Temnothorax daxue, 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 : 21-23

Temnothorax daxue sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:78D59108-BC20-41A4-A9CF-A55F39BACCA6

Fig. 13

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. eburneipes ( Wheeler, 1927) ( Fig. 14 ), but differs in the new species dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex, propodeal spines suberect; in T. eburneipes dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum moderately convex, propodeal spines posterodorsally pointed. The new species is also similar to T. dongzhi sp. nov. ( Fig. 17 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines as long as declivity in lateral view, anterior peduncle shorter than petiolar node, head dorsum nearly smooth on the central longitudinal strip; in T. dongzhi propodeal spines shorter than declivity in lateral view, anterior peduncle as long as petiolar node, head dorsum longitudinally rugose on the central longitudinal strip.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Lanping County, Lajing Town, Lajing Village ; 26.497406° N, 99.280276° E; 2600 m a.s.l.; 9 Oct. 2003; You Chen leg.; canopy sample from conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; SWFU A3245 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 3.5, HL 0.83, HW 0.69, CI 84, SL 0.65, SI 94, ED 0.16, PW 0.47, WL 1.03, PL 0.37, PH 0.28, DPW 0.18.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin almost straight, posterior corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Clypeal dorsum weakly convex, without median carina, anterior margin almost straight in the center. Frontal lobes narrow, concealing half of antennal socket. Frontal carinae short, reaching to the level of anterior eye margin. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes failing to reach posterior head margin, club 3-segmented. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying 1/5 of lateral margin.

In lateral view promesonotum moderately convex and weakly arched, gently sloping down posteriorly, promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Propodeal dorsum almost straight, gently sloping down posteriorly; propodeal spines long and slender, about as long as declivity, weakly back-curved; declivity weakly concave, propodeal lobes short and rounded apically. Petiole with short anterior peduncle, about ½ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly conical, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin weakly convex, apex narrowly rounded; ventral margin weakly concave, anteroventral corner acutely toothed. Postpetiole as high as petiolar node, anterior margin moderately convex, posterior margin almost straight, apex broadly rounded; ventral margin deeply notched, anteroventral corner acutely toothed, posteroventral corner rightly angled.

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

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum nearly smooth in the central strip, loosely longitudinally rugose beside the central smooth strip, reticulate laterally, longitudinally rugose below eyes, genae with arched rugae. Clypeus smooth, each side with 4–5 short rugae. Mesosomal dorsum coarsely reticulate; pronotal sides longitudinally rugose; mesopleura and metapleura coarsely reticulate; propodeal sides and petiole finely reticulate; postpetiole densely finely punctate, dorsum smooth and shiny. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with sparse erect to suberect short apically blunt hairs and sparse decumbent pubescence, hairs on the head abundant. Scapes with abundant subdecumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence; tibiae with abundant decumbent pubescence. Body color black; mandible, antennae and legs blackish brown.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits conifer-broadleaf mixed forest ( Fig. 69D ) at an elevation of 2600 m, and forages arboreally.

Distribution

China: Yunnan.

Figures

Fig. 13. Temnothorax daxue sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A3245). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 14. Temnothorax eburneipes (Wheeler, 1927), syntype worker (MCZC). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. Illustrations cited from Radchenko (2004).

Fig. 17. Temnothorax dongzhi sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU C18-962). 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.