Temnothorax lidong, 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 : 37-39

Temnothorax lidong sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C44C385F-2D47-4097-8576-2DD3476FFAAC

Fig. 25

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. yanwan Terayama, 2009 ( Fig. 26 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum almost smooth on the central longitudinal strip, dorsum of promesonotum and mesonotum almost smooth on the central area, propodeal spines shorter than declivity and weakly curved posteriorly; in T. yanwan head dorsum coarsely longitudinally rugose on the central longitudinal strip, dorsum of promesonotum and mesonotum densely reticulate on the central area, propodeal spines about as long as declivity and strongly curved posteriorly. The new species is also similar to T. bailu sp. nov. ( Fig. 3 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines slender in lateral view, petiolar node nearly conical with narrowly rounded dorsum, mesosomal sides densely punctate, body color black; in T. bailu propodeal spines stouter in lateral view, petiolar node nearly trapezoidal with sloping dorsum, mesosomal sides reticulate, body color reddish brown. This new species is also similar to T. daxue sp. nov. ( Fig. 13 ), but differs in the new species dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum straight in lateral view, propodeal spines sharp, mesosomal sides densely punctate; in T. daxue dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex in lateral view, propodeal spines stout, mesosomal sides reticulate.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Sichuan Province, Panzhihua City, Tongde Town, Longtang Village ; 26.742033° N, 101.571572° E; 1726 m a.s.l.; 22 Jul. 2018; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; foraging on the ground in monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU C18-230 .

Paratype workers CHINA • 2 workers; same collection data as for holotype; SWFU C18-230 .

Non-type material examined

CHINA • 3 workers; Yunnan Province, Anning County, Wenquan Town, Zhenquan Village ; 24.941854° N, 102.485556° E; 1850 m a.s.l.; 1 Oct. 1991; foraging on the ground in Keteleeria evelyniana forest; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; SWFU A91-880 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 2.3, HL 0.57, HW 0.45, CI 79, SL 0.5, SI 111, ED 0.13, PW 0.33, WL 0.66, PL 0.26, PH 0.17, DPW 0.13.

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, without median carina, anterior margin moderately convex. Frontal lobes narrow, concealing half of antennal sockets. Frontal carinae short, reaching to the level of anterior eye margins. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes just reaching to posterior head margin, club 3-segmented. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying 1/5 of lateral margin.

In lateral view pronotum moderately convex, promesonotal suture distinct laterally. Mesonotal dorsum gently sloping down posteriorly, weakly convex anteriorly and posteriorly, weakly impressed in the middle. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeal dorsum slightly convex and gently sloping down posteriorly; spines very long, about as long as declivity, pointed posterodorsally and slight down-curved; declivity weakly concave; propodeal lobes short and rounded apically. Petiole with short anterior peduncle, about ½ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly conical, anterior and posterior margins weakly convex, dorsum narrowly rounded; ventral margin weakly concave, anteroventral corner bluntly angled. Postpetiole as high as petiolar node, anterior margin strong convex, dorsal margin weakly convex, posterior margin almost straight; ventral margin weakly concave, anteroventral corner acutely toothed.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior and lateral margins moderately convex, humeral corners broadly rounded. Promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Mesothorax weakly constricted, lateral margins weakly concave. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins slightly concave; spines stout and long, pointed posterolaterally and weakly in-curved. Petiole roughly trapezoidal, widening posteriorly, longer than broad, lateral margins almost straight. Postpetiole roughly square, about 1.7 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins moderately convex. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum longitudinally rugose, becoming smooth posteriorly and on the central strip; genae and clypeus longitudinally rugose. Mesosoma finely reticulate; promesonotal dorsum relatively smooth, lower part of metapleura longitudinally rugose. Propodeal sides, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate, interface appearing as micro-reticulation. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with abundant erect to suberect apically blunt short hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence. Scapes and tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body color black; mandibles, antennae and legs brownish yellow.

Measurements of paratype workers: TL 2.3–2.5, HL 0.55–0.60, HW 0.45–0.48, CI 79–82, SL 0.40–0.50, SI 89–105, ED 0.10–0.15, PW 0.30–0.35, WL 0.60–0.66, PL 0.20–0.25, PH 0.15–0.20, DPW 0.10– 0.11 (2 individuals measured). As holotype worker, in some individuals body size slightly different, propodeal spines slightly shorter and apex not pointed.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest ( Fig. 70D ) and Keteleeria evelyniana forest ( Fig. 70C ) at an elevation of 1726–1850 m, and forages on the ground.

Distribution

China: Yunnan, Sichuan.

Figures

Fig. 25. Temnothorax lidong sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU C18-230). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 26. Temnothorax yanwan Terayama, 2009, holotype worker (NIAS). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Images cited from www.antwiki.org, photos by Hiraku Yoshitake & Takashi Kurihara.

Fig. 3. Temnothorax bailu sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A10-3265). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 13. Temnothorax daxue sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A3245). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 70. Lower elevational vegetations. A. Semi-moist evergreen broadleaf forest (2000 m, Tengchong, Yunnan). B. Dry deciduous broadleaf forest (1840 m, Luquan, Yunnan). C. Keteleeria evelyniana Mast. forest (1820 m, Anning, Yunnan). D. Monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest (1500 m, Gengma, Yunnan). E. Quercus variabilis Blume forest (1350 m, Guangnan, Yunnan). F. Dry evergreen broadleaf forest (518 m, Yuanyang, Yunnan). Photos by Zheng-Hui Xu.