Temnothorax shuangjiang, 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 : 52-54

Temnothorax shuangjiang sp. nov.

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Fig. 34

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to T. qiu sp. nov. ( Fig. 32 ), but differs in the new species head dorsum irregularly longitudinally rugose on the central area, apices of antennal scapes falled to reach posterior head margin, and mesosoma coarsely reticulate; in T. qiu head dorsum parallelly longitudinally rugose on the central area, apices of antennal scapes surpassed posterior head margin, and mesosoma densely reticulate. The new species is also similar to T. lixia sp. nov. ( Fig. 28 ), but differs in the new species propodeal spines longer than half length of declivity in lateral view, head dorsum longitudinally wavely rugose; in T. lixia propodeal spines shorter than half length of declivity in lateral view, head dorsum longitudinally straightly rugose. This new species is also similar to T. qiufen sp. nov. ( Fig. 33 ), 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 with narrowly rounded dorsum, head dorsum wholly wavely rugose; in T. qiufen dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum straight in lateral view, propodeal spines about half length of declivity, petiolar node with rightly angled antertodorsal corner, head dorsum smooth on the central longitudinal narrow strip, longitudinally rugose laterally.

Etymology

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

Material examined

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Huaping County, Xinzhuang Town, Tianxing Forest Farm ; 26.636450° N, 101.149017° E; 2030 m a.s.l.; 15 Mar. 2013; Shun-Rong Pu leg.; soil sample from Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU A13-198 .

Description

Measurements of holotype worker: TL 3.5, HL 0.80, HW 0.72, CI 91, SL 0.59, SI 82, ED 0.18, PW 0.49, WL 1.05, PL 0.38, PH 0.28, DPW 0.20.

In full-face view head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin almost straight, posterior corner narrowly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Clypeal dorsum weakly convex, with waved 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 failing to reach posterior head margin by 1/7 of its length, antennal clubs 3-segmented. Eyes located slightly before midpoint of lateral head margin, occupying ¼ of lateral margin.

In lateral view promesonotum weakly convex and weakly arched, antetrodorsal corner of pronotum bluntly angled, promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Propodeal dorsum almost straight and gently sloping down posterriorly; propodeal spines long and slender, as long as declivity, pointed posterodorsally, its dorsal margin weakly convex, ventral margin straight; declivity straight; propodeal lobes relatively large and triangular. Petiole with anterior peduncle, about ⅔ length of petiolar node; petiolar node roughly trapezoidal and narrowing dorsally, anterior margin almost straight, dorsal and posterior margins weakly convex, anterodorsal corner narrowly rounded, posterodorsal corner broadly rounded; ventral margin straight anteriorly, weakly concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner bluntly angled. Postpetiole about as high as petiolar node, anterodorsal margin rounded, posterior margin weakly concave, ventral margin angularly concave.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior and lateral margin moderately convex and rounded, humeral corners rounded. Promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Mesothorax weakly constricted, lateral margins weakly concave. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins slightly concave, spines moderately long and straight, pointed posterolaterally. Petiole roughly trapezoidal and widening posteriorly, longer than broad, lateral margins weakly convex. Postpetiole roughly trapezoidal and narrowing posteriorly, about 1.4 times as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Gaster elongate oval.

Mandible longitudinally striate. Head dorsum longitudinally rugose and reticulate posteriorly and laterally, sides below eyes densely finely reticulate. Clypeus loosely irregularly rugose. Mososoma coarsely reticulate. Petiole and postpetiole densely finely reticulate, anterior face of postpetiole smooth. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with sparse erect to suberect apically blunt short hairs and sparse decumbent pubescence. Scapes and tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body color black, mandibles, antennae and legs blackish brown.

Ecological notes

This new species inhabits Pinus yunnanensis forest ( Fig. 69I ) at an elevation of 2030 m, and forages in soil.

Distribution

China: Yunnan.

Figures

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. 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. 28. Temnothorax lixia sp. nov., holotype worker (SWFU A05-869). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

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. 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.