Temnothorax nevadensis (Wheeler, Mayr, 1861

Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 936, pp. 1-68 : 16-17

Temnothorax nevadensis (Wheeler 1903d)

(Figure 9)

Leptothorax nevadensis Wheeler 1903d: 252. Two syntype workers, two syntype males, Kings Canon , Ormsby Co., Nevada (C. F. Baker) [ MCZC] [Examined] Note: original description also includes dealate queen.

Leptothorax melanderi Wheeler 1909e: 81. Holotype worker, Moscow Mountain , Idaho (A. L. Melander) [ AMNH] [Not examined]. Synonymy by Mackay 2000: 376.

Leptothorax eldoradensis Wheeler 1915b: 414. Two syntype workers, Mt. Wilson , California (J. C. Bradley) [ MCZC] [Examined]. Synonymy by Mackay 2000: 376; here confirmed.

Leptothorax lindae Mackay 2000: 356. Holotype worker, Wolverton Campground, Sequoia Natl. Park , Tulare Co., California (W. & L. Mackay) [ MCZC] [Examined]. Paratype workers (same data) in LACM also examined. Syn. nov.

Leptothorax maryanae Mackay 2000: 364. Holotype worker, 4 mi N Fawnskin, San Bernardino Mnts , California (B. & E. Mackay) [ MCZC] [Examined] Syn. nov.

Temnothorax lindae (Mackay ); Bolton 2003: 271. First combination in Temnothorax .

Temnothorax maryanae (Mackay ); Bolton 2003: 271. First combination in Temnothorax .

Temnothorax nevadensis (Wheeler) ; Bolton 2003: 271. First combination in Temnothorax .

Comments. This is another common species of Temnothorax in California and other western states, occupying a broad range of habitats, including coastal scrub, chaparral, oak woodland, open coniferous forest, and sagebrush desert. The worker can be recognized by the dark brown to black body color; relatively long and slender pilosity; opaque to sublucid head, with longitudinal rugoreticulate sculpture and scattered foveolae; dense foveolate sculpture on the mesosoma, overlain by weak rugulae; well developed propodeal spines; slender petiole, with anterior face rounding abruptly into posterodorsal face (Fig. 9); and relatively narrow postpetiole (PPW/DPW 1.34-1.51, PPW/T4W 0.33-0.39; n = 6). Size is variable, such that worker HW 0.47-0.70, but usually>0.55. There is considerable variation in the length and slenderness of the propodeal spines but they are always longer than the anteroventral petiolar process. In some T. nevadensis workers from eastern California and Nevada the head is rather shiny (sculpture much reduced), but the variation appears to be continuous. Interestingly, a similar trend is seen in the related arboreal species, T. gallae (M. R. Smith ): near its eastern limit (in Joshua Tree National Park, southeastern California) workers have shinier heads than in populations farther west.

Taking into account the variability inherent in T. nevadensis , this species readily encompasses the forms described by Mackay (2000) as T. lindae and T. maryanae (and placed inexplicably by him in different species complexes, separate from one another and from T. nevadensis ), plus two of the three taxa previously considered to be subspecies of T. nevadensis : melanderi and eldoradensis . I have not examined the type of T. melanderi so some doubt remains here, but the original description and the type locality suggest that the synonymy is justified. On the other hand, T. rudis , described as a subspecies of T. nevadensis -and synonymized under T. nevadensis by Mackay (2000)-is a distinct and easily recognized species, as documented below.