 106 – 126); promesonotum distinctly convex to form a dome; propodeum in profile extremely located lower than promesonotum, long, its dorsal outline weakly convex; in profile propodeal dorsum longer than length of propodeal declivity; body finely micropunctate and covered densely with gray pubescence mixed with sparse short brown erect hairs. Head: in full-face view, distinctly longer than broad, broadened medially; lateral margin weakly convex; posterior margin almost straight; posterolateral corner of head roundly convex. Mandible subtriangular and with basal pit; masticatory margin with six teeth, including largest apical tooth, followed by five large teeth; basal margin sinuate. Clypeus in full-face view broad and convex medially, shorter than broad, its anterior margin entirely convex but feebly concave medially. Antennal scape long, when folded back in full-face view extending beyond posterolateral corner of head; antennal segment II almost as long as broad; segments III – VI each shorter than II but almost as long as broad; segment XII as long as segments X + XI. Frontal carina in full-face view distinct, reaching anterior to mid-length of head. Frontal lobe broad, outer margin roundly convex, coving antennal socket. Eye in profile located close to mandibular base, round, relatively small compared with maximum width of antennal scape, with 6 – 7 ommatidia (2 – 3 ommatidia along longest axis). Mesosoma: in profile promesonotum distinctly convex to form a dome; in dorsal view, pronotum almost as long as broad and clearly broader than mesonotum and propodeum; mesopleuron in profile clearly shorter than high, clearly demarcated from metapleuron by deep suture; metapleuron not clearly demarcated from lateral face of propodeum. Propodeum in profile located extremely lower than promesonotum, long, its dorsal outline weakly convex; propodeal dorsum in profile round into propodeal declivity; in profile propodeal dorsum longer than length of propodeal declivity; propodeal declivity shallowly concave. Petiole sessile; in profile petiolar node subtriangular, shorter than high, its anterior face weakly convex, while posterior somewhat flat; petiolar height distinctly twice as long as length of propodeal dorsum. Body entirely finely micropunctate, except for mesopleuron smooth and shiny; procoxa smooth and shiny; other parts of legs and antenna finely micropunctate; mandible somewhat smooth except for hair pits. Body entirely covered with short gray pubescence. Dorsal side of head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster with sparse short erect hairs; propodeal dorsum usually without erect hairs (present in some paratypes but if present then shorter than those on head and pronotum). Antenna and legs with dense short suberect hairs. Body reddish brown to dark brown. Antennal scape reddish brown, flagellum of antenna yellowish brown. Mandible reddish. Legs yellowish brown. MEASUREMENTS AND INDICES. Holotype: TL 3.51, ED 0.07, HL 0.97, HW 0.80, SL 0.85, ML 1.30, MW 0.60, PL 0.31, PH 0.70, CI 82, OI 9, SI 106, PI 44. Paratypes (n = 10). TL 3.51 – 4.69, ED 0.07 – 0.10, HL 0.69 – 1.10, HW 0.78 – 0.90, SL 0.85 – 1.00, ML 1.29 – 1.45, MW 0.55 – 0.65, PL 0.31 – 0.41, PH 0.62 – 0.70, CI 75 – 92, OI 9 – 13, SI 106 – 126, PI 44 – 63.	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
D83B1B41FF99FFDAFE4EFC1CFDA7FEE5.taxon	diagnosis	DIAGNOSIS. New species is most similar to Brachyponera arcuata (Karavaiev, 1925) from Indonesia in having a reddish-brown body. However, new species can be easily separated from B. arcuata by 1) head slightly longer than broad (almost as long as broad in B. arcuata); 2) eye small, with 2 – 3 ommatidia along longest axis (eye relatively larger, with 6 – 7 ommatidia along longest axis in B. arcuata); 3) with sparse erect hairs on dorsa of head, mesosoma, and gastral tergite I (without erect hairs in B. arcuata); 4) in profile propodeal dorsum weakly convex (distinctly convex in B. arcuate, see figs. 1 A and 3 A for comparison). B. kumtongi sp. n. is similar to B. jerdonii (Forel, 1900) in general appearance. However, it can be distinguished from the latter by 1) eye small, with 2 – 3 ommatidia along longest axis (eye relatively larger, with about 10 ommatidia along longest axis in B. jerdonii); 2) antennal scape relatively longer (SI 106 – 126 in new species vs. SI 88 in B. jerdonii). Brachyponera kumtongi sp. n. is also similar to B. troglomorpha sp. n. in having a reddish-brown body but former can be easily separated from latter species by 1) eye with 2 – 3 ommatidia along longest axis (7 – 8 ommatidia in B. troglomorpha); 2) body color slightly darker (see figs 1 and 2 for comparison); 3) antennal scape with dense short suberect hairs (without erect hairs in B. troglomorpha); 4) propodeal dorsum longer than length of propodeal declivity (shorter in B. troglomorpha); 5) metapleuron micropunctate (smooth and shiny in B. troglomorpha). HABITAT. This species is known only in caves in northern Thailand. We found workers in both twilight and dark zones. Nests were found in soil or under stones on the cave floor. Ant crickets (Myrmecophilus Berthold, 1827) were found together with foraging workers of the new species.	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
D83B1B41FF99FFDAFE4EFC1CFDA7FEE5.taxon	distribution	DISTRIBUTION. Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Nan, and Tak Provinces (Fig. 4).	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
D83B1B41FF99FFDAFE4EFC1CFDA7FEE5.taxon	etymology	ETYMOLOGY. The specific name is dedicated to Mr. Pornarin Kumtong (Head of Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand), who supported W. Jaitrong for his field survey in northern Thailand.	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
D83B1B41FF9DFFD5FF4EFE01FDC7F9D7.taxon	description	Fig. 2	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
D83B1B41FF9DFFD5FF4EFE01FDC7F9D7.taxon	materials_examined	TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype – worker (THNHM-I- 00029190, THNHM), Thailand: Nan Province, Muang District, Pha Sing Subdistrict, Ban Pha Tup, Bow Nam Thip Cave, 19. V 2018, S. Jantarit leg., SJ 190518 - 01. Paratypes: 4 workers (THNHM-I- 00029191 to THNHM-I- 00029194), same data as holotype.	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
D83B1B41FF9DFFD5FF4EFE01FDC7F9D7.taxon	description	DESCRIPTION. Worker. Medium size (head width 0.74 – 0.78 mm); body reddish brown; eye large, with 31 – 33 ommatidia (with 7 – 8 ommatidia along longest axis); mandible with basal pit; antennal scape relatively short compared with head width (SI 93 – 100); promesonotum distinctly convex to form a dome; propodeum in profile extremely located lower than promesonotum, straight, short, slightly shorter than length of propodeal declivity; body entirely superficially micropunctate and covered with short white pubescence mixed with sparse short erect hairs. Head: in full-face view, longer than broad, broadened medially; lateral margin weakly convex; posterior margin almost straight; posterolateral corner of head roundly convex. Mandibles subtriangular and with basal pit; masticatory margin with large apical tooth followed by a series of seven distinct teeth of gradually reducing size to basal tooth. Clypeus broad its anterior margin roundly convex. Antenna scape relatively short compared with head width, when folded back in full-face view slightly extending beyond posterior margin of head; antennal segment II slightly longer broad; segments III – VII each almost as long as broad; segment XII slightly longer than X + XI. Frontal carinae in full-face view distinct, reaching anterior to medlength of head. Frontal lobe broad, flat, its outer margin distinct convex, coving antennal socket. Eye in profile located close to mandibular base, round, relatively large compared with maximum width of antennal scape, weakly convex, ca. 31 – 33 ommatidia (with 7 – 8 ommatidia along longest axis); in full-face view, outer margin of eye reaching lateral margin of head. Mesosoma: in profile promesonotum distinctly convex to form a dome; in dorsal view, pronotum almost as long as broad and clearly broader than mesonotum and propodeum; mesopleuron clearly shorter than high, clearly demarcated from pronotum, mesonotum, and metapleuron by deep suture; metapleuron not clearly demarcated from lateral face of propodeum. Propodeum in profile located extremely lower than promesonotum, its dorsal outline almost straight and shorter than length of propodeal declivity; propodeal dorsum round into propodeal declivity; propodeal declivity shallowly concave. Petiole sessile; in profile petiolar node subtriangular, clearly shorter than high, its anterior face weakly convex, while posterior face flat; petiolar height ≥ twice as long as length of propodeal dorsum. Body entirely finely superficially micropunctate, except for mesopleuron and metapleuron smooth and shiny; antenna and legs micropunctate; mandible rather smooth and shiny. Antennal scape and legs shiny. Body entirely covered with short white pubescence mixed with sparse short erect hairs; erect hairs on propodeal dorsum and petiole absent. Antenna and legs without erect hairs. Body entirely yellowish brown. Antennal scape yellowish brown to reddish brown, flagellum of antenna yellowish brown. Legs yellow. MEASUREMENTS AND INDICES. Holotype: TL 3.69, ED 0.12, HL 0.84, HW 0.74, SL 0.69, ML 1.02, MW 0.53, PL 0.25, PH 0.52, CI 88, OI 16, SI 133, PI 48. Paratypes (n = 4): TL 3.61 – 4.00, ED 0.10 – 0.14, HL 0.80 – 0.90, HW 0.74 – 0.78, SL 0.69 – 0.78, ML 1.02 – 1.15, MW 0.50 – 0.59, PL 0.24 – 0.25, PH 0.52 – 0.62, CI 87 – 96, OI 14 – 18, SI 93 – 100, PI 40 – 48.	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
D83B1B41FF9DFFD5FF4EFE01FDC7F9D7.taxon	diagnosis	DIAGNOSIS. Brachyponera troglomorpha sp. n. is most similar to B. kumtongi sp. n. in having a reddish-brown body and a dome-like promesonotum when seen in profile. See “ remarks ” under B. kumtongi. This new species is also similar to B. jerdonii and B. arcuata in general appearance that they share the large eye (with over 7 ommatidia along longest axis) and reddish-brown body. However, it can be distinguished from the latter two by propodeal dorsum almost straight, shorter than length of propodeal declivity (weakly to distinctly convex, almost as long as or longer than length of propodeal declivity in the latter two). The eye of B. troglomorpha sp. n. is smaller than that of B. jerdonii (with 7 – 8 ommatidia along longest axis in B. troglomorpha; ca. 9 – 10 ommatidia along longest axis in B. jerdonii). The new species is easily distinguished from B. arcuata by 1) head, pronotum, and gastral tergite with short erect hairs (clearly absent in B. arcuata); 2) frontal carina relatively long, reaching anterior to medlength of head (short, reaching level posterior margin of eye in B. arcuata); 3) body colour paler (darker in B. arcuata, see Figs. 2 A and 3 L for comparison). HABITAT. This new species was collected from a cave in northern Thailand. The workers were working on the ground at dark zoon of the cave. DISTRIBUTION. Nan Province (Fig. 4). ETYMOLOGY. The specific name refers to a unique element of subterranean life, like continual darkness.	en	Duanchay, T., Buttachon, S., Pinkaew, N., Jaitrong, W. (2024): Two new cave dwelling species of the ant genus Brachyponera Emery, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) from Thailand. Far Eastern Entomologist 511: 1-12, DOI: 10.25221/fee.511.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.511.1
