Temnothorax simlensis, Bharti, H., Gu, I. & Sasi, S., 2016

Bharti, H., Gu, I. & Sasi, S., 2016, Taxonomy of Temnothorax simlensis stat. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with first description of sexual castes along with a mention of its plesiobiotic association with Himalayan species of genus Myrmica, Sociobiology 63 (2), pp. 748-754 : 4-6

Temnothorax simlensis stat. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C03BF255-82D7-4458-ADC6- 0982DE810206

( Figs 1-9 )

Leptothorax rothneyi var. simlensis Forel, 1904: 22 (w.) India.

Diagnosis: The following character combination distin-

guishes the species from the other Indian Temnothorax :

The presence of small dentate (triangular) propodeal spines (PSLI = 9-10) is a distinctive character of this species; propodeal spines small, triangular in worker and queen and indistinct in male; absence of dense sculpture on head (distinct longitudinal rugae) and yellowish brown to brown colouration of the body.

Description

Worker: ( Figs 1-3 )

Measurements, HL 0.69-0.75; HW 0.55-0.59; SL 0.51- 0.57; WL 0.74-0.80; PNW 0.41-0.47; PL 0.41-0.47; PPL Figs A-C. Measurements of diFerent body parts.

0.21-0.24; PH 0.17-0.21; GL 0.90-0.96; PSL 0.054-0.06; CI

125-130; SI1 71-75; SI2 93-98; PSLI 9-10; TL 2.86-3.04. n=9

Head: Head subrectangular in full face view; posterior margin of head slightly convex; narrowly round posterolateral corners; lateral sides almost parallel; anterior clypeal margin broadly rounded; eyes situated about the middle on the sides of the head; mandibles triangular, the masticatory margin with 5 prominent teeth; antennae 12 segmented, scape short, barely reaching posterior margin of head.

Mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole: Mesosoma with slightly convex dorsum anteriorly, posteriorly fairly straight; metanotal groove shallow but distinct; humeri in dorsal view rounded; propodeal spines short, dentate, as long as 1/4 the range of their bases; petiolar node longer than high with short anterior peduncle; petiolar node in proFle with steep and very slightly concave anterior face and somewhat rounded, thicker dorsum; postpetiolar node as high as petiolar node, with the rounded dorsum and wider than petiolar node; gaster somewhat ovate, smooth and shiny.

Sculpture and pilosity: Head rugulose and reticulated except for the space in between frontal carinae up to posterior side of frons and the median clypeus which are smooth; mandibles with distinct rugosity; clypeus longitudinally rugose except for the median portion; Mesosoma rugulose and reticulated all over; petiolar and postpetiolar nodes Fnely reticulated; head and Mesosoma punctulate; gaster smooth and shiny; suberect to erect hairs scattered over the whole body; decumbent pubescent hairs on antennae and legs, more dense on antennal funiculus.

Colour: The front of the mesosoma, mandibles, antennae, legs, petiole, postpetiole and anterior 1/5 of the gaster yellowish brown; rest of the body dark brown to black in colour; pilosity pale white.

Queen: ( Figs 4-6 )

Measurements, HL 0.79; HW 0.66; SL 0.56; WL 1.32; PNW 0.84; PL 0.42; PPL 0.29; PH 0.25; GL 1.62; PSL 0.054; CI 119; SI1 71; SI2 85; PSLI 8; TL 4.4. n=1.

Resembles the worker, with modiFcations expected for caste and with the following diFerences: Body massive, hairy; scattered longitudinal rugae covering the head except for the frons and antennal hollows which are smooth with a few indistinct rugulae; eyes large and bulging; three prominent ocelli positioned as making a triangle on frons; mesosomal dorsum weakly rugulose anteriorly, posteriorly smooth; rugulose on sides and around propodeal spines with some patches smooth on sides; propodeal spines dentate; petiolar, postpetiolar nodes dull due to weak sculpture on the nodes; hairs of varying lengths cover entire body; mesosoma without any constriction, very robust, with raised scutellum interrupting the regular convexity above; propodeal declivity very steep; petiolar node broadly round, postpetiolar node very broad; gaster long and gibbous; colour dark brown to black all over with a yellowish patch on anterior segment of gaster and on the middle of mesosoma; legs and antennae yellow except for the femori which are brown.

Male: ( Figs 7-9 )

Measurements, HL 0.53; HW 0.51; SL 0.20; WL 1.12; PNW 0.72; PL 0.28; PPL 0.26; PH 0.16; GL 1.15; PSL 0; CI 103; SI1 38; SI2 39; PSLI 0; TL 3.34. n=1

Head broadly oval and converging posterior to eyes in full face view; posterolateral corners rounded; eyes very large, bulging beyond head outline in full-face view; three prominent ocelli present on frons; antennae 13 segmented, Fliform, scapes short, failing to reach the posterior margin of head; clypeus broadly rounded anteriorly; mandibles with 5 teeth; mesosoma enlarged to accommodate flight muscles; pronotum small; scutum smooth; scutellum raised, declivity steep; propodeal spines indistinct; petiolar node indistinct, very low, postpetiolar node, broad, low; gaster lengthened; colour black all over; antennae and legs yellowish brown; wings transparent with a creamish glare; body shiny, head with microreticulation; clypeus smooth with a few carinae; mandibles with indistinct rugosity; petiolar and postpetiolar nodes Fnely reticulated; mesosoma and gaster smooth and shiny.

Material examined: India: Himachal Pradesh: Kothi, 2600m, 9(w), 1(q), 1(m), 23.vi.2010 (collected by Irfan Gul), 5(w), 27.vi.2014, 4(w), 16.vi.2015 (collected by Sishal Sasi) in PUAC. Syntypes (MHNG): Shimla, casent 0909055- T. rothneyi simlensis ; Mussorie, casent 0909054- T. rothneyi .

Distribution: India (Himalaya).

Ecology: The nests of this species were located on a hill slope covered with grasses and stones, in a temperate forest, which comprises mostly of Pinus and Cedrus trees. The nests were small, usually 4 to 5 inches deep with low abundance of workers. The recorded nest temperature ranged from 14°C to 28°C and relative humidity from 42% to 91%. This species has been observed to share a plesiobiotic association with two of the Myrmica species ( M. aimmonissabaudiae and M. cachmiriensis ) distributed in the region, where these diFerent ant species nest very close to each other under the stones, but are not engaged in direct communication, unless their nest chambers are broken open, in which case Fghting and brood capturing have been observed.

Remarks: Both T. rothneyi and T. rothneyi simlensis have been found to be sympatric, and are endemic to Himalaya (see map). Additionally, based on morphometry and consistency of morphological characters (as outlined in the key) in workers & gyne, which distinguish the taxa under question, T. rothneyi similensis has been raised to species rank.

Figures

Figs 1 - 3. Worker Temnothorax simlensis stat. nov.: 1 - Head, full face view; 2 - Body, lateral view; 3 - Body, dorsal view

Figs 4 - 6. Queen Temnothorax simlensis stat. nov.: 4 - Head, full face view; 5 - Body, lateral view; 6 - Body, dorsal view.

Figs 7 - 9. Male Temnothorax simlensis stat. nov.: 7 - Head, full face view; 8 - Body, lateral view; 9 - Body, dorsal view.