Temnothorax qingming, 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 : 46-48

Temnothorax qingming sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F976435D-FE1B-47C2-818A-1050D769569E

Fig. 30

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. wui ( Wheeler, 1929) ( Fig. 31 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum wholly smooth, posterior head margin weakly convex, propodeal spines as long as their basal width, and petiolar node roughly conical with narrowly rounded sumit; in T. wui head dorsum smooth on the central longitudinal strip, piosterior head margin slightly concave, propodeal spines longer than their basal width, and petiolar node roughly triangular with acute sumit. The new species is also similar to T. chunfen sp. nov. ( Fig. 6 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines sharp and weakly longer than their basal width in lateral view, petiolar node relatively lower, promesonotum finely reticulate; in T. chunfen propodeal spines stout and shorter than their basal width in lateral view, petiolar node relatively higher, pronotum and dorsum of mesonotum smooth. This new species is also similar to T. guyu sp. nov. ( Fig. 19 ), but differs in the new species dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum straight in lateral view, propodeal spines shortly spined and weakly longer than their basal width, head dorsum wholly smooth; in T. guyu dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex in lateral view, propodeal spines rightly angled and shorter than their basal width, head dorsum smooth on the central longitudinal strip and reticulate laterally.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Tibet, Linzhi County, Lulang Town, Dongjiu Village ; 29.950200° N, 94.795417° E; 2560 m a.s.l.; 19 Sep. 2007; Long-Guan Chen leg.; forages beneath stones in Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU A07-56 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 2.1, HL 0.52, HW 0.40, CI 76, SL 0.44, SI 110, ED 0.10, PW 0.30, WL 0.60, PL 0.22, PH 0.16, DPW 0.12.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior and lateral margins weakly convex, posterior corners broadly rounded. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Clypeal dorsum weakly convex, with median carina, anterior margin moderately convex. Frontal lobes relatively broad, concealing antennal sockets. Frontal carinae short, reaching to the level of anterior eye margins. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes almost reaching to posterior head margin. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying ¼ of lateral margin.

In lateral view pronotum slightly convex, anterodorsal corner narrowly rounded. Promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Mesonotum weakly convex and gently sloping down posteriorly. Propodeal dorsum straight and sloping down posteriorly; propodeal spines short and sharp, about as long as their basal width, about ½ length of declivity; declivity weakly concave; propodeal lobes broad, truncated apically. Petiole with short anterior peduncle, about ½ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly triangular, anterior and posterior margins slightly convex, dorsum narrowly rounded; ventral margin almost straight, weakly concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner acutely toothed. Postpetiole about as high as petiolar node, anterodorsal margin rounded, posterior margin straight, ventral margin deeply notched.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior and lateral margins moderately convex, humeral corners broadly rounded. Promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Mesothorax moderately constricted, lateral margins moderately concave. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins almost straight, spines shortly toothed. Petiole roughly trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, longer than broad, lateral margins almost straight. Postpetiole roughly rectangular, about 1.5 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins almost straight. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head smooth and shiny, inner side of frontal carinae with 3 longitudinal rugae. Central part of clypeus smooth, each side with 3 longitudinal rugae; lateral part obliquely striate. Mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole uniformly densely punctate, dorsum of petiolar node and postpetiolar dorsum smooth. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with sparse erect to suberect apically blunt short hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence. Scapes and tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body color blackish brown; head dorsum and gaster black; tarsi yellowish brown.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits Pinus yunnanensis forest ( Fig. 69I ) at an elevation of 2560 m, and was found foraging beneath a stone.

Distribution

China: Tibet.

Figures

Fig. 30. Temnothorax qingming sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A07-56). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 31. Temnothorax wui (Wheeler, 1929), syntype worker (MCZC). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. Illustrations cited from Radchenko (2004).

Fig. 6. Temnothorax chunfen sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A04-713). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 19. Temnothorax guyu sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A91-945). 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.