Temnothorax qiufen, 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 : 50-52

Temnothorax qiufen sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6F5E501F-D777-4ADE-8DA8-566A0031508A

Fig. 33

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. xiaohan sp. nov. ( Fig. 36 ), but differs in the new species apices of antennal scapes just reached to posterior head margin, mesosomal dorsum straight at metanotal groove position, sides of mesosoma finely reticulate, and body color brownish black, head and gaster black; in T. xiaohan apices of antennal scapes surpassed posterior head margin, mesosomal dorsum weakly concave at metanotal groove position, sides of mesosoma coarsely reticulate, and body color reddish brown, head and gaster brownish black. The new species is also similar to T. lidong sp. nov. ( Fig. 25 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines shorter than declivity in lateral view, petiolar node asymmetrical with rightly angled anterodorsal corner, mesosomal sides coarsely reticulate, body color blackish brown; in T. lidong propodeal spines as long as declivity in lateral view, petiolar node symmetrical with narrowly rounded dorsum, mesosomal sides finely reticulate, body color black.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Sichuan Province, Ganzi County, Gonglong Town, Dingdalong Village ; 31.696508° N, 99.781661° E; 3480 m a.s.l.; 20 Aug. 2018; Zhong-Ping Xiong leg.; foraging on the ground in Betula albosinensis forest; SWFU A18-972 .

Paratype worker CHINA • 1 worker; Qinghai Province, Yushu County, Jiegu Town, Barong ; 32.913275° N, 97.038922° E; 3815 m a.s.l.; 18 Aug. 2018; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; ground sample from alpine shrubland; SWFU A18-478 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 2.7, HL 0.63, HW 0.51, CI 81, SL 0.60, SI 118, ED 0.13, PW 0.36, WL 0.80, PL 0.29, PH 0.22, DPW 0.16.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin almost straight, 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 broad, concealing antennal sockets. Frontal carinae short, reaching to the level of anterior eye margins. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes just reaching to posterior head margin. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying ¼ of lateral margin.

In lateral view pronotum slightly convex, anterodorsal corner narrowly rounded, promesonotal suture absent. Mesonotum weakly convex and gently sloping down posteriorly, metanotal groove very shallowly impressed. Propodeal dorsum straight and gently sloping down posteriorly; propodeal spines short and acute, roughly triangular, about as long as their basal width and about ½ length of declivity; declivity weakly concave; propodeal lobes short and rounded apically. Petiole with moderate long anterior peduncle, about ½ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly trapezoidal, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin weakly convex, top margin slight convex; ventral margin straight, anteroventral corner largely acutely toothed. Postpetiole about as high as petiolar node, anterodorsal margin rounded, posterior margin straight, ventral margin moderately concave.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margin moderately convex. Mesothorax weakly constricted, lateral margins weakly concave. Metanotal groove very shallowly impreassed. Propodeum roughly trapezoidal, lateral margins almost straight; spines short and triangular, pointed posterolaterally. Petiole roughly trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, longer than broad, lateral margins weakly convex. Postpetiole roughly trapezoidal and narrowing posteriorly, about 1.6 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose with the longitudinal central strip relatively smooth, and reticulate laterally; genae longitudinally rugose. Clypeus with longitudinal rugosity. Mesosomal dorsum coarsely reticulate, pronotum coarsely rugose, mesonotal dorsum loosely rugose; mesopleura and metapleura reticulate; propodeum, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with sparse erect to suberect apically blunt short hairs and sparse decumbent pubescence, hairs on head and gaster relatively abundant. Scapes and tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body color blackish brown, mandibles, antennae and legs brown to brownish yellow.

Measurements of paratype worker: TL 2.6, HL 0.63, HW 0.50, CI 80, SL 0.50, SI 100, ED 0.13, PW 0.35, WL 0.65, PL 0.25, PH 0.2, DPW 0.13 (1 individual measured). As holotype worker.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits Betula albosinensis Burkill forest ( Fig. 68C ) and alpine shrubland ( Fig. 68A ) at an elevation of 3480–3815 m, and forages on the ground.

Distribution

China: Sichuan, Qinghai.

Figures

Fig. 33. Temnothorax qiufen sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A18-972). 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. 25. Temnothorax lidong sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU C18-230). 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.