Temnothorax dashu, 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 : 19-21

Temnothorax dashu sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:18BDAFBC-6237-47E1-AA5E-4A83C177F399

Fig. 12

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. yushui sp. nov. ( Fig. 43 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum coarsely reticulate on the central area, sides of mesosoma coarsely reticulate, posterodorsal corner of propodeum rightly angled, and body color reddish brown, head blackish brown; in T. yushui sp. nov. head dorsum densely reticulate with loose longitudinal rugae on the central area, sides of mesosoma finely reticulate, posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly angled, and body color light yellow. The new species is also similar to T. liqiu sp. nov. ( Fig. 27 ), but differs in the new species posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly angled, obviously shorter than their basal width, head dorsum strongly reticulate posteriorly, pronotal sides loosely reticulate; in T. liqiu posterodorsal corner of propodeum toothed, weakly longer than their basal width, head dorsum weakly reticulate posteriorly, pronotal sides densely reticulate.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Luquan County, Wumeng Town, Jiaozi Snow Mountain ; 26.059833° N, 102.824917° E; 3250 m a.s.l.; 22 Mar. 2013; Xin Chen leg.; ground sample from alpine Rhododendron forest; SWFU A13-479 .

Paratype workers CHINA • 1 worker; same collection data as for holotype; SWFU A13-479 • 8 workers; same collection data as for holotype; SWFU A13-482 .

Non-type material examined

CHINA – Tibet • 6 workers; Bomi County, Gu Town, Xuewa Village ; 29.939676° N, 95.395491° E ; 2510 m a.s.l.; 6 Sep. 2010; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; ground sample from Quercus semecarpifolia forest; SWFU A10-4169 • 6 workers; Bomi County, Zhamu Town , Chugong Village; 29.893435° N, 95.707397° E; 2750 m a.s.l.; 6 Sep. 2010; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; nests under stones in Pinus densata forest; SWFU A10- 4144.

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 2.8, HL 0.68, HW 0.57, CI 84, SL 0.62, SI 109, ED 0.15, PW 0.40, WL 0.84, PL 0.28, PH 0.21, DPW 0.16.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin slightly convex, 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 narrow, concealing half of antennal sockets. Frontal carinae short, reaching to the level of anterior eye margin. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes reaching to 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. Mesonotum slightly convex and gently sloping down posteriorly. Metanotal groove widely shallowly impressed and distinct, with a blunt prominence in the groove. Propodeal dorsum straight and gently sloping down posteriorly, anterodorsal corner lowly bluntly toothed; propodeal spines short and stout, roughly triangular, blunt apically; declivity weakly concave, about ⅔ length of dorsum; propodeal lobes small, rounded apically. Petiole with anterior peduncle, about ⅔ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly triangular, anterior margin straight, posterior margin moderately convex, anterodorsal corner narrowly rounded; ventral margin almost straight, slightly concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner acutely toothed. Postpetiole slightly lower than petiole, anterodorsal margin rounded, posterior margin weakly convex, ventral margin almost straight.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior margin almost straight, humeral corners slightly convex, lateral margins strongly convex. Promesotonal suture absent. Mesothorax weakly constricted and narrow, lateral margins almost straight. Metanotal groove shallowly impressed. Propodeum roughly trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, lateral margins almost straight; spines short and stout, slightly in-curved. Petiole longer than broad, the node roughly circular, lateral margins weakly convex. Postpetiole roughly trapezoidal and narrowing posteriorly, about 1.4 times as broad as petiole, anterodoral corners bluntly angled, lateral margins nearly straight. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum longitudinally rugose anteriorly before midline of eyes with rugae divergent posteriorly, gradually reticulate posteriorly and laterally, interface densely punctate; genae longitudinally rougose. Clypeus with 3–4 rugae on each side, interface smooth. Promesonotal dorsum and pronotal sides reticulate, with three transverse rugae near metanotal groove; mesopleura and metapleura finely reticulate; propodeum, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate, postpetiolar dorsum smooth. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with abundant suberect to subdecumbent apically blunt short hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence, hairs and pubescence on the head relatively denser. Scapes and tibiae with dense subdecumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Body color yellowish brown, head dorsum and median portion of gaster blackish brown; mandibles, antennae and legs brownish yellow.

Measurements of paratype workers: TL 2.4–2.9, HL 0.55–0.65, HW 0.45–0.60, CI 82–92, SL 0.50–0.55, SI 91–111, ED 0.13–0.15, PW 0.30–0.31, WL 0.60–0.84, PL 0.20–0.30, PH 0.15–0.18, DPW 0.10–0.11 (9 individuals measured). As holotype worker, in some individuals propodeal spines slightly shorter or longer than in holotype, body color lighter than in holotype.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits alpine Rhododendron L. forest ( Fig. 68F ), Quercus semecarpifolia Sm. ( Fig. 68D ) forest and Pinus densata Masters forest ( Fig. 69A ) at an elevation of 2510–3250 m, forages on the ground and nests under stones.

Distribution

China: Yunnan, Tibet.

Figures

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. 43. Temnothorax yushui sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU C18-1446). 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. 68. Higher elevational vegetations. A. Alpine shrubland (3815 m, Yushu, Qinghai). B. Pinus wallichiana A.B.Jacks. forest (3550 m, Bomi, Tibet). C. Betula albosinensis Burkill forest (3480 m, Ganzi, Sichuan). D. Quercus semecarpifolia Sm. forest (3250 m, Bomi, Tibet). E. Alpine conifer forest (3250 m, Yanyuan, Sichuan). F. Alpine Rhododendron L. forest (3250 m, Luquan, Yunnan). Photos by Zheng-Hui Xu.

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.