Temnothorax mongolicus ( Pisarski, 1969 )

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 : 5-7

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2024.936.2569

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:53A95458-F2C4-4486-A80B-14B121D1BD14

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11659486

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/BF3087B3-FF98-2A4B-FDC1-A1686C481A07

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Temnothorax mongolicus ( Pisarski, 1969 )
status

 

Temnothorax mongolicus ( Pisarski, 1969)

Fig. 1 View Fig

Leptothorax serviculus subsp. mongolicus Pisarski, 1969: 299 View in CoL , figs 5–10 (w.) MONGOLIA. Palearctic. Paratype worker images ( Antweb 2023, CASENT 0916693) examined.

Leptothorax opaciabdomin Chang & He, 2001: 2 , figs 2, 6, 10 (w.) CHINA. Palearctic. Syn. nov.

Leptothorax mongolicus View in CoL – Radchenko 1994: 156.

Temnothorax mongolicus – Bolton 2003: 271.

Temnothorax opaciabdomin – Zhou et al. 2010: 10 (in key). Holotype worker ( Fig. 2a–c View Fig ) examined.

Diagnosis

In full-face view, the shapes of the head capsule, mandibles, clypeus and antennae of the holotype worker of Leotothorax opaciabdomin ( Fig. 2A View Fig ) are similar to the ones of the paratype worker of T. mongolicus ( Fig. 1A View Fig ). Head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin nearly straight, posterior corners broadly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Clypeus with median carina, anterior margin weakly convex. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes failing to reach posterior head margin.

In lateral view, the holotype worker of Temnothorax opaciabdomin ( Fig. 2B View Fig ) also has similar to shaped mesosoma and petiole the paratype worker of T. mongolicus ( Fig. 1B View Fig ). Promesonotum moderately convex. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeal dorsum gently sloping down posteriorly; propodeal spines shorter than declivity. Petiole without anterior peduncle; petiolar node with straight anterior and posterior margins.

In dorsal view, the holotype worker of Temnothorax opaciabdomin ( Fig. 2C View Fig ) shows similar to shape in mesosoma and petiole the paratype worker of T. mongolicus ( Fig. 1C View Fig ). Pronotum broad, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins strongly convex. Mesothorax moderately constricted and narrowing posteriorly, lateral margins moderately concave. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins almost straight; spines short, pointed posterolaterally. Petiole widening posteriorly and slightly longer than broad, lateral margins weakly convex. Postpetiole roughly trapezoidal.

The holotype worker of Temnothorax opaciabdomin ( Fig. 2 View Fig ) shows similar to characters in body surface sculpture, pilosity and color to paratype worker of T. mongolicus ( Fig. 1 View Fig ). Head dorsum longitudinally rugose with interface finely reticulate, gradually reticulate posteriorly and laterally. Promesonotum, propodeum, petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate with interface punctate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Head and gaster blackish brown, thorax, petiole and postpetiole light brown.

Taxonomic notes

After the above comparison, we could not find significant differences between the two species. Although in the original description, Chang & He (2001) stated “Gaster finely punctate and therefore not very shiny”. In the key, they stated “Gaster relatively coarsely punctate and therefore not very shiny”, and the Latin name “opaciabdomin ” means the gaster is opaque. Zhou et al. (2010) adopted the original description and stated in the key “First gastral tergite coarsely punctuate, opaque”. However, after reexamining the images of holotype specimen, we found the gaster of T. opaciabdomin is wholly smooth and shiny. Therefore, we are confident that T. opaciabdomin is a junior synonym of T. mongolicus .

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

SubFamily

Myrmicinae

Tribe

Crematogastrini

Genus

Temnothorax

Loc

Temnothorax mongolicus ( Pisarski, 1969 )

Qian, Yu-Han & Xu, Zheng-Hui 2024
2024
Loc

Temnothorax opaciabdomin

Zhou S. & Huang J. & Yu D. & Liu Z. 2010: 10
2010
Loc

Temnothorax mongolicus

Bolton B. 2003: 271
2003
Loc

Leptothorax opaciabdomin

Chang Y. D. & He D. H. 2001: 2
2001
Loc

Leptothorax mongolicus

Radchenko A. G. 1994: 156
1994
Loc

Leptothorax serviculus subsp. mongolicus

Pisarski B. 1969: 299
1969
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