Temnothorax guyu, 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 : 28-31

Temnothorax guyu sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A65525AB-D067-463C-A2A9-A820F73CA95D

Fig. 19

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. desioi ( Menozzi, 1939) ( Fig. 20 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum densely reticulate laterally, dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex, posterodorsal corner of propodeum rightly angled, and top of petiolar node narrowly rounded; in T. desioi head dorsum loosely rugose laterally, dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum straight, posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly angled, and top of petiolar node acute. The new species is also similar to T. qingming sp. nov. ( Fig. 30 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines rightly angled and shorter than their basal width in lateral view, dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex, head dorsum smooth on the central longitudinal strip; in T. qingming propodeal spines shortly spined and weakly longer than their basal width in lateral view, dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum straight, head dorsum wholly smooth. This new species is also similar to T. susamyri ( Dlussky, 1965) ( Fig. 65 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines rightly angled and shorter than their basal width in lateral view, dorsum of petiolar node narrowly rounded, pronotal sides densely reticulate; in T. susamyri propodeal spines shortly spined and longer than their basal width in lateral view, dorsum of petiolar node rightly angled, pronotal sides longitudinally rugose.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Lijiang City, Gucheng District, Heilongtan Park ; 26.888242° N, 100.166922° E; 2400 m a.s.l.; 8 Oct. 1991; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; foraging on the ground in Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU A91-945 .

Paratype workers CHINA – Yunnan Province • 1 worker; Luquan County, Jiaoxi Town, Fazhan Village ; 26.252639° N, 102.414177° E; 1840 m a.s.l.; 20 Mar. 2013; Xin Chen leg.; foraging on the ground in dry deciduous broadleaf forest; SWFU A13-378 • 2 workers; Luquan County, Machu ; 25.877299° N, 102.52042° E; 2240 m a.s.l.; 27 Nov. 1993; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; foraging on the ground in conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; SWFU A93-59 • 1 worker; Anning City, Wenquan Town, Yangjiao Village ; 24.941854° N, 102.485556° E; 1850 m a.s.l.; 1 Oct. 1991; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; foraging on the ground in Keteleeria evelyniana forest; SWFU A91-880 • 2 workers; Anning City, Yiliujie Town, Monande Village ; 24.540213° N, 102.329028° E; 2100 m a.s.l.; 17 Aug. 1991; foraging on the ground in conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; SWFU A91-353 • 1 worker; Kunming City, Xishan Mountain, Gaoqiao ; 24.990948° N, 102.624576° E; 2050 m a.s.l.; 7 May 2001; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; foraging on the ground in conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; SWFU A00636 • 1 worker; Kunming City, Xishan Mountain, Taihua Temple ; 24.967782° N, 102.636006° E; 2050 m a.s.l.; 2 May 2001; Ji-Ling Zhang leg.; semi-moist evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU A2520 .

Non-type material examined

CHINA – Yunnan Province • 2 workers; Zhenyuan County, Heping Town, Jinkuang ; 23.938144° N, 101.431259° E; 2000 m a.s.l.; 19 Apr. 2002; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; ground sample from monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU A1631 . – Sichuan Province • 9 workers; Huili County, Baiguowan Town, Lijiapingzi ; 26.907283° N, 102.284183° E; 2270 m a.s.l.; 24 Jul. 2019; nests under stones in warm conifer forest; Chao Chen leg.; SWFU C19-566 • 2 workers; Huili County, Waibei Town, Dacaomen ; 26.789397° N, 102.265186° E; 2060 m a.s.l.; 24 Jul. 2019; nests under stones in conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; Chao Chen leg.; SWFU C19-439 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 2.5, HL 0.56, HW 0.48, CI 85, SL 0.50, SI 104, ED 0.12, PW 0.36, WL 0.71, PL 0.26, PH 0.21, DPW 0.16.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin moderately convex, posterior corner broadly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Clypeal dorsum weakly convex, without median carina, anterior margin moderately convex. Frontal lobes broad, concealing antennal sockets. Frontal carinae relatively short, reaching to the level of midpoint of eyes. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes slightly surpassing posterior head margin, antennal clubs 3-segmented. Eyes located slightly before midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying ¼ of lateral margin.

In lateral view pronotum moderately convex and sloping down anteriorly, promesonotal suture absent. Mesonotum slightly convex and gently sloping down posteriorly, metanotal groove absent. Propodeal dorsum almost straight and gently sloping down posteriorly; propodeal spines very short and dent-like, about as long as propodeal lobes; declivity slightly concave; propodeal lobes short, bluntly angled apically. Petiole with anterior peduncle, about ¾ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly conical, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin weakly convex, dorsum rounded; ventral margin almost straight, anteroventral corner shortly bluntly angled. Postpetiole as high as petiolar node, anterodorsal margin rounded, posterior margin almost straight, ventral margin weakly concave.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior margin moderately convex, humeral corners very broadly rounded, lateral margins strongly convex, promesonotal suture absent. Mesothorax slightly constricted, lateral margins weakly concave. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins almost straight; propodeal spines very short and dent-like. Petiole roughly trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, longer than broad, lateral margins weakly convex. Postpetiole roughly rectangular, slightly narrowing posteriorly, about 1.5 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins almost straight. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum smooth medially, longitudinally rugose above frontal lobes and on the genae, reticulate laterally, and relatively smooth below eyes. Clypeus smooth medially, longitudinally rugose laterally. Mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely coarsely punctate, interface finely reticulate. 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; mandibles, antennae, trochanters and tibiae yellowish brown.

Measurements of paratype workers: TL 2.4–2.7, HL 0.55–0.65, HW 0.40–0.55, CI 85–73, SL 0.45–0.55, SI 100–113, ED 0.10–0.15, PW 0.30–0.40, WL 0.60–0.70, PL 0.20–0.25, PH 0.15–0.23, DPW 0.10– 0.13 (8 individuals measured). As holotype worker, in some individuals body size slightly different, pronotum and mesonotum reticulate rugose weakly.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits Pinus yunnanensis forest ( Fig. 69I ), dry deciduous broadleaf forest ( Fig. 70B ), conifer-broadleaf mixed forest ( Fig. 69D ), Keteleeria evelyniana Mast. forest ( Fig. 70C ), semi-moist evergreen broadleaf forest ( Fig. 70A ), monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest ( Fig. 70D ) and warm conifer forest ( Fig. 69F ) at an elevation of 1840–2400 m, forages on the ground and nests under stones.

Distribution

China: Yunnan, Sichuan.

Figures

Fig. 19. Temnothorax guyu sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A91-945). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 20. Temnothorax desioi (Menozzi, 1939), syntype worker (MSNM). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Images cited fromwww.antweb.org, CASENT 0904558, photos by Will Ericson.

Fig. 30. Temnothorax qingming sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A07-56). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

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.

Fig. 70. Lower elevational vegetations. A. Semi-moist evergreen broadleaf forest (2000 m, Tengchong, Yunnan). B. Dry deciduous broadleaf forest (1840 m, Luquan, Yunnan). C. Keteleeria evelyniana Mast. forest (1820 m, Anning, Yunnan). D. Monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest (1500 m, Gengma, Yunnan). E. Quercus variabilis Blume forest (1350 m, Guangnan, Yunnan). F. Dry evergreen broadleaf forest (518 m, Yuanyang, Yunnan). Photos by Zheng-Hui Xu.