Temnothorax mangzhong, 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 : 44-46

Temnothorax mangzhong sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:025E6A64-FEB0-438D-B95E-664182724F28

Fig. 29

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. jingzhe sp. nov. ( Fig. 22 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum densely punctate between the longitudinal rugae on the central area, posterodorsal corner of propodeum rightly angled, petiolar node relatively longer with broadly rounded dorsum, and body color reddish brown, head and gaster black; in T. jingzhe head dorsum without punctate sculpturing between the longitudinal rugae on the central area, posterodorsal corner of propodeum acutely angled, petiolar node relatively shorter with narrowly rounded dorsum, and body color black. The new species is also similar to T. congruus (Smith, 1874) ( Fig. 7 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines rightly angled in lateral view, petiolar node symmetrical and nearly semicircular, pronotal sides reticulate, head dorsum finely rugose; in T. congruus propodeal spines acutely toothed in lateral view, petiolar node asymmetrical and nearly triangular, pronotal sides longitudinally rugose, head dorsum coarsely rugose.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Tengchong City, Shangying County, Dahaoping ; 24.979244° N, 98.694517° E; 2000 m a.s.l.; 28 Apr. 1999; Lei Fu leg.; canopy sample from semi-moist evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU A99-100 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 3.7, HL 0.79, HW 0.64, CI 82, SL 0.72, SI 113, ED 0.16, PW 0.49, WL 1.14, PL 0.42, PH 0.25, DPW 0.21.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior and lateral margins weakly 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 very short, about as long as frontal lobes. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes just reaching to posterior head margin, antennal clubs 3-segmented. Eyes located at midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying ¼ of lateral margin.

In lateral view pronotum weakly convex, promesonotal suture absent. Mesonotum nearly straight and gently sloping down posteriorly, metanotal groove widely shallowly impressed. Propodeal dorsum almost straight, posterodorsal corner rightly angled; declivity weakly concave, propodeal lobes broad ant truncated apically. Petiole with short anterior peduncle, about ½ length of petiolar node; petiolar node elongate and roundly convex dorsally, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin weakly convex; ventral margin almost straight anteriorly, weakly concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner lowly minutely toothed. Postpetiole as high as petiolar node, anterodorsal margin moderately convex, posterior margin almost straight, ventral margin weakly convex.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior margin moderately convex, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins strongly convex, promesonotal suture absent. Mesothorax moderately constricted, lateral margins moderately concave, metanotal groove shallowly impressed. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins slightly convex; propodeal spines acutely toothed. Petiole longer than broad, widening posteriorly, spiracles prominent, lateral margins of the node moderately convex, posterior margins strongly convex. Postpetiole about 1.3 times as broad as petiole, narrowing posteriorly, anterolateral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum densely longitudinally rugose, densely finely reticulate posteriorly and laterally with interface densely punctate. Clypeus longitudinally rugose. Mesosoma densely finely reticulate, lower potion of metapleura longitudinally rugose. Petiole and postpetiole densely finely punctate, postpetiolar dorsum smooth. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with abundant erect to suberect short hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence, hairs and pubescence denser on head. Scapes and tibiae with abundent subdecumbent hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Body color reddish brown; head dorsum and gaster black; mandibles, scapes, trochanters and tarsi brownish yellow.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits semi-moist evergreen broadleaf forest ( Fig. 70A ) at an elevation of 2000 m, and forages arboreally.

Distribution

China: Yunnan.

Figures

Fig. 29. Temnothorax mangzhong sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A99-100). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 22. Temnothorax jingzhe sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A12-1144). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 7. Temnothorax congruus (Smith, 1874), holotype worker (BMNH 1014987). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Images cited from www.antweb.org, CASENT 0901786, photos by Ryan Perry.

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.