Temnothorax buddha Subedi, Budha et Yusupov, 2023

Subedi, I. P., Yusupov, Z. M. & Budha, P. B., 2023, Three new species of the ant genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Myrmicinae) from Nepal, Far Eastern Entomologist 475, pp. 6-16 : 7-10

Temnothorax buddha Subedi, Budha et Yusupov , sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 76A25F96-B2D7-4AE1-8957-2B50F5B379A9

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype: worker ( CDZMTU HymF121), Nepal: Bagmati Province, Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Nagarjun Forest, Jamacho , 27.7452°N, 85.2667°E, 2094 m asl, bait collection, 3.V 2019, leg. I.P. Subedi. Paratype: 1 queen ( CDZMTU HymF122), same data as a holotype .

DESCRIPTION. WORKER. Head. In full-face view head slightly longer than broad (CI 1.26), with little rounded occipital corners and slightly convex or nearly straight posterior margin; anterior clypeal margin convex; eyes relatively large; mandibles elongate, masticatory margins with five teeth; antennae 12-segmented; scape almost reaches the posterior margin of head in full-face view (SI1 0.65, SI2 0.83). Mesosoma. In profile view, mesosoma with convex dorsum; promesonotal suture visible only ventrally, not reaching up to middle, metanotal groove shallow; propodeal spines moderately long, straight, slightly widened at the base, their tips are obliquely truncate; propodeal declivity roughly concave. Petiole and postpetiole. In profile, petiolar node longer than high with somewhat long anterior peduncle; petiolar node with steep and almost straight anterior face and convex, massive with sharpened corners dorsum; Postpetiole shorter than petiole with rounded dorsum and almost similar in height with petiole; in dorsal view broader than petiole, more or less equal in length and width itself. Gaster. Smooth and shiny. Sculpture and pilosity. Head dorsum with regular longitudinal striations extending to the occiput, frons and genae nearly smooth and shiny, mandibles with faint striations, coarse longitudinal and reticulate rugae in mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster with almost similar sculptures. Suberect to erect hairs covering the whole body, decumbent pubescent hairs on antennae and legs, dense in funicular segments of antennae. Colour. Body yellowish with little lighter legs and antennae, pilosity white.

MEASUREMENTS AND INDICES. HL 0.67, HW 0.53, SL 0.44, OL 0.14, FRS 0.13, AL 0.79, AH 0.35, PNW 0.35, HTL 0.42, PL 0.31, PW 0.17, PH 0.21, PPL 0.22, PPW 0.24, PPH 0.21, ESL 0.14, CI 1.26, SI1 0.65, SI2 0.83, OI1 0.21, OI2 0.26, PI 1.47, PPI 1.07, AI 2.28, ESLI 0.26.

QUEEN. Mostly similar with workers except usual modifications in the queen. Larger and more robust body with thick hair, mandibles almost triangular, striations as in workers, antennal scape almost reaching occipital border, large eyes, three distinct ocelli, gaster smooth and shiny with blackish yellow, body color yellowish with black tinge, legs and antennae faint yellow.

MEASUREMENTS AND INDICES. HL 0.69, HW 0.60, SL 0.53, OL 0.17, FRS 0.14, AL 1.03, AH 0.47, PNW 0.50, HTL 0.44, PL 0.33, PW 0.19, PH 0.22, PPL 0.31, PPW 0.22, PPH 0.22, ESL 0.19, CI 1.16, SI1 0.76, SI2 0.88, OI1 0.24, OI2 0.28, PI 1.50, PPI 1.38, AI 2.18, ESLI 0.33.

MALE. Unknown.

BIONOMICS. These ants were collected from the cookie baits kept at Nagarjun Forest nearby Jamacho Monastery, Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Nepal .

DISTRIBUTION. It is reported only from Nagarjun forest, Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Nepal.

ETYMOLOGY. The species is named after the Lord Buddha who was born in Nepal.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS. Temnothorax buddha sp. n. may be confused with Himalayan species such as T. microreticulatus Bharti et al., 2012 , T. pamiricus (Ruzsky, 1902) , T. pakistanensis Rasheed et al., 2020 , and T. himachalensis Bharti et al., 2012 , which also have unicolorous yellow body. But from the first species T. buddha sp. n. is distinguished by a more strongly sculptured and longer head (CI 1.26 vs max 1.17) and mesosoma, thinner propodeal spines, much rounded petiole node, shorter and broader petiolar peduncle and massive postpetiole. The new species differs from T. pamiricus and T. himachalensis in much longer propodeal spines, developed strong sculpture, petiole shape, etc. T. buddha sp. n. differs from T. pakistanensis in shorter head (CI 1.26 vs min 1.26 and max 1.32) and scape (SI1 0.65 vs min 0.72), absence of deep metanotal groove, longer propodeal spines, shape of petiole, and coarser sculpture of body.