Temnothorax qiu, 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 : 48-50

Temnothorax qiu sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:00DA9E8A-9F01-48C4-9843-6F5D2D56AA1A

Fig. 32

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. shuangjiang sp. nov. ( Fig. 34 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum parallelly longitudinally rugose on the central area, mesosoma densely reticulate; in T. shuangjiang head dorsum irregualarly longitudinally rugose on the central area, mesosoma coarsely reticulate. The new species is also similar to T. dong sp. nov. ( Fig. 15 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines slender in lateral view, petiolar node with narrowly rounded dorsum, pronotal sides finely reticulate; in T. dong propodeal spines stout in lateral view, petiolar node with rightly angled anterodorsal corner, pronotal sides coarsely reticulate. This new species is also similar to T. xiazhi sp. nov. ( Fig. 41 ), but differs in the new species dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex in lateral view, propodeal spines longer than half length of declivity, petiolar node longer than anterior peduncle, body color black; in T. xiazhi dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum straight in lateral view, propodeal spines shorter than half length of declivity, petiolar node as long as anterior peduncle, body color blackish brown.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to ‘qiu’, one of the four seasons.

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Sichuan Province, Yanyuan County, Boda Town, Hebian Village ; 27.375331° N, 101.288239° E; 2280 m a.s.l.; 25 Jul. 2018; Zhao Huang leg.; soil sample from Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU C18- 561 .

Paratype workers CHINA – Sichuan Province • 6 workers; same collection data as for holotype; SWFU C18-561 • 2 workers; same collection data as for holotype; SWFU C18-571 • 1 worker; same collection data as for holotype; ground sample from Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU C18-577 • 1 worker; Yanbian County, Gaoping Town, Gaoping Pass ; 26°46′23.11″ N, 101°31′12.93″ E; 2250 m a.s.l.; 19 Oct. 2018; Chao Chen leg.; ground sample from semi-evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU C18-2480 • 2 workers; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU C18-2461 • 1 worker; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU C18-2496 .

Non-type material examined

CHINA – Sichuan Province • 1 worker; Mianning County, Tuowu Town, Tuowuheqiao ; 28.784206° N, 102.260025° E; 2310 m a.s.l.; 27 Jul. 2019; Xin-Min Zhang leg.; foraging on the ground in subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU C19-1160 • 2 workers; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU C19-1129 • 1 worker; Kangding County, Pengta Town, Tongling Village ; 30.501231° N, 102.300811° E; 2450 m a.s.l.; 31 Aug. 2005; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; Winkler sample from Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU A05-964 • 4 workers; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU A05-956 • 1 worker; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU A05-930 • 2 workers; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU A05-961 • 2 workers; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU A05-968 . – Yunnan Province • 1 worker; Weixi County, Tuozhi Town, Tuozhi Village ; 27.126523° N, 99.361553° E; 2750 m a.s.l.; 12 Oct. 2003; Jun-Wu Yang leg.; ground sample from Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU A3470 • 1 worker; same collection data as for preceding; 2500 m a.s.l.; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; SWFU A3505 • 1 worker; same collection data as for preceding; 2500 m a.s.l.; 15 Oct. 2003; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; SWFU A3834 • 1 worker; Luquan County, Sayingpan Town, Shengfa Village ; 26.068741° N, 102.599696° E; 2950 m a.s.l.; 21 Mar. 2013; Xin Chen leg.; soil sample from conifer-broadleaf mixed forest; SWFU A13-438 • 1 worker; Luquan County, Sayingpan Town, Sajiuhai Village ; 26.039450°N, 102.543262° E; 2500 m a.s.l.; 21 Mar. 2013; Xin Chen leg.; soil sample from Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU A13-454 • 1 worker; Qiaojia County, Baihetan Town, Hetao Village ; 27.050718° N, 102.987330° E; 2557 m a.s.l.; 21 Mar. 2009; Yun Shi leg.; soil sample from Pinus armandi forest; SWFU A09-270 • 1 worker; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU A09-292 • 1 worker; same collection data as for preceding; SWFU A09-263 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 2.4, HL 0.56, HW 0.44, CI 78, SL 0.51, SI 116, ED 0.12, PW 0.33, WL 0.63, PL 0.25, PH 0.20, DPW 0.13.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior and lateral margins weaky convex, posterior corners broadly rounded. 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 margins. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes slightly surpassing posterior head margin. Eyes located slightly before midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying ¼ of lateral margin.

In lateral view pronotum weakly convex, promesonotal suture present but not impressed. Mesonotum and propodeal dorsum slightly convex and gently sloping down posteriorly, metanotal groove absent. Propodeal spines moderate long, slightly shorter than declivity and about 2 times as long as their basal width; declivity weakly concave; propodeal lobes short and rounded apically. Petiole with short anterior peduncle, about ½ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly triangular, anterior margin slightly concave, posterior margin weakly convex, top corner narrowly rounded; ventral margin straight, weakly concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner bluntly angled. Postpetiole slightly lower than petiolar node, anterior margin almost straight, anterodorsal corner narrowly rounded, dorsal margin weakly convex, ventral margin moderately concave.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior margin moderately convex, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins strongly convex, promesonotal suture present. Mesothorax weakly constricted, lateral margins weakly concave. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins slight convex; spines moderate long and sharp, pointed posterolaterally. Petiole roughly trapezoidal and widening posterior, longer than broad, lateral margins almost straight. Postpetiole roughly spherical, about 1.6 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins moderately convex. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum longitudinally rugose, with interface densely punctate posteriorly and laterally; lateral head margins below eyes relatively smooth. Clypeus smooth, each side with 4–5 short rugae. Mesosoma densely finely reticulate; propodeum, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with abundant erect to suberect apically blunt short hairs abundant decumbent pubescence. Scapes and tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body color black; antennae and legs blackish brown; mandibles and tarsi brownish yellow.

Measurements of paratype workers: TL 2.3–2.5, HL 0.55–0.69, HW 0.48–0.54, CI 82–87, SL 0.48–0.55, SI 100–104, ED 0.11–0.13, PW 0.36–0.41, WL 0.63–0.74, PL 0.22–0.24, PH 0.2–0.22, DPW 0.13–0.16 (13 individuals measured). As holotype worker, in some individuals body color blackish brown, anterior margin of petiolar node nearly straight.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits Pinus yunnanensis forest ( Fig. 69I ), P. armandi Franch. forest ( Fig. 69B ), conifer-broadleaf mixed forest ( Fig. 69D ), semi-evergreen broadleaf forest ( Fig. 69H ) and subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest ( Fig. 69C ) at an elevation of 2250–2950 m, and forages on the ground and in soil.

Distribution

China: Yunnan, Sichuan.

Figures

Fig. 32. Temnothorax qiu sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU C18-561). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 34. Temnothorax shuangjiang sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A13-198). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 15. Temnothorax dong sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A99-428). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 41. Temnothorax xiazhi sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A04-1198). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

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.