Temnothorax andrei (Emery, Mayr, 1861

Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 936, pp. 1-68 : 15-16

Temnothorax andrei (Emery 1895d)

(Figure 7)

Leptothorax andrei Emery 1895d: 322. Holotype worker, Martinez , California (Turner) [ MCSN] [Examined]

Leptothorax nitens var. Heathii Wheeler 1903d: 245. Twelve syntype workers, Pacific Grove , California [ MCZC] [Examined] Syn. nov. [Incorrectly synonymized under nitens by Creighton 1950a: 265.]

Leptothorax nitens subsp. occidentalis Wheeler 1903d: 245. Two syntype workers, Friday Harbor , Washington [ MCZC] [Examined] Syn. nov. [Incorrectly synonymized under nitens by Creighton1950a: 265.]

Leptothorax ocellatus Mackay 2000: 383. Holotype worker, 5 mi W Mineral , Tehama Co., California, 4250' (D. Chandler) [ MCZC] [Examined] Syn. nov.

Temnothorax andrei (Emery) ; Bolton 2003: 271. First combination in Temnothorax .

Temnothorax ocellatus (Mackay) ; Bolton 2003: 272. First combination in Temnothorax .

Comments. Temnothorax andrei is a common species at low and medium elevations (0- 1800 m) in California and adjacent western states. The workers are yellow to yellowbrown, lightly sculptured, and with relatively short, blunt-tipped pilosity. The head is predominantly longitudinally reticulate/carinulate with weakly shining interspaces, and with a smooth, shiny median strip of variable extent. A characteristic feature is the presence of a small, isolated shiny patch of cuticle on the head, posteromesad of the compound eye, and surrounded by sculpture. The mesosoma is reticulate-foveolate and subopaque. The propodeal spines are poorly developed and generally reduced to blunt triangular teeth. In profile the petiolar node, while slender, has an abruptly rounded (not cuneate) summit (Fig. 7). During a recent visit to MCSN (Genoa) Alex Wild matched the holotype worker of T. andrei to material from California that I had identified as this species. The unique type of T. ocellatus falls easily within the range of variation encompassed by T. andrei . The original description of T. ocellatus misrepresents some features of its morphology. The mesosoma is not as strongly arched as depicted and, although the eyes are small, they are not atypically so for T. andrei .

In coastal regions of central and northern California populations of T. andrei tend to produce workers that are darker in color, with a shinier head and better developed propodeal spines. While some samples appear strikingly different from the more typical light-colored T. andrei , it is difficult to draw a sharp boundary between the coastal and inland populations because of extensive intra- and interpopulation variation. The type series of T. nitens heathii (from Pacific Grove) exemplifies this, with some workers having predominantly smooth and shiny heads and others showing varying amounts of fine reticulate /carinulate sculpture. The syntype workers of T. nitens occidentalis (from coastal Washington state) also have variably shiny heads. For both heathii and occidentalis , however, the rounded (non-cuneate) summit of the worker petiole clearly identifies them as being related to T. andrei rather than T. nitens . A failure by previous investigators to examine critically the types of heathii or occidentalis led to their being erroneously associated with T. nitens .