Temnothorax dong, Qian & Xu, 2024

Qian, Yu-Han & Xu, Zheng-Hui, 2024, Taxonomy of the ant genera Leptothorax Mayr, 1855 and Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of China with descriptions of twenty-eight new species and a key to the known Chinese species, European Journal of Taxonomy 936, pp. 1-97 : 23-26

Temnothorax dong sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5948192F-526C-48A4-81DA-0ECF8ADDE98B

Fig. 15

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. huatuo Terayama, 2009 ( Fig. 16 ), but differs in the new species apices of antennal scapes just reaching to posterior head margin, head dorsum densely reticulate on the central area, mesosomal dorsum moderately convex, anterior margin of petiole shallowly concave, and body color black; in T. huatuo apices of antennal scapes failing to reach posterior head margin, head dorsum loosely reticulate on the central area, mesosomal dorsum weakly convex, anterior margin of petiole moderately concave, and body color brownish black. The new species is also similar to T. lixia sp. nov. ( Fig. 28 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines longer than half length of declivity in lateral view, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node rightly angled, pronotal sides finely reticulate; in T. lixia propodeal spines shorter than half length of declivity in lateral view, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node bluntly angled, pronotal sides coarsely reticulate. This new species is also similar to T. xiazhi sp. nov. ( Fig. 41 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines longer than half length of declivity in lateral view, anterior peduncle shorter than petiolar node, mesopleura densely punctate; in T. xiazhi propodeal spines shorter than half length of declivity in lateral view, anterior peduncle as long as petiolar node, mesopleura reticulate.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to ‘dong’, one of the four seasons.

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Tengchong City, Jietou Town, Daying Village ; 25.504974° N, 98.687047° E; 1900 m a.s.l.; 2 May. 1999; Lei Fu leg.; ground sample from conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; SWFU A99-428 .

Paratype worker CHINA • 1 worker; same collection data as for holotype; SWFU A99-428 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 2.8, HL 0.68, HW 0.57, CI 84, SL 0.60, SI 105, ED 0.13, PW 0.41, WL 0.78, PL 0.30, PH 0.21, DPW 0.16.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior and lateral margins weakly convex, posterior corners broadly rounded. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Clypeal dorsum weakly convex, with median carina, anterior margin moderately convex. Frontal lobes broad, concealing most of antennal sockets. Frontal carinae short, reaching to the level of anterior eye margins. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes slightly surpassing posterior head margin, club 3-segmented. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying ¼ of lateral margin.

In lateral view mesosomal dorsum weakly convex and gently sloping down posteriorly, anterodorsal corner of pronotum bluntly angled, promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Propodeal spines moderately long, about ⅔ length of declivity and about 2 times as long as their basal width; declivity weakly concave; propodeal lobes short and rounded apically. Petiole with long anterior peduncle, about as long as petiolar node; petiolar node roughly triangular, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin weakly convex, top corner rightly angled; ventral margin straight, weakly concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner acutely toothed. Postpetiole about as high as petiolar node, anterior margin almost straight, anterodorsal corner bluntly angled, dorsal margin weakly convex, ventral margin angularly concave.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior margin moderately convex, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins strongly convex, promesonotal suture absent. Mesothorax moderately constricted, lateral margins weakly concave, metanotal groove absent. Propodeum roughly rectangular and slightly widening posteriorly, lateral margins almost straight; spines moderately long and straight, pointed posterolaterally. Petiole roughly trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, longer than broad, lateral margins weakly convex. Postpetiole roughly rectangular, about 1.4 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum densely finely reticulate, interface densely punctate; frontal area longitudinally rugose. Clypeus longitudinally rugose. Mesosoma densely reticulate; pronotal sides and lower portion of metapleura longitudinally rugose. Propodeum, petiole and postpetiole densely finely punctate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with abundant erect to suberect apically blunt short hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence. Scapes and tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body color black; antennae and legs blackish brown; mandibles and tarsi brownish yellow.

Measurements of paratype worker: TL 2.4, HL 0.65, HW 0.50, CI 77, SL 0.50, SI 100, ED 0.10, PW 0.35, WL 0.60, PL 0.25, PH 0.18, DPW 0.15 (1 individual measured). As holotype worker.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits conifer-broadleaf mixed forest ( Fig. 69D ) at an elevation of 1900 m, and forages on the ground.

Distribution

China: Yunnan.

Figures

Fig. 15. Temnothorax dong sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A99-428). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 16. Temnothorax huatuo Terayama, 2009, holotype worker (NIAS). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Images cited from www.antwiki.org, photos by Hiraku Yoshitake & Takashi Kurihara.

Fig. 28. Temnothorax lixia sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A05-869). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 41. Temnothorax xiazhi sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A04-1198). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 69. Middle elevational vegetations. A. Pinus densata Masters forest (2750 m, Bomi, Tibet). B. Pinus armandi Franch. forest (2557 m, Qiaojia, Yunnan). C. Subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest (2500 m, Lushui, Yunnan). D. Conifer-broadleaf mixed forest (2500 m, Huaping, Yunnan). E. Moss evergreen broadleaf forest (2450 m. Cangyuan, Yunnan). F. Warm conifer forest (2230 m, Huili, Sichuan). G. Dry-warm valley shrubland (2230 m, Muli, Sichuan). H. Semi-evergreen broadleaf forest (2050 m, Danba, Sichuan). I. Pinus yunnanensis forest (2030 m, Huaping, Yunnan). Photos by Zheng-Hui Xu.