Temnothorax chun, 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 : 10-11

Temnothorax chun sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1796DED6-7BD4-4761-ACD0-499CA98EFA3B

Fig. 5

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. xia sp. nov. ( Fig. 35 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose centrally, mesonotal dorsum smooth, and body color almost black; in T. xia head dorsum densely longitudinally rugose centrally, mesonotal dorsum coarsely reticulate and body color reddish brown, gaster black. The new species is also similar to T. lixia sp. nov. ( Fig. 28 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose, pronotal sides coarsely longitudinally rugose, propodeal spines longer than their basal width in lateral view, petiolar node symmetrical, anterodorsal corner as high as posterodorsal corner in lateral view, petiolar node weakly punctate; in T. lixia head dorsum densely longitudinally rugose, pronotal sides coarsely reticulate, propodeal spines as long as their basal width in lateral view, petiolar node asymmetrical, anterodorsal corner higher than posterodorsal corner in lateral view, petiolar node finely reticulate.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to ‘chun’, one of the four seasons.

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Yuanmou County, Laocheng Town, Naneng Village ; 25.638800° N, 101.958307° E; 2000 m a.s.l.; 12 Mar. 2013; Wen-Tao Yang leg.; ground sample from conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; SWFU A13-38 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 3.1, HL 0.74, HW 0.62, CI 84, SL 0.60, SI 97, ED 0.16, PW 0.43, WL 0.91, PL 0.33, PH 0.21, DPW 0.16.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin almost straight, posterior corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Clypeal dorsum weakly convex, with median carina, anterior margin moderately convex. Frontal lobes broad, concealing antennal sockets. Frontal carinae short, reaching to the level of anterior eye margins. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes just reaching to posterior head margin. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, nearly occupying ⅓ of lateral margin.

In lateral view pronotum weakly convex, promesonotal suture present but not impressed. Mesonotum almost straight and gently sloping down posteriorly, metanotal groove absent. Propodeal dorsum slightly convex and gently sloping down posteriorly; propodeal spines short and stout, about ⅓ length of dorsum and longer than their basal width, weakly down-curved; declivity almost straight, shorter than dorsum; propodeal lobes short and rounded apically. Petiole with long anterior peduncle, about ¾ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly semicircular, anterior and posterior margins weakly convex, dorsal margin narrowly rounded; ventral margin straight anteriorly, moderately concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner triangularly toothed. Postpetiole as high as petiolr node, anterodorsal margin rounded, posterior margin weakly concave, ventral margin angularly concave.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior and lateral margins moderately convex, humeral corners broadly rounded, promesonotal suture present. Mesothorax weakly constricted, lateral margins weakly concave, metanotal groove absent. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins almost straight, spines short and pointed posterolaterally. Petiole roughly trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, anterior peduncle narrower than the node. Postpetiole roughly trapezoidal and narrowing posteriorly, about 1.6 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose and reticulate laterally, with the longitudinal central strip relatively smooth; genae longitudinally rugose. Clypeus smooth, each side with 3–4 short rugae. Mesosoma reticulate, pronotal sides longitudinally rugose, mesonotal dorsum smooth. Petiole and postpetiole densely finely punctate, dorsa of petiolar node and postpetiole smooth. 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 blackish brown; head dorsum, eyes and gaster black; mandibles and tarsi brownish yellow.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits conifer-broadleaf mixed forest ( Fig. 69D ) at an elevation of 2000 m and forages on the ground.

Distribution

China: Yunnan.

Figures

Fig. 5. Temnothorax chun sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A13-38). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

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. 28. Temnothorax lixia sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A05-869). 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.