Temnothorax xiaoshu, 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 : 61-63

Temnothorax xiaoshu sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FC6EFC81-BD5A-44A5-8D09-18EEE838A0B7

Fig. 38

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. liqiu sp. nov. ( Fig. 27 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum and mesosoma coarsely reticulate, in lateral view petiolar node roughly conical with narrowly rounded dorsum, and body color orange, gaster blackish brown; in T. liqiu head dorsum and mesosoma finely reticulate, in lateral view petiolar node roughly trapezoidal with broadly rounded dorsum, and body color reddish brown, head blackish brown. The new species is also similar to T. dashu sp. nov. ( Fig. 12 ), but differs in the new species metanotal groove strongly impressed in lateral view, propodeal spines as long as their basal width, anterior peduncle as long as petiolar node, head dorsum wholly reticulate; in T. dashu metanotal groove slightly impressed in lateral view, propodeal spines shorter than their basal width, anterior peduncle shorter than petiolar node, head dorsum mainly longitudinally rugose on the central area and reticulate laterally.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Lushui City, Pianma Town, Pianma ; 25.993789° N, 98.660772° E; 2500 m a.s.l.; 25 Apr. 1999; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; foraging inside dead branch in subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU A99-24 .

Paratype worker CHINA • 1 worker; same collection data as for holotype; SWFU A99-24 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 3.3, HL 0.77, HW 0.64, CI 84, SL 0.74, SI 114, ED 0.16, PW 0.46, WL 0.93, PL 0.34, PH 0.22, DPW 0.18.

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 narrow, concealing half of antennal socket. Frontal carinae short, reaching to the level of anterior eye margin. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes surpassing posterior head margin by 1/12 of its length, club 3-segmented. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying ¼ of lateral margin.

In lateral view promesonotum moderately convex and gently sloping down posteriorly, anterior margin of pronotum marginated, promesonotal suture absent. Metanotal groove widely moderately impressed and distinct. Propodeal dorsum almost straight and gently sloping down posteriorly; propodeal spines short and stout, about as long as their basal width, blunt apically; declivity slightly concave, about ½ length of dorsum; propodeal lobes large and rounded apically. Petiole with anterior peduncle, about ¾ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly triangular, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin weakly convex, top corner narrowly rounded; ventral margin almost straight, weakly concave posteriorly, anteroventral tooth indistinct. Postpetiole as high as petiole, anterodorsal margin roundly convex, posterior margin short and almost straight, ventral margin short and weakly concave.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior margin strongly convex and weakly marginated, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margin strongly convex, promesotonal suture absent. Mesothorax moderately constricted and narrow, lateral margins moderately concave. Metanotal groove widely impressed. Propodeum roughly trapezoidal and weakly widening posteriorly, lateral margins weakly convex; spines short and weakly in-curved; propodeal lobes acutely toothed. Petiole roughly trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, longer than broad, lateral margins weakly convex, the node roughly circular. Postpetiole roughly trapezoidal and narrowing posteriorly, about 1.3 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins nearly straight. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head coarsely reticulate, anterior 1/5 longitudinally rugose and divergent posteriorly. Clypeus with 3–4 rugae on each side, interface smooth. Mesosoma coarsely reticulate, lower part of metapleuron with 2 longitudinal costulae. Petiole finely reticulate, postpetiole densely punctate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with abundant suberect to subdecumbent hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence, head dorsum with dense erect short hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Scapes and tibiae with dense subdecumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Body color brownish yellow; first gastral segment blackish brown.

Measurements of paratype worker: TL 3.3, HL 0.75, HW 0.60, CI 80, SL 0.60, SI 100, ED 0.10, PW 0.40, WL 0.85, PL 0.25, PH 0.20, DPW 0.13 (1 individual measured). As holotype worker.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest ( Fig. 69C ) at an elevation of 2500 m, and forages inside dead branches.

Distribution

China: Yunnan.

Figures

Fig. 38. Temnothorax xiaoshu sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A99-24). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 27. Temnothorax liqiu sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU C18-795). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 12. Temnothorax dashu sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A13-479). 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.