Temnothorax oreades, Salata & Demetriou & Georgiadis & Borowiec, 2024

Salata, Sebastian, Demetriou, Jakovos, Georgiadis, Christos & Borowiec, Lech, 2024, The genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Cyprus, Zootaxa 5434 (1), pp. 1-69 : 48-56

Temnothorax oreades n. sp. ( Figs 42–51 , 64 )

Etymology. Named after mythological Oreades[GreekὈρειάδες],mountain nymphs associated with highland forests. This species is associated with high-altitude forests, and we perceive them as guardians of Troodos.

Material examined. Holotype: worker (pin) “ CYPRUS, Limassol Mt | Olympos [= Chionistra ] loc. 1, 1862 m | 34.92943 / 32.87001 | 25 IV 2022, L. Borowiec ” ( MNHW) . Paratypes (7 gynes, 53 workers, pin): 4g, 33w (4 nests), the same data as for holotype; 1g, 6w “ CYPRUS, Limassol Mt | Olympos [= Chionistra ] loc. 2, 1609 m | 34.94746 / 32.84706 | 25 IV 2022, L. Borowiec ” ( MNHW) ; 1g, 6w “ CYPRUS, Limassol Mt | Olympos [= Chionistra ] loc. 3, 1929 m | 34.93568 / 32.86242 | 26 IV 2022, S. Salata ” ( MNHW) ; 1g, 6w “ CYPRUS, Limassol Mt | Olympos [= Chionistra ] loc. 3, 1928 m | 34.93563 / 32.8624 | 26 IV 2022, L. Borowiec ” ( MNHW) ; 2w “ CYPRUS, Limassol 1600 m | ad Kalidonia Waterfall 1 | 34.91508 / 32.87037 | 25 IV 2022, L. Borowiec ” ( MNHW) .

Other material examined. 15 workers (EtOH): the same data as for holotype; Limassol, ad Trooditissa loc. 2, Kampi tou Kalogirou , 34.92709 / 32.83221, 1328 m, 26 IV 2022, 1g, 6w (pin), host nest of Temnothorax curtisetosus , 1g, 75w (EtOH) leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Limassol, Troodos, Mt Olympos (= Chionistra ) loc. 1, 34.929437 / 32.870011, 1862 m, 25 IV 2022, 2g, 244w (7 nests, EtOH), leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Limassol, Troodos, Mt Olympos (= Chionistra ) loc. 2, 34.947468 / 32.847068, 1609 m, 25 IV 2022, 4g, 341w (8 nests, EtOH), leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Limassol, Troodos, Pano Platres, Caledonia Waterfall trail, 34.90901 / 32.86405, 1464 m, 25 IV 2022, 1w (pin), leg. S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Limassol, Troodos, Pano Platres, ad Kalidonia waterfall loc. 1, 34.915089 / 32.870371, 1600 m, 25 IV 2022, 21w (EtOH), leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Limassol, Troodos, Pano Platres, Troodos marsh ( Almyrolivado ), 34.930595 / 32.902493, 1604 m, 26 IV 2022, 23w (EtOH), leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Nicosia, Cedar Valley loc. 2, 34.99094 / 32.6886, 1140 m, 22 IV 2022, 10w (pin), leg. S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Stavros tis Psokas , mouflon farm, 35.026647 / 32.630986, 842 m, 21 IV 2022, 1g (pin), 30w (8 pin, 22 EtOH), leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) .

Comparative note. Temnothorax oreades is a member of the T. graecus group, variable in size, morphological details, and body color. Generally, species from higher altitudes are darker colored and more distinctly bicolor with the head usually darker than mesosoma, while specimens from lower altitudes are paler colored with the head not or only slightly darker than mesosoma. Temnothorax oreades has uniformly yellow antennae or its antennal club might be slightly darker yellow than the funicle and in this character is similar to T. evagorae and T. cerastarum . Temnothorax aeolius differs in antennal club partly brown to black. Pale specimens of T. oreades are similar to T. cerastarum but differ in less sculptured head with the greater part of the frontal and occipital areas smooth and shiny, longer and needle-shaped propodeal spines with mean PSLI 0.297, and longer antennal scapus with mean SI1 0.933 and SI2 0.785. Temnothorax evagorae is very similar to the pale form of T. oreades in sculpture and shape of petiole, and the best distinguishing characteristic is the length of mesosomal erect setae ( T. oreades has longer setae, with the length of longest seta/eye diameter ratio 0.571 –0.645 (mean 0.604). Both species are separated ecologically, T. evagorae is a lowland and highland species recorded from the seacoast to an altitude of 838 m, while T. oreades was collected only in mountain habitats from 1100 to 1928 m with only one locality below 1100 m at an altitude 842 m but placed in very shadow and wet site. The last yellow Cypriot species T. akrotiriensis differs from the pale form of T. oreades in the more sculptured head with a distinctly microreticulate background between large reticulation and rugae thus frontal part of the head looks slightly dull, while in T. oreades this background sculpture is diffused or absent thus frontal part of head looks shiny. Temnothorax akrotiriensis has a very narrow band at the end of its first gastral tergite, which occupies at most ¼ posterior surface of the tergite, while in T. oreades this band usually occupies more than half the length of the tergite. Both species are separated ecologically, T. akrotiriensis was collected only at low altitudes, from the seacoast to 156 m.

Description. Worker (n = 10): HL: 0.611 –0.754 (0.706); HW: 0.505 –0.663 (0.604); SL: 0.460 –0.568 (0.542); EL: 0.135 –0.183 (0.159); EW: 0.105 –0.121 (0.115); PNW: 0.341 –0.452 (0.411); WL: 0.709 –0.892 (0.832); PEL: 0.271 –0.365 (0.325); PEH: 0.193 –0.241 (0.225); PPL: 0.175 –0.238 (0.221); PPW: 0.195 –0.261 (0.236); PSL: 0.137 –0.183 (0.151); CI: 1.137 –1.196 (1.170); EI1: 1.286 –1.512 (1.378); EI2: 0.216 –0.245 (0.226); SI1: 0.857 – 0.940 (0.898); SI2: 0.751 –0.806 (0.768); MI: 1.949 –2.079 (2.026); PI: 1.403 –1.521 (1.444); PPI: 0.946 –1.114 (1.069); PSLI: 0.220 –0.291 (0.250).

Color. In typical specimens frontal part of head ochraceous with slightly obscure gena, posteriorly head gradually paler, ochraceous yellow, postocular area and ventral side ochraceous yellow to yellow. Mesosoma ochraceous yellow with slightly paler yellow dorsum, petiole and postpetiole ochraceous to orange-yellow, gaster predominantly dark brown except yellow posterior margins of tergites and orange-yellow to yellow basal spot on first gastral tergite occupying not more than ¼ of surface of the tergite. Antennae and legs yellow, femora slightly infuscate in the middle, antennal club sometimes slightly darker yellow than basal segments of funicle but never brown ( Figs 42–44 ). In the palest specimens body predominantly yellow ( Fig. 45 ) with only gena and frons slightly darker, orange-yellow ( Fig. 47 ) and basal yellow spot on first gastral tergite occupying almost ⅓ anterior space of the tergite ( Fig. 45 ). In the darkest specimens head yellowish-brown, except ochraceous postocular area, mesosoma ochraceous yellow with brown sides of mesonotum and propodeum, petiole and postpetiole yellowish-brown, mid and hind femora predominantly brown except yellow base and knee and basal spot on first gastral tergite small occupying less than ⅕ of anterior space of the tergite ( Figs 46 , 48 ). Head. Slightly elongate, 1.14–1.21 × as long as wide, sides widest at eye level then softly converging anterad and posterad, occipital corners regularly rounded, occipital margin of head straight to slightly convex ( Fig. 44 ). Anterior margin of clypeus softly convex, without central angulation, with 4–6 short setae, medial notch absent. Eyes moderate, short oval, 1.3–1.4 × as long as wide, 0.23 × as long as head length. Antennal scape moderately long, in lateral view slightly curved, approximately 0.9 × as long as width of the head, in apex gradually widened, without or and very shallow preapical constriction, its base with obtuse angles. Funiculus distinctly longer than scape, first segment 2.2 × as long as wide at apex, 2.9 × longer than second segment, segments 2–6 transverse, segment 7 only slightly wider than long, club large, 1.2 × as long as segments 1–8 combined, last segment of club elongate, 1.4 × as long as segments 8 and 9 combined ( Fig. 44 ). Surface of scape with fine microreticulation, shiny, covered with thin, moderate dense, basally appressed apically gradually subdecumbent hairs. Mandibles with thick sparse, longitudinal striae, shiny, covered with short appressed and few subdecumbent hairs. Clypeus with median keel and two keels on each side, interspaces smooth and shiny. Frons narrow, approximately 0.39 × as wide as head width. Frontal carinae short, slightly extending beyond frontal lobes.Antennal fossa deep, margined with sharp circular rugae with smooth interspaces. Frontal lobes narrow, placed only slightly upwards ( Fig. 44 , 47, 48 ). Gena, malar area and frons laterally with sharp longitudinal rugae and usually with reticulate connections better marked in dark forms ( Fig. 48 ), indistinct in the palest forms ( Fig. 47 ), postocular area, vertex and occipital corners with fine striation, interspaces from smooth to diffusely microreticulate. Central part of frons, with smooth and shiny median stripe, better marked in pale forms, in dark forms often reduced to a smooth central line, frons centrally without or with extremely small setose punctation. Surface of head without appressed pubescence, frons, vertex and occipital area with erect, pale, short and thick setae, the longest on occipitum 0.59 × as long as eye width ( Figs 44 , 47, 48 ). Mesosoma. Elongate, approximately twice as long as wide, slightly arched in anterior third, flat to slightly convex in posterior ⅔ length, without metanotal groove or impression. Pronotum convex on sides. Anterior slope of pronotum with transverse rugae, dorsum with fine longitudinal rugae and microreticulate interspaces, shiny. Sides of pronotum with sharp longitudinal rugae and diffusely microreticulate interspaces, shiny. Dorsum of mesonotum microreticulate with sharp longitudinal rugae, sides of mesonotum predominantly microgranulate with sharp longitudinal rugae, surface appears irregular. Dorsum of propodeum microreticulate, with longitudinal rugae, area between propodeal spines only microreticulate or with remnants of rugae, posterior face microreticulate with transverse rugae, sides of propodeum predominantly with sharp longitudinal rugae, especially on metapleural lobe, and microreticulate interspaces, surface appears irregular but shiny. Propodeal spines moderately long, mean PSL/HW 0.25, running obliquely upwards, in form of elongate spines with moderately widened base, straight, acute apically ( Figs 43 , 45, 46 ). Entire mesosoma bearing erect, yellow, moderately long setae, the longest seta/eye diameter ratio 0.571 –0.645 (mean 0.604) ( Figs 43 , 45, 46 ). Petiole. Elongate, mean PEL/PEH 1.44, anterior face straight or very shallowly concave, ventral margin anteriorly with sharp spine, node in lateral view obtusely angulate with sharp lateral carinae, with few short rugae on top and longitudinal rugae on sides, whole surface microreticulate, shiny. Postpetiole. In dorsal view 1.1 × as long as wide, approximately 1.3 × as wide as petiole, surface microreticulate in pale forms without or with rudiments of rugae, in dark forms with longitudinal striation and on sides irregular rugae, appearing irregular but shiny. Dorsal surface of petiole and postpetiole with long erect setae, as long as longest setae on pronotum ( Fig. 43 ). Gaster. Smooth and shiny, bearing erect, thin, pale setae, almost as long as setae on mesosoma ( Figs 42, 43 ). Legs. Moderately elongate, femora moderately swollen in the middle, tibiae widened from base to ¾ length, surface of legs covered with extremely sparse, appressed hairs, appears smooth and shiny.

Gyne (n = 3): HL: 0.730 –0.743 (0.737); HW: 0.683 –0.698 (0.690); SL: 0.525 –0.573 (0.551); EL: 0.200 –0.230 (0.215); EW: 0.168 –0.183 (0.175); PNW: 0.814 –0.857 (0.832); WL: 1.333 –1.389 (1.354); PEL: 0.349 –0.428 (0.394); PEH: 0.270 –0.287 (0.276); PPL: 0.286 –0.317 (0.303); PPW: 0.302 –0.325 (0.314); PSL: 0.190 –0.209 (0.199); CI: 1.046 –1.088 (1.068); EI1: 1.190 –1.257 (1.227); EI2: 0.274 –0.310 (0.292); SI1: 0.752 –0.830 (0.799); SI2: 0.719 –0.776 (0.748); MI: 1.621 –1.638 (1.628); PI: 1.293 –1.500 (1.428); PPI: 1.025 –1.056 (1.039); PSLI: 0.272 –0.303 (0.288).

Color. Head brown, with slightly paler postocular area and ventral surface, mesosoma predominantly brown, only scutellum dark brown centrally, postpetiole, petiole and gaster brown, first tergite with yellowish-brown basal spot, second tergite with yellow posterior margin. Antennae yellow with infuscate club, legs predominantly yellow, swollen part of femora brown ( Figs 49, 50 ). Head. Broad, approximately 1.1 × as long as wide, widest behind eyes, gena parallel, behind eyes softly convergent, occipital corners rounded, occipital margin slightly convex ( Fig. 51 ). Anterior margin of clypeus softly convex, median notch absent, with 4 long and 2 short setae. Eyes large, short oval, 1.2 × as long as wide, 0.27–0.31 × as long as head length. Antennal scape moderately long, in lateral view slightly curved, 0.75–0.83 × as long as width of the head, in apex only slightly widened with very shallow preapical constriction, its basal corners obtusely angulate. Funiculus distinctly longer than scape, first segment 2.2 × as long as wide at apex, 3.3 × longer than second segment, segments 2–6 transverse, segment 7 only slightly wider than long, club large, 1.2 × as long as segments 1–8 combined, last segment of club elongate, 1.2 × as long as segments 8 and 9 combined ( Fig. 51 ). Surface of scape with fine microreticulation, shiny, covered with thin, moderate dense, basally appressed apically subdecumbent hairs. Mandibles with thick sparse, longitudinal striae, shiny, covered with short to moderate subdecumbent to decumbent hairs. Clypeus with median keel and two keels on each side, interspaces smooth, shiny. Frons narrow, approximately 0.38 × as wide as head width. Frontal carinae short, extending to ⅓ length of eyes. Antennal fossa deep, margined with sharp circular striae with smooth interspaces. Frontal lobes very narrow, placed only slightly upwards ( Fig. 51 ). Whole surface of head with sharp longitudinal rugae extending to occipital margin, in malar area rugae tends to form reticulation, interspaces smooth or with diffused microreticulation, shiny, frons centrally without punctation. Surface of head without appressed pubescence, only sides with short decumbent hairs, frons, vertex and occipital area with erect, pale, short and thick setae, the longest on occipitum 0.34 × as long as eye width. Mesosoma. Elongate, approximately 1.6 × as long as wide. Pronotum not visible from above, scutum and scutellum flat dorsally. Anterior slope of pronotum with rugose sculpture, sides with sharp longitudinal rugae and smooth to diffusely microreticulate interspaces, appears shiny. Dorsum of scutum with longitudinal striation, diffused or disappearing on anterior slope and lateral lobes, interspaces smooth to diffusely microreticulate, shiny. Dorsum of scutellum predominantly smooth and shiny, only sides and close to anterior margin with diffused striation ( Fig. 49 ). Anepisternum anteriorly and dorsally with longitudinal striation, ventrally and posteriorly partly smooth, shiny, katepisternum predominantly smooth and shiny only close to posterior margin with short longitudinal rugae. Dorsum of propodeum with oblique and transverse rugae, between spines and posteriorly with transverse rugae, shiny, sides of propodeum with sharp longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth or diffusely microreticulate, shiny. Propodeal spines short, mean PSL/HW 0.29, in form of triangular denticle with broadly widened base and acute apex ( Fig. 50 ). Entire mesosoma bearing erect, yellow, moderately long setae, the longest 0.4 × as long as eye diameter ( Fig. 50 ). Petiole. Elongate, mean PEL/PEH 1.43, anterior face straight, ventral margin anteriorly with small, sharp spine, node in lateral view obtusely angulate, anterior slope smooth to diffusely microreticulate, sides with longitudinal rugae, ventral part with microreticulation but surface appears shiny. Postpetiole. Approximately as wide as long, 1.3–1.4 × as wide as petiole, surface microreticulate with longitudinal striation, appears shiny. Dorsal surface of petiole and postpetiole with erect setae, slightly longer than setae on pronotum ( Fig. 49 ). Gaster. Smooth and shiny, bearing erect, thin, pale setae, as long as setae on mesosoma ( Fig. 50 ). Legs. Moderately elongate, femora moderately swollen in the middle, tibiae widened from base to ¾ length, surface of legs covered with extremely sparse, appressed hairs, appears smooth and shiny.

Biological note. Mountain species. Numerous nests were observed under small and moderate stones inside the shadow Pinus nigra forest; a few nests were also under moss on stones in the rest area with pine trees. Most sites were at an altitude above 1100 m up to the peak of Mt Chionistra (the highest nest was observed at an altitude of 1862 m). The only site that was placed below 1100 m, at an altitude of 842 m, in a very shady place on a mountainside in a valley running along a fenced mouflon farm. Nests were observed in the crevice of a large stone.

Figures

FIGURE 44. Holotype worker head of Temnothorax oreades n. sp. (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 51. Gyne head of Temnothorax oreades n. sp. (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 64. Distribution in Cyprus Temnothorax cerastarum n. sp. (upper map) and T. evagorae n. sp. + T. oreades n. sp. (bottom map)

FIGURES 42, 43. Holotype worker of Temnothorax oreades n. sp. 42 dorsal 43 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 45, 46. Worker of Temnothorax oreades n. sp. lateral 45 the palest form from mouflon farm in Paphos forest 46 the darkest form from Kalidonia Waterfall area loc. 1 (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 47, 48. Worker head of Temnothorax oreades n. sp. 47 the palest form from mouflon farm in Paphos forest 48 the darkest form from Kalidonia Waterfall area loc. 1 (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURES 49, 50. Gyne of Temnothorax oreades n. sp. 49 dorsal 50 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).