Temnothorax xiaohan, 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 : 57-59

Temnothorax xiaohan sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4F69E5A1-2B0A-4337-AD78-55926199E8F4

Fig. 36

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. qiufen sp. nov. ( Fig. 33 ), but differs in the new species sides of mesosoma coarsely reticulate, and body color reddish brown, head and gaster brownish black; in T. qiufen sides of mesosoma finely reticulate, and body color brownish black, head and gaster black. The new species is also similar to T. dashu sp. nov. ( Fig. 12 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines weakly longer than their basal width in lateral view, petiolar node asymmetrical with higher anterodorsal corner; in T. dashu propodeal spines shorter than their basal width in lateral view, petiolar node symmetrical with narrowly rounded dorsum. This new species is also similar to T. liqiu sp. nov. ( Fig. 27 ), but differs in the new species metanotal groove absent in lateral view, petiolar node asymmetrical with higher anterodorsal corner, head dorsum strongly reticulate posteriorly; in T. liqiu metanotal groove weakly impressed in lateral view, petiolar node symmetrical with narrowly rounded dorsum, head dorsum weakly reticulate posteriorly.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to ‘xiaohan’, one of the 24 Solar Terms of China.

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Tibet, Linzhi County, Pailong Town, Zhaqu Village ; 29.928517° N, 95.156467° E; 2740 m a.s.l.; 27 Sep. 2007; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; foraging on the ground in subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU A07-543 .

Paratype workers CHINA – Tibet • 2 workers; Linzhi County, Pailong Town, Ganglang ; 29.885082° N, 95.145677° E; 2050 m a.s.l.; 26 Sep. 2007; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; nests under stones in subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU A07-513 • 7 workers; Motuo County, Damu Town , 70K; 29.695050° N, 95.521333° E; 2540 m a.s.l.; 22 Jul. 2011; Cheng-Lin Zhang leg.; canopy sample from subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU A11-4156 • 1 worker; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU A11-4163 ; • 1 worker; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU A11-4173 .

Non-type material examined

CHINA • 1 worker; Tibet, Chayu County, Zhuwagen Town, Cibagou ; 28.655674° N, 97.489766° E; 2500 m a.s.l.; 10 Oct. 2007; Long-Guan Chen leg.; foraging aborally in subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU A07-1156 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 3.0, HL 0.68, HW 0.58, CI 85, SL 0.66, SI 114, ED 0.15, PW 0.38, WL 0.86, PL 0.33, PH 0.20, DPW 0.15.

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, without median carina, anterior margin moderately convex. Frontal lobes broad, concealing most of antennal sockets. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes surpassing posterior head margin, club 3-segmented. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying 1/5 of lateral margin.

In lateral view pronotum weakly convex, promesonotal suture absent. Mesonotum slightly convex and gently sloping down posteriorly, metanotal groove absent. Propodeal dorsum straight; propodeal spines very short, about as long as their basal width, and about ½ length of declivity; declivity weakly concave; propodeal lobes very short and rounded apically. Petiole with long anterior peduncle, about ⅔ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly triangular, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin weakly convex, top corner narrowly rounded; ventral margin straight for most of its length, weakly concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner very bluntly angled. Postpetiole slightly lower than petiolar node, anterodorsal margin rounded, posterior margin straight, ventral margin moderately concave.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, lateral margins strongly covex, humeral corners broadly rounded. Promesotonal suture absent. Mesothorax moderately constricted, lateral margins deeply concave. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins slightly convex; spines short, weakly in-curved. Petiole roughly rectangulay, longer than broad, lateral margins of the node weakly convex. Postpetiole roughly trapezoidal and narrowing posteriorly, about 1.4 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners bluntly angled, lateral margins almost straight. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose and gradually reticulate posteriorly and laterally, interface coarsely reticulate. Clypeus very loosely longitudinally rugose, interface smooth. Mesosoma reticulate; pronotal sides and lower portion of metapleura longitudinally rugose. Petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with abundant suberect to subdecumbent short hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence, hairs on head dorsum relatively denser and erect. Scapes with abundant subdecumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence, tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body color brownish yellow, head and gaster light black.

Measurements of paratype workers: TL 2.6–3.3, HL 0.55–0.65, HW 0.45–0.62, CI 82–97, SL 0.50–0.64, SI 100–111, ED 0.10–0.15, PW 0.3–0.43, WL 0.65–0.93, PL 0.25–0.34, PH 0.15–0.21, DPW 0.10– 0.14. (9 individuals measured). As holotype worker, in some individuals propodeal spines shorter than holotype and body color ligther.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest ( Fig. 69C ) at an elevation of 2050– 2740 m, forages on the ground and on plants, and nests under stones.

Distribution

China: Tibet.

Figures

Fig. 36. Temnothorax xiaohan sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A07-543). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 33. Temnothorax qiufen sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A18-972). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 12. Temnothorax dashu sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A13-479). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 27. Temnothorax liqiu sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU C18-795). 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.