Temnothorax xiaoman, 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 : 59-61

Temnothorax xiaoman sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A78A4A0D-00C1-484F-9E79-F6668C970D99

Fig. 37

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. xiaohan sp. nov. ( Fig. 36 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines thin and suberect, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node bluntly angled, and pronotal dorsum coarsely reticulate; in T. xiaohan propodeal spines thick and posterodorsally pointed, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node narrowly rounded, and pronotal dorsum finely reticulate. The new species is also similar to T. congruus (Smith, 1874) ( Fig. 7 ), but differs in the new species petiolar node relatively higher, with rightly angled anterodorsal corner in lateral view, head dorsum finely longitudinally rugose with the central area smooth; in T. congruus petiolar node relatively lower, with bluntly angled anterodorsal corner in lateral view, head dorsum coarsely longitudinally rugose without smooth central area. This new species is also similar to T. susamyri ( Dlussky, 1965) ( Fig. 65 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines not forming an arch with declivity in lateral view, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node bluntly angled, head dorsum longitudinally rugose with the central area smooth; in T. susamyri propodeal spines formed an arch with declivity in lateral view, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node acutely angled, head dorsum smooth on the central longitudinal strip and reticulate laterally.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Shaanxi Province, Qinling Mountains, Huangbaiyuan Scenic Area ; 33.813848° N, 107.526568° E; 1400 m a.s.l.; 27 Jun. 1997; Cong Wei leg.; foraging on the ground in conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; SWFU A97-4109 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 2.9, HL 0.66, HW 0.56, CI 85, SL 0.54, SI 96, ED 0.14, PW 0.42, WL 0.87, PL 0.32, PH 0.24, DPW 0.17.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin slightly convex, posterior corner narrowly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Clypeal dorsum weakly convex, with median carina, anterior margin weakly convex. Frontal lobes broad, concealing antennal sockets. Frontal carinae very short, about half length of frontal lobe. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes failing to reach 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 absent. Dorsa of mesonotum and propodeum straight and gently sloping down posteriorly. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeal spines short, about as long as their basal width and pointed posterodorsally; declivity straight. Propodeal lobes roughly triangular, rounded apically. Anterior peduncle of petiole very short, about ½ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly triangular, anterior margin straight, posterior margin weakly convex, top corner blunt angled; ventral margin weakly concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner toothed. Postpetiole as high as petiole, anterodorsal margin roundly convex, posterior margin almost straight; ventral margin short and almost straight, anteroventral corner rightly angled.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior margin moderately convex, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margin weakly convex. Promesotonal suture absent. Mesothorax moderately constricted and narrowing posteriorly, lateral margins strongly concave. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeum roughly square, lateral margins weakly concave, spines short, pointed posterolaterally. Petiole elongate trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, longer than broad; lateral margins with a prominence each side anteriorly, and weakly convex posteriorly. Postpetiole roughly trapozoidal, about 1.4 times as broad as petiole, narrowing posteriorly, anterior margin moderately convex, lateral margins strongly convex, posterior margin short and nearly straight. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum longitudinally rugose with interweaved fine rugulae between the main rugae, and gradually reticulate posteriorly and laterally, interface abundantly punctate. Clypeus with three longitudinal rugae on each side, interface smooth. Dorsum of mesosoma coarsely reticulate, dorsum of mesonotum smooth in the center. Pronotal sides coarsely reticulate anteriorly and longitudinally costulate posteriorly. Mesopleura, metapleura and propodeal sides densely reticulate. Petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate, anterior face of petiolar node finely punctate, postpetiolar dorsum smooth. Gaster smooth and shiny. Head dorsum with dense erect apically blunt short hairs and dense decumbent pubescence; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole with sparse suberect apically blunt short hairs and sparse decumbent pubescence; gaster with abundant suberect apically blunt short hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence. Scapes with dense decumbent pubescence; tibiae with abundant decumbent pubescence. Body color blackish brown; mandibles, antennae and legs yellowish brown.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits conifer-broadleaf mixed forest ( Fig. 69D ) at an elevation of 1400 m, and forages on the ground.

Distribution

China: Shaanxi.

Figures

Fig. 37. Temnothorax xiaoman sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A97-4109). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 36. Temnothorax xiaohan sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A07-543). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 7. Temnothorax congruus (Smith, 1874), holotype worker (BMNH 1014987). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Images cited from www.antweb.org, CASENT 0901786, photos by Ryan Perry.

Fig. 65. Temnothorax susamyri (Dlussky, 1965), paratype worker (ZMUM). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Images cited fromwww.antweb.org, CASENT 0917448, photos by Kate Martynova.

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.