Temnothorax acuminatus, Prebus, 2021

Prebus, Matthew M., 2021, Taxonomic revision of the Temnothorax salvini clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a key to the clades of New World Temnothorax, PeerJ (e 11514) 9, pp. 1-462 : 74

acuminatus group overview

This group is composed of two previously undescribed species, Temnothorax acuminatus sp. nov. and T. tuxtlanus sp. nov., which are found in Southern Mexico, from the mountain complexes of Los Tuxtlas and the Sierra Madre de Chiapas at mid-to-high elevations ( Fig. 90 ). These species are united by the lack of setae on the dorsum of the propodeum, reduced subpetiolar tooth, moderately impressed metanotal groove, posterodorsally directed propodeal spines, and dark coloration. Members of this group have been collected from bark crevices, from under epiphyte mats on treefalls, and from sifted leaf litter. Species of the acuminatus group may be confused with T. acutispinosus sp. nov., which has an overlapping distribution, similar habitus, and lack of setae on the propodeum. Temnothorax acutispinosus sp. nov. can be distinguished from the acuminatus group by the larger subpetiolar tooth and dorsally directed propodeal spines. The two species of the acuminatus group are sister to the remainder of the salvini clade (Prebus, in prep.).

Figures

Figure 90 Geographical and elevational distribution of the acuminatus group. (A) Temnothorax acuminatus sp. nov. (B) T. tuxtlanus sp. nov. Colored scale to the left of each map represents elevation in meters. Points in black represent the species named in each subfigure, while points in red represent other members of the species group. Type localities are represented by triangles, non-type localities are represented by circles. Bounding box in inset map shows location of main map. Full-size DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11514/fig-90