Temnothorax recedens ( Nylander, 1856 )

Salata, Sebastian, Demetriou, Jakovos, Georgiadis, Christos & Borowiec, Lech, 2024, The genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Cyprus, Zootaxa 5434 (1), pp. 1-69 : 11-15

Temnothorax recedens ( Nylander, 1856) ( Figs 4–7 , 60 )

Myrmica recedens Nylander, 1856: 94 (Gallia meridionali).

Material examined. Limassol, Agros , 34.9113 / 33.0065, 1062 m, 19 VIII 2001, 3w leg. Tsaousis ( NHMC) ; Limassol, Chantara waterfall, 34.90299 / 32.84024, 1047 m, 25 IV 2022, 3w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Limassol, ad Trooditissa loc. 2, Kampi tou Kalogirou , 34.92709 / 32.83221 and 34.92694 / 32.83206, 1327–1328 m, 26 IV 2022, 20w, leg. L. Borowiec, J. Demetriou, C. Georgiadis & S. Salata ( JDC, MNHW, ZMUA) ; Nicosia, Cedar Valley , 34.99503 / 32.68732, 1196 m, 5 V 2012, 4w, leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Nicosia, Cedar Valley loc. 2, 34.99503 / 32.68732, 1138 m, 22 IV 2022, 29w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Nicosia, 3.4 km N of Farmakas , 34.94145 / 33.14369, 677 m, 24 IV 2022, 1w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Nicosia, Panagia Machaira monastery, 34.94057 / 33.18929, 884 m, 24 IV 2022, 1w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Agios Nicolaos, Tzelefos Bridge , 34.89093 / 32.74762, 19 IV 2022, 463 m, 1w, leg. L. Borowiec, J. Demetriou, C. Georgiadis & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Diarizos river valley, Agios Georgios, Extreme View Cafe loc. 2, 34.7895 / 32.6939, 272 m, 19 IV 2022, 1w, leg. J. Demetriou ( JDC) ; Paphos, Diarizos riv., Kidasi, Rock of Chasampoulion , 34.79767 / 32.70502, 262 m, 6 V 2012, 8w, leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Paphos, ad Kalepia , 34.83728 / 32.50318, 414 m, 29 IV 2022, 1w, leg. L. Borowiec, J. Demetriou, C. Georgiadis & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Kouklia, Ranti Forest Beach 34.67337 / 32.60695, 31 m, 20 IV 2022, 3w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Kritou Tera, Kremiotis Waterfall , 34.96254 / 32.43356, 330 m, 22 IV 2022, 3w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Neo Chorio, Baths of Aphrodite , 35.05668 / 32.34433, 54 m, 4 V 2012, 2w, leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Neo Chorio, around Baths of Aphrodite area, 35.06008 / 32.32999, 261 m, 4 V 2012, 28w, leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Panagia-Cedar Valley rd. loc. 1, 34.92718 / 32.64728, 755 m, 5 V 2012, 4w, leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Panagia-Cedar Valley rd. loc. 2, 34.94883 / 32.64575, 848 m, 5 V 2012, 1w, leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Paphos Forest loc. 4, 35.06776 / 32.61513, 808 m, 23 IV 2022, 30w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Paphos Forest , 3.3 km W of Helicopter Landing Pad, 35.02547 / 32.595378, 800 m, 21 IV 2022, 1g, 36w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Paphos Forest, Mouflon Enclosure , 35.02664 / 32.63098, 842 m, 21 IV 2022, 29w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Pegeia Forest n. Pegeia loc. 1, 34.89749 / 32.36742, 364 m, 4 V 2012, 1w, leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Pegeia Forest n. Pegeia loc. 2, 34.89579 / 32.37039, 374 m, 7 V 2012, 1w, leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Peyia, Avakas Gorge , 34.92415 / 32.34564, 114 m, 3 V 2012, 4w, leg. L. Borowiec ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Peyia, Avakas Gorge , 34.92454 / 32.34622, 124 m, 18 IV 2022, 7w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Peyia, Avakas Gorge , 34.9245 / 32.3462, 38 m, 18 IV 2022, 7w, leg. J. Demetriou ( JDC) ; Paphos, Peyia, Avakas Gorge , 34.9976 / 32.332, 33 m, 18 IV 2022, 4w, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis ( JDC) ; Paphos, Peyia, Avakas Gorge , 34.9233 / 32.3414, 33 m, 18 IV 2022, 1w, leg. J. Demetriou ( JDC) ; Paphos, Peyia, Avakas Gorge , 34.91832 / 32.3331, 38 m, 18 IV 2022, 2w, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis ( JDC) ; Paphos, Peyia, Pikni forest , 34.8929 / 32.3739, 390 m, 18 IV 2022, 2w, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis ( JDC) ; Paphos, road F612 ad Ag. Konstantinos loc. 1, 34.73358 / 32.64293, 368 m, 28 IV 2022, 2w, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata ( MNHW) ; Paphos, Tala, Agios Neofytos Monastery , 34.84602 / 32.44784, 424 m, 29 IV 2022, 11w, leg. L. Borowiec, J. Demetriou, C. Georgiadis & S. Salata ( JDC, MNHW, ZMUA) ; Limassol, Pissouri, Trachonas 1, 34.6472 / 32.6951, 225 m, 4-18 VIII 2013, 2w, leg. K. Leonidou ( ZMUA) ; Paphos, Pegeia, Pikni Forest , 34.8966 / 32.3702, 375 m, 21 VII – 05 VIII 2013 + 05-19 VIII 2013, 3w, leg. Ch. Tsipouridou ( ZMUA) .

Comparative note. A very distinct species, from other Cypriot Temnothorax differs in the presence of a deep metanotal groove while other species have no metanotal groove or only a very shallow impression. It has the least developed sculpture with a head and pronotum predominantly smooth and shiny, while other species have a head and pronotum at least partly microreticulate and/or with longitudinal rugae. The only known parasitic species, T. curtisetosus also has a deep metanotal groove but differs in several characters (see comparative note in T. curtisetosus ).

Cypriot populations of T. recedens are similar to Greek mainland and Cretan populations in distinctly bicolored or predominantly dark bodies but have slightly longer propodeal spines than most Greek populations. Cypriot specimens with very long propodeal spines ( Fig. 6 ) are similar to T. rogeri known from Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, and Turkish Thrace. However, body coloration in T. rogeri is usually more uniform, not as bicolored as in specimens from Cyprus. The third species of this group known from Eastern Greece and Western Türkiye, T. antigoni ( Forel, 1911) , differs in mesosoma uniformly yellow, devoid of any darker discolorations, the gaster predominantly yellow with a darker transverse apical band on the first gastral tergite and in very short propodeal spines in form of triangular denticle not or only slightly longer than its width at base. The fourth species of this group, T. solerii (Menozzii, 1936) , known only from Karpathos island differs in its entire body uniformly yellowish-brown to brown ( Salata & Borowiec 2015a).

Redescription. Worker (n = 10): HL: 0.532 –0.746 (0.674); HW: 0.460 –0.579 (0.531); SL: 0.590 –0.714 (0.664); EL: 0.128 –0.157 (0.147); EW: 0.082 –0.103 (0.096); PNW: 0.317 –0.429 (0.382); WL: 0.722 –0.928 (0.847); PEL: 0.263 –0.365 (0.313); PEH: 0.163 –0.219 (0.197); PPL: 0.163 –0.263 (0.217); PPW: 0.178 –0.257 (0.222); PSL: 0.119 –0.176 (0.160); CI: 1.157 –1.302 (1.269); EI1: 1.446 –1.602 (1.533); EI2: 0.208 –0.241 (0.218); SI1: 1.222 – 1.283 (1.252); SI2: 0.953 –1.109 (0.988); MI: 2.151 –2.294 (2.217); PI: 1.513 –1.721 (1.586); PPI: 0.948 –1.121 (1.030); PSLI: 0.259 –0.334 (0.300).

Color. Frontal part of head reddish-brown, postocular area and ventral side yellow, pronotum predominantly yellow to yellowish-brown, sometimes on sides with obscure spot of diffused borders, mesonotum distinctly darker colored than pronotum, dorsum yellowish-brown, sides brown, dorsum of propodeum yellow, sides yellowish-brown, often with darker patch centrally, petiole and postpetiole yellow to yellowish-brown with brown top, gaster predominantly dark brown with small yellowish-brown patch at base of first tergite ( Figs 4, 5 , 7 ). In the palest forms head, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole yellow only head with yellowish-brown spot in center of frons, and sides of mesonotum and propodeum with diffused yellowish-brown patch ( Fig. 6 ), gaster at base with yellow patch occupying ¼ of space of first gastral tergite. In the darkest form almost whole body yellowish-brown with paler colored postocular area, dorsum of pronotum and propodeum and very small patch at base of first gastral tergite. Antennae in all forms yellow, scapus in the middle usually more or less distinctly infuscate. Legs yellow, femora in swollen part darkened, yellowish-brown to brown ( Figs 4, 5 ). Head. Slightly elongate, 1.2–1.3 × as long as wide, sides softly rounded, behind eyes softly converging, occipital corners broadly rounded, occipital margin slightly convex ( Fig. 8 ). Anterior margin of clypeus distinctly convex, with 8–10 long white setae, medial notch absent. Eyes moderate, elongate oval, 1.5–1.6 × as long as wide, 0.21–0.23 × as long as head length. Antennal scape very long, in lateral view slightly curved, 1.22–1.28 × as long as width of the head, in apex gradually widened with strong preapical constriction, its base with obtuse dorsal and ventral angle. Funiculus distinctly longer than scape, first segment 2.4 × as long as wide at apex, 1.8 × longer than second segment, segments 2–7 slightly longer than wide, club elongate, as long as segments 1–8 combined, last segment of club elongate, as long as segments 8 and 9 combined ( Fig. 7 ). Surface of scape smooth and shiny, covered with thin, long, suberect to erect hairs. Mandibles with thick sparse, longitudinal striae, shiny, covered with short appressed and moderately long decumbent to subdecumbent hairs. Clypeus with long median keel and one short keel on each side, interspaces smooth and shiny. Frons narrow, approximately 0.39 × as wide as head width. Frontal carinae short, slightly extending beyond frontal lobes. Antennal fossa deep, not margined by circular striae, surface smooth and shiny. Frontal lobes narrow, placed only slightly upwards ( Fig. 7 ). Almost whole surface of head smooth and shiny only gena with short rugae and diffusely microreticulate interspaces, and along frontal carinae run 1–2 striae. Surface of head with extremely sparse decumbent pubescence, frons, vertex and occipital area with erect, pale, very long and thick setae, the longest on occipitum 1.3 × as long as eye diameter ( Fig. 4 ). Mesosoma. Elongate, approximately 2.2 × as long as wide, distinctly arched in anterior third, flat to indistinctly convex in propodeal part, smooth and shiny. Very short dorsum of mesonotum irregular, with short rugae, sides predominantly microgranulate without rugae but granules often tend to form longitudinal striae. Dorsum of propodeum centrally microreticulate with slightly irregular surface, between and behind propodeal spines predominantly smooth and shiny, sides of propodeum in upper half granulate, in ventral half with sharp longitudinal rugae, especially on metapleural lobe, surface appears irregular but shiny. Propodeal spines long to very long, PSL/HW 0.26–0.33, running strongly upwards, usually in form of elongate spines with moderately widened base, straight or with only slightly curved apex, sharply acute apically ( Fig. 5 ), occasionally spines very long with distinctly curved apex ( Fig. 6 ). Entire mesosoma bearing erect, yellow, very long setae, the longest on pronotum 1.45 × as long as eye diameter ( Fig. 6 ). Petiole. Very long, mean PEL/PEH 1.59, anterior face shallowly concave, ventral margin anteriorly with sharp spine, node in lateral view angulate, without lateral carinae, anterior face smooth and shiny, sides and top microreticulate, without or with few rugae. Postpetiole. In dorsal view almost as long as wide, approximately 1.6 × as wide as petiole, surface on sides and posterior face microreticulate with few short striae or rugae, top predominantly smooth and shiny. Dorsal surface of petiole and postpetiole with very long erect setae, as long as setae on pronotum ( Fig. 5 ). Gaster. Smooth and shiny, bearing erect, thin, pale, very long setae, as long as setae on mesosoma ( Figs 4, 5 ). Legs. Elongate, femora swollen in the middle, tibiae widened from base to ¾ length, surface of legs covered with extremely sparse, decumbent hairs, upper margin of fore femora, ventral margin of all femora and external margin of tibiae with numerous long, subdecumbent to semierect hairs, as long as width of tibiae at base, surface appears smooth and shiny.

Biological note. Less thermophilic than other Cypriot species of the genus Temnothorax . Prefers shady habitats, such as stream valleys, both deciduous and coniferous forests with rocks and stones, stone walls, and bushes. Foraging workers were observed on rock walls inside canyons and close to waterfalls, on the riverbanks inside deciduous forests, but they were also shaken off into the entomological umbrella from bushes or herbs close to streams. Nest samples were collected from rock crevices inside pine forests.

Figures

FIGURE 60. Distribution in Cyprus Temnothorax curtisetosus Salata & Borowiec (upper map) and T. recedens (Nylander) (bottom map)

FIGURES 4, 5. Worker of Temnothorax recedens (Nylander) (specimen from Paphos Forest loc. 4) 4 dorsal 5 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURES 6, 7. Worker of Temnothorax recedens (Nylander) 6 mesosoma with long spined propodeum 7 head (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURES 8, 9. Holotype worker of Temnothorax apolloni n. sp. 8 dorsal 9 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).