Temnothorax xiaoxue, Qian & Xu, 2024

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 : 63-65

Temnothorax xiaoxue sp. nov.

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Fig. 39

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. striatus Zhou et al., 2010 ( Fig. 40 ), but differs in the new species petiolar node roughly trapezoidal with obvious posterior corner in lateral view, apices of antennal scapes obviously surpassing posterior head margin, and body color reddish brown; in T. striatus petiolar node roughly triangular without obvious posterior corner in lateral view, apices of antennal scapes just reached to posterior head margin, and body color yellowish brown. The new species is also similar to T. xia sp. nov. ( Fig. 35 ), but differs in the new species anterior peduncle shorter than petiolar node in lateral view, pronotal sides reticulate, scapes with suberect hairs; in T. xia anterior peduncle about as long as petiolar node in lateral view, pronotal sides coarsely longitudinally rugose, scapes with only decumbent pubescence. This new species is also similar to T. qiufen sp. nov. ( Fig. 33 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines longer than half length of declivity in lateral view, petiolar node symmetrical and nearly trapezoidal, head dorsum wholly longitudinally rugose; in T. qiufen propodeal spines as long as half length of declivity in lateral view, petiolar node asymmetrical and nearly triangular, head dorsum longitudinally rugose but smooth on the central narrow strip.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to ‘xiaoxue’, one of the 24 Solar Terms of China.

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Kunming City, Xishan Mountain, Taihua Temple ; 24.967782° N, 102.636006° E; 1950 m a.s.l.; 2 May 2001; Ji-Ling Zhang leg.; ground sample from conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; SWFU A00436 .

Paratype worker CHINA • 1 worker; same collection data as for holotype; SWFU A00436 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 2.5, HL 0.58, HW 0.48, CI 82, SL 0.59, SI 123, ED 0.14, PW 0.37, WL 0.74, PL 0.28, PH 0.25, DPW 0.16.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior and lateral margins weakly convex, posterior corners narrowly rounded. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Clypeal dorsum weakly convex, without median carina, anterior margin moderately convex. Frontal lobes narrow, concealing half of antennal sockets. Frontal carinae relatively long, reaching to the level of midpoint of eyes. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes surpassing posterior head margin by 1/9 of its length, antennal clubs 3-segmented. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying ¼ of lateral margin.

In lateral view promesonotum weakly convex and weakly arched, promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Propodeal dorsum straight and gently sloping down posteriorly; propodeal spines moderately long and straight, slightly shorter than declivity, pointed posterodorsally; declivity almost straight; propodeal lobes triangular, bluntly angled apically. Petiole with short anterior peduncle, about ⅔ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly trapezoidal and narrowing dorsally, anterior and dorsal margins straight, posterior margin weakly convex, anterodorsal corner bluntly angled, posterodorsal corner narrowly rounded; ventral margin slightly concave anteriorly and posteriorly, slightly convex in the middle, anteroventral corner acutely toothed. Postpetiole as high as petiolar node, dorsum rounded, ventral margin weakly concave.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior margin moderately convex, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins strongly convex. Promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Mesothorax moderately constricted, lateral margins weakly concave. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins slightly convex; spines moderately long and blunt apically, slightly in-curved. Petiole roughly trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, longer than broad, lateral margins weakly convex. Postpetiole roughly trapezoidal and narrowing posteriorly, about 1.6 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose and reticulate laterally. Clypeus smooth, each side with 3–4 longitudinal rugae. Mesosomal dorsum reticulate; mesosomal sides longitudinally rugose, interface finely reticulate. Petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with sparse erect to suberect apically blunt short hairs and sparse decumbent pubescence. Scapes with abundant subdecumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence, tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body color blackish brown; mandibles, antennae and legs brownish yellow.

Measurements of paratype worker: TL 3.0, HL 0.65, HW 0.55, CI 85, SL 0.55, SI 100, ED 0.15, PW 0.40, WL 0.75, PL 0.30, PH 0.2, DPW 0.15 (1 individual measured). As holotype worker.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits conifer-broadleaf mixed forest ( Fig. 69D ) at an elevation of 1950 m, and forages on the ground.

Distribution

China: Yunnan.

Figures

Fig. 39. Temnothorax xiaoxue sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A00436). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 40. Temnothorax striatus holotype worker (GXNU084432). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Photos by Zhi-Lin Chen.

Fig. 35. Temnothorax xia sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A91-353). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 33. Temnothorax qiufen sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A18-972). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 69. Middle elevational vegetations. A. Pinus densata Masters forest (2750 m, Bomi, Tibet). B. Pinus armandi Franch. forest (2557 m, Qiaojia, Yunnan). C. Subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest (2500 m, Lushui, Yunnan). D. Conifer-broadleaf mixed forest (2500 m, Huaping, Yunnan). E. Moss evergreen broadleaf forest (2450 m. Cangyuan, Yunnan). F. Warm conifer forest (2230 m, Huili, Sichuan). G. Dry-warm valley shrubland (2230 m, Muli, Sichuan). H. Semi-evergreen broadleaf forest (2050 m, Danba, Sichuan). I. Pinus yunnanensis forest (2030 m, Huaping, Yunnan). Photos by Zheng-Hui Xu.