Temnothorax recedens (Nylander, 1856)

Salata, Sebastian, Demetriou, Jakovos, Georgiadis, Christos & Borowiec, Lech, 2024, The genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Cyprus, Zootaxa 5434 (1), pp. 1-69 : 6-8

Temnothorax recedens group

T. recedens (Nylander)

Key to the Cypriot Temnothorax species

(workers only)

1 Mesosoma with deep metanotal groove ( Figs 2 , 5 ).......................................................... 2.

- Mesosoma without metanotal groove ( Figs 17 , 24 , 27 , 30 ), at most with shallow metanotal impression ( Figs 10, 11 )..... .. 3.

2 Ventral margin of postpetiole anteriorly with a small spine ( Fig. 2 ). Body predominantly yellow except predominantly darkened first gastral tergite ( Figs 1, 2 ). Propodeal spines in the form of very short triangular tubercles ( Fig. 2 ). Frontal carinae long, extending to the upper margin of the eyes. Antennae stout, SL/HW below 1.0 ( Fig. 3 ). Social parasite in nests of other Temnothorax species. ...................................................... T. curtisetosus Salata & Borowiec

- Ventral margin of postpetiole anteriorly without spine ( Fig. 5 ). Body bicolored with frontal head darker than pronotum, sides of mesonotum and propodeum with a dark patch or whole body predominantly dark, yellowish-brown to brown, head and mesosoma never uniformly yellow ( Figs 4, 5 ). Propodeal spines in the form of moderately long to long thorns ( Figs 5 , 6 ). Frontal carinae short, extending only slightly behind antennal cavities. Antennae long, SL/HW above 1.2 ( Fig. 7 ). Nonparasitic species........................................................................... T. recedens (Nylander)

3 Body predominantly dark colored, brown to almost black or bicolored with head and gaster predominantly brown to black and mesosoma with shallow metanotal impression ( Figs 9–11 , 14 , 17 )..............................................4.

- Body predominantly pale colored, yellow to ochraceous ( Figs 20 , 24 , 27 , 30 ) or head dark colored and first gastral tergite with basal yellow spot ( Fig. 42 ) and mesosoma without metanotal impression ( Fig. 46 )................................ 6.

4 Petiolar node never triangular in profile with an obtuse or subangulate top ( Figs 9–11 , 17 ). Head predominantly with a distinct sculpture of longitudinal and/or reticulate rugae ( Figs 12 , 18 )................................................. 5.

- Petiolar node triangular in profile with a sharply angulate top ( Fig. 14 ). Head predominantly smooth and shiny ( Fig. 15 )........................................................................................... T. kykkos n. sp.

5 Body predominantly uniformly dark brown to almost black, mesosoma never with shallow metanotal impression ( Fig. 17 ). Head in the middle of frons, on sides of vertex and occipitum with partly diffused sculpture, appears smooth and shiny ( Fig. 18 ). Petiole in profile with long peduncle, concave anterior slope and angulate petiolar node ( Fig. 17 ). Antennal scape longer, mean SL/HW 0.90. Eyes larger, mean EL/HL 0.26............................................. T. nikoklesi n. sp.

- Body usually bicolored, head and gaster darker than mesosoma, mesosoma usually with shallow metanotal impression ( Figs 9–11 ). Head usually on whole surface with reticulate and longitudinal rugae, at most in the middle of frons with smooth stripe ( Fig. 12 ). Petiole in profile with moderately long peduncle, concave anterior slope and obtuse or obtusely angulate petiolar node ( Figs 9–11 ). Antennal scape shorter, mean SL/HW 0.82. Eyes smaller, mean EL/HL 0.24............... T. apolloni n. sp.

6 Antennal club partly brown to black ( Figs. 20 , 21 , 28 )........................................................7.

- Antennal club yellow, the same color or only slightly darker yellow than funicle ( Figs. 24 , 30 , 31 , 37 , 43 , 45, 46 , 53 , 56 )...8.

7 Petiole short with mean PI 1.481, petiolar node regularly rounded in profile, globular, without lateral carinae. Propodeal spines well-marked with mean PSL/HW 0.266 ( Fig. 27 ). Postocular area and occipital corners with strong microreticulation, without or with fine striation, central part of frons, vertex and occipitum with strong microreticulation and variable, more or less visible fine longitudinal striation, frons centrally without or with very narrow smooth and shiny line ( Fig. 28 ).... T. aeolius (Forel)

- Petiole longer with mean PI 1.505, petiolar node in lateral view obtusely angulate with sharp lateral carinae. Propodeal spines very short, in form of triangular tubercles, with mean PSL/HW 0.225 ( Figs 20 , 21 ). Postocular area and occipital corners predominantly smooth or with fine striation, central part of frons, vertex and occipitum smooth and shiny, sides of vertex often with diffused microreticulation ( Fig. 22 ).................................................. T. cypridis (Santschi)

8 Dark band on the first gastral tergite occupies at least ⅓ of posterior surface of the tergite, often more than half space ( Figs 24 , 30 , 37 , 43 , 45, 46 )................................................................................... 9.

- Dark band on first gastral tergite occupies at most ¼ of posterior surface of the tergite ( Figs 53 , 56 )...................................................................................................... T. akrotiriensis n. sp.

9 Propodeal spines moderately long to very long, mean PSL/HW above 0.24 ( Figs 30 , 36 , 43 , 45, 46 ). Usually, less than half of the upper part of the head smooth and shiny or head only with smooth stripe along middle of frons and vertex ( Figs 31 , 38 , 44 , 47, 48 ). Body coloration variable, orange-yellow except for dark band on the first gastral tergite ( Figs 29, 30 ) or with head darker than mesosoma ( Fig. 45 ) or with both head and mesosoma darkened ( Fig. 46 ). Femora often infuscate in the middle. Erect setae on mesosoma shorter, 0.50–0.65 × as long as eye diameter..........................................10.

- Propodeal spines very short, mean PSL/HW 0.21. At least upper half part of head smooth and shiny ( Fig. 25 ). Whole body pale yellow except dark band on first gastral tergite, femora always uniformly yellow. Erect setae on mesosoma long, approximately 0.7 × as long as eye diameter ( Fig. 24 ).................................................... T. hippomenesi n. sp.

10 Head predominantly sculptured except smooth stripe along the middle of frons and vertex or without smooth parts, often more or less darker than mesosoma ( Figs 38 , 44 , 47, 48 ). Propodeal spines moderate, mean PSL/HW 0.25 spiniform with distinctly widened base, running obliquely upwards ( Figs 35-37 , 43 , 45, 46 ). Antennae shorter, mean SL/HW below 0.90 ( Figs 44 , 47, 48 ). Femora often infuscate in the middle............................................................... .. 11.

- Central part of frons, vertex and occipitum smooth and shiny, the same yellow color as mesosoma ( Figs 30 , 31 ). Propodeal spines long, mean PSL/HW 0.3, running strongly upwards, in form of elongate spines with slightly widened base ( Fig. 30 ). Antennae longer, mean SL/HW 0.93 ( Fig. 31 ). Femora always uniformly yellow.................. T. cerastarum n. sp.

11 Setae on mesosoma longer, length of longest seta/eye diameter ratio 0.571 –0.645 (mean 0.604). Head often darker than mesosoma, or both head and mesosoma infuscate, especially in populations from higher altitudes ( Figs 42 , 46 , 48 ), sometimes head and mesosoma yellow, especially in populations from lower altitudes ( Fig. 45 , 47 ). Mountain species recorded above 840 m. .................................................................................... T. oreades n. sp.

- Setae on mesosoma shorter, length of longest seta/eye diameter ratio 0.500 –0.582 (mean 0.530). Head usually as yellow colored as mesosoma ( Fig. 35 ), occasionally darker than mesosoma ( Fig. 37 ). Lowland and highland species recorded from sea coast to an altitude 838 m. ..................................................................... T. evagorae n. sp.

Review of species

Figures

FIGURE 3. Worker head of Temnothorax curtisetosus Salata & Borowiec (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 12. Holotype worker head of Temnothorax apolloni n. sp. (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 15. Holotype worker head of Temnothorax kykkos n. sp. (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 18. Holotype worker head of Temnothorax nikoklesi n. sp. (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 25. Holotype worker head of Temnothorax hippomenesi n. sp. (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 28. Worker head of Temnothorax aeolius (Forel) (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 31. Holotype worker head of Temnothorax cerastarum n. sp. (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 38. Holotype worker head of Temnothorax evagorae n. sp. (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

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

FIGURES 1, 2. Worker of Temnothorax curtisetosus Salata & Borowiec (specimen from Trooditissa loc. 2) 1 dorsal 2 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 4, 5. Worker of Temnothorax recedens (Nylander) (specimen from Paphos Forest loc. 4) 4 dorsal 5 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 16, 17. Holotype worker of Temnothorax nikoklesi n. sp. 16 dorsal 17 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 23, 24. Holotype worker of Temnothorax hippomenesi n. sp. 23 dorsal 24 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 26, 27. Worker of Temnothorax aeolius (Forel) (specimen from Akrotiri Marsh) 26 dorsal 27 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 29, 30. Holotype worker of Temnothorax cerastarum n. sp. 29 dorsal 30 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 10, 11. Workers of Temnothorax apolloni n. sp., lateral 10 the darkest form from Extreme View Cafe 11 the palest form from rd. F612 loc. 2 (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 6, 7. Worker of Temnothorax recedens (Nylander) 6 mesosoma with long spined propodeum 7 head (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURES 8, 9. Holotype worker of Temnothorax apolloni n. sp. 8 dorsal 9 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 13, 14. Holotype worker of Temnothorax kykkos n. sp. 13 dorsal 14 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 19, 20. Worker of Temnothorax cypridis (Santschi) (specimen from Evretou Dam) 19 dorsal 20 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

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 21, 22. Worker of Temnothorax cypridis (Santschi) 21 microworker lateral (scale bar = 1 mm) 22 head (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURES 35–37. Worker of Temnothorax evagorae n. sp. 35 holotype dorsal 36 holotype lateral 37 the darkest form from rd. F612 ad Ag. Konstantinos (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 52, 53. Holotype worker of Temnothorax akrotiriensis n. sp. (morphotype 1) 52 dorsal 53 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 55, 56. Worker of Temnothorax akrotiriensis n. sp. (morphotype 2) 55 dorsal 56 lateral (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).