Temnothorax quercicola Prebus 2021, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Prebus, Matthew M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Temnothorax
Temnothorax quercicola

description: <i>Temnothorax quercicola</i> sp. nov. Distribution: Fig. 95E; worker, gyne &amp; male: Fig. 100. <i>Leptothorax silvestrii</i> (<i>Santschi, 1911</i>): <i>Creighton, 1953</i>: 2 (misidentification). Worker, gyne, male. Arizona, U.S.A. <i>Leptothorax silvestrii</i> (Santschi): <i>Mackay, 2000</i>: 207 (misidentification). <i>Leptothorax silvestrii</i> (Santschi): <i>Mackay &amp; Mackay, 2002</i>: 122 (misidentification). <i>Temnothorax silvestrii</i> (Santschi): <i>Snelling, Borowiec &amp; Prebus, 2014</i>: 52 (misidentification). <b>Type material examined:</b> <i>Holotype worker:</i> U.S.A.: Arizona: Pima County: Baboquivari Mountains, Brown Cañon, 1,220 m, 19 September 1951, W.S. Creighton #245, in <i>Quercus emoryi</i> (LACMENT323216, middle specimen on pin) [LACM]. <i>Paratype workers and gyne:</i> U.S.A.: Arizona: same pin as holotype, 1 worker, 1 dealate gyne (top and bottom specimens on pin, respectively) [LACM]; same data as previous, 4 workers (CASENT0172599) [LACM] 3 workers (FMNHINS0000115817) [FMNH]. <b>Non-type material examined:</b> MEXICO: Sonora: Rancho San Fernando, E side Sierra de la Madera, 29.92833 <i> °</i> N 109.4817 <i> °</i> W, 1,490 m, 10 April 2010, T. VanDevender, RAJ#4559, rocky mountainside, Mexican blue oak woodland, 3 alate gynes (CASENT0869108) [CASC] 3 workers (CASENT0869108) [CASC]. U.S.A.: Arizona: Pima County: 1,280 m, Baboquivari Mountains, 3 September 1951, W.S. Creighton #546, in <i>Q. emoryi</i>, 2 workers, 1 male (LACMENT323217) [LACM]; same data as previous, except: 1 September 1951, W.S. Creighton, in <i>Q. emoryi</i> 617, 3 workers (LACMENT323213) [LACM] 3 workers (FMNHINS0000115818) [FMNH]; Baboquivari Mountains, Forestry Cabin, 1,070 m, 23 July 1951, W.S. Creighton #318, in <i>Q. emoryi</i>, 3 workers (LACMENT323214) [LACM] 3 workers (MCZENT00561744) [MCZC] 3 workers (FMNHINS0000115815) [FMNH] 1 dealate gyne, 1 worker (FMNHINS0000115823) [FMNH); Santa Catalina Mountains, Molino Cañon, 1,250 m, 5 November 1952, W.S. Creighton, in <i>Q. emoryi</i>, 3 workers (LACMENT323215) [LACM] 2 workers (CASENT0869107) [SIBR]; Molino Basin trailhead, 32.33751 <i> °</i> N 110.69024 <i> °</i> W ± 3 m, 1,330 m, 9 November 2019, M.M. Prebus, MMP#03350, grassland with scattered oaks, ex dead limb of <i>Quercus emoryi</i>, 3 workers (CASENT0868466-CASENT0868468) [MMPC]; Santa Cruz County: Ruby, 17 February 1946, N.Y.117144, 5V-582, nest in oak branch, 3 workers (CASENT0105865) [USNM] 3 workers (CASENT0758296) [USNM]; Pajarito Mountains, Yanks Canyon, 2 km E Sycamore Canyon turnoff, 31.433333 <i> °</i> N 111.150000 <i> °</i> W, 1,220 m, 6 April 1998, R.A. Johnson #AZ1330, oak woodland, 5 cm dead branch <i>Quercus grisea</i>, 2 workers (CASENT07583210) [UCDC], 1 dealate gyne, 2 workers (CASENT0869105) [SIBR] 3 workers (CASENT0869106) [SIBR]. <b>Geographic range:</b> Mid elevations of southern Arizona, U.S.A. &amp; Sonora, Mexico (Fig. 95E). <b>Worker Diagnosis:</b> <i>Temnothorax quercicola</i> sp. nov. can be separated from other species in the <i>salvini</i> clade by the following character combination: setae absent on gula; metanotal groove absent; propodeum not depressed; propodeum bearing erect setae; propodeal spines shorter than the propodeal declivity (PSI 22–30); hind femora strongly incrassate (FI 314–388); petiolar peduncle comprising about a third of the total length of the petiole; petiolar node erect and subquadrate, not overhanging the caudal cylinder in profile view; postpetiole narrow (PWI 164–183); first gastral tergite weakly areolate; integument yellow; dorsum of head, mesosoma, waist segments and gaster with erect, short, blunt-tipped setae; legs without erect setae. <b>Similar species:</b> <i>Temnothorax anaphalantus, T. andrei, T. caguatan, T. carinatus, T. cokendolpheri, T. nitens, T. pilicornis</i> sp. nov., <i>T. pseudandrei, T. rugosus, T. subditivus, T. tenuisculptus, T. wardi</i>, species of the <i>silvestrii</i> group, and other members of the <i>annexus</i> group. <i>Temnothorax quercicola</i> sp. nov. can be separated from all of the above species, except for <i>T. anaphalantus, T. rugosus, T. wardi</i> and the other members of the <i>annexus</i> group, by the medially emarginate anterior clypeal margin. Furthermore, it can be distinguished from <i>T. caguatan</i> by the 12-segmented antennae, which are 11-segmented in the latter. The erect, subquadrate petiolar node of <i>T. quercicola</i> sp. nov. contrasts with the node of <i>T. subditivus</i>, which is squamiform, and the nodes of <i>T. nitens, T. rugosus</i> and <i>T. wardi</i>, which are cuneiform to subcuneiform. The dorsal margin of the mesosoma is continuous in <i>T. quercicola</i> sp. nov., as opposed to sinuate, with a depressed propodeum in <i>T. tenuisculptus</i>. The antennal scapes with subdecumbent setae contrast with those of <i>T. pilicornis</i> sp. nov., which has suberect setae. The massively incrassate hind femora will separate <i>T. quercicola</i> sp. nov. from all species listed above (except for <i>T. subditivus, T. tenuisculptus, T. rugosus</i>, and other members of the <i>annexus</i> group), which have less incrassate hind femora (FI 314–388 in <i>T. quercicola</i> sp. nov. vs. &lt;300). Within the <i>annexus</i> group, the following characters distinguish <i>T. quercicola</i> sp. nov. from its close relatives: gula without erect setae, as opposed to present but decumbent (<i>T. annexus</i>) or present and erect (<i>T. arbustus</i> sp. nov., <i>T. balnearius</i> sp. nov., and <i>T. obtusigaster</i> sp. nov.); petiolar peduncle short, comprising about a third of the total petiole length, vs. comprising about half in <i>T. annexus</i>; propodeal spines shorter than the propodeal declivity, vs. about as long as the propodeal declivity in <i>T. annexus</i>. <b> Worker measurements &amp; indices (<i>n</i> = 8):</b> SL = 0.631 –0.696 (0.665); FRS = 0.255 –0.281 (0.268); CW = 0.786 –0.870 (0.837); CWb = 0.713 –0.786 (0.747); PoOC = 0.301 –0.346 (0.323); CL = 0.854 –0.916 (0.883); EL = 0.186 –0.244 (0.212); EW = 0.138 –0.168 (0.155); MD = 0.191 –0.239 (0.214); WL = 1.101 –1.219 (1.161); SPST = 0.250 –0.345 (0.295); MPST = 0.334 –0.420 (0.373); PEL = 0.347 –0.450 (0.395); NOL = 0.206 –0.251 (0.224); NOH = 0.161 –0.181 (0.172); PEH = 0.298 –0.348 (0.324); PPL = 0.211 –0.258 (0.241); PW = 0.508 –0.569 (0.542); SBPA = 0.205 –0.247 (0.226); SPTI = 0.252 –0.305 (0.273); PEW = 0.195–0.22 (0.209); PNW = 0.193 –0.229 (0.212); PPW = 0.338 –0.381 (0.358); HFL = 0.671 –0.771 (0.731); HFWmax = 0.220 –0.248 (0.232); HFWmin = 0.059 –0.071 (0.067); CS = 1.145 –1.242 (1.189); ES = 0.255 –0.327 (0.290); SI = 84–92 (89); OI = 22–26 (24); CI = 83–86 (85); WLI = 151–158 (155); SBI = 29–32 (30); PSI = 22–30 (25); PWI = 164–183 (172); PLI = 139–185 (165); NI = 116–144 (130); PNWI = 95–166 (109); NLI = 51–63 (57); FI = 314–388 (349). <b>Worker description:</b> In full-face view, head subquadrate, longer than broad (CI 83–86). Mandibles densely, finely striate but shining and armed with five teeth: the apical-most well developed and acute, followed by a less developed preapical tooth and three equally developed smaller teeth. Anterior clypeal margin emarginated medially. Antennal scapes short: when fully retracted, failing to reach the posterior margin of the head capsule by about the maximum width of the antennal scape (SI 84–92). Antennae 12-segmented; antennal club of composed of three segments, with the apical-most segment about one and a half times as long as the preceding two in combination. Frontal carinae short, extending past the antennal toruli by about one and a half times the maximum width of the antennal scape. Compound eyes strongly protruding past the lateral margins of the head capsule. Lateral margin of head weakly convex, forming a continuous arc from the mandibular insertions to the posterior margin of the head. Posterior head margin weakly concave medially but rounding evenly into the lateral margins. In profile view, compound eyes ovular and moderately large (OI 22–26), with 13 ommatidia in longest row. Pronotal declivity distinct: dorsal margin of anterior face of pronotum marked by a carina; neck and anterior face of pronotum forming a ~120 <i> °</i> angle. Mesosoma very weakly convex from where it joins the pronotal declivity to the base of the propodeal spines. Promesonotal suture extending from the posterior margin of the procoxal insertion to the mesothoracic spiracle, which is moderately well developed. Metanotal groove visible as a disruption of the sculpture laterally from where it arises between the mid- and hind coxae to where it ends in the poorly developed metathoracic spiracle, which is nearly indistinguishable against the ground sculpture. Propodeal spiracle moderately well developed, directed posterolaterally, and separated from the propodeal declivity by about five spiracle diameters. Propodeal spines short (PSI 22–30), shorter than the propodeal declivity, slightly flared at the base, thin, straight, and acute. Propodeal declivity straight, forming a rounded ~100 <i> °</i> angle with the base of the propodeal spines. Propodeal lobes rounded and weakly developed, but dorsum slightly angulate. Metapleural gland bulla small, extending from the metacoxal insertion halfway to the propodeal spiracle. Petiole moderately long (PLI 139–185), with tubercles anterodorsally. Subpetiolar process in the form of a small, blunt, triangular tooth which grades evenly into the ventral petiole margin posteriorly; ventral margin of petiole weakly concave posterior to it. Petiolar peduncle short: comprising about a third of the total petiole length. Petiolar node robust, erect, and subquadrate: transition between peduncle and node marked by a rounded angle of ~120 <i> °</i> ; anterior face forming a ~110 <i> °</i> angle with the dorsal face, which is weakly convex, nearly flat; dorsal face meeting the posterior face at a rounded ~90 <i> °</i> angle; posterior face forms a ~100 <i> °</i> angle with the caudal cylinder. Postpetiole convex anteriorly, bulging slightly anterodorsally before flattening posterodorsally; weakly lobed ventrally. In dorsal view, humeri weakly developed: evenly rounded and barely wider than the rest of the mesosoma; mesothoracic spiracles weakly protruding past the lateral margins of the mesosoma, visible as slight angles where the pronotum meets the mesonotum. Promesonotal suture represented by a weak sulcus. Metanotal groove absent: mesonotum and propodeum completely fused and lateral margins converging evenly to the bases of the propodeal spines. Propodeal spines broadly approximated basally and weakly diverging apically, their apices separated from each other by slightly more than their length, the negative space between them “U” shaped. Petiolar peduncle with spiracles weakly protruding past the lateral margins. Petiolar node nearly ovular, but posterior margin flattened; node broader than the peduncle, and evenly grading into the caudal cylinder, which is slightly narrower than the node. Postpetiole narrow (PWI 164–183) and subquadrate. Anterior margin of the postpetiole weakly convex, nearly flat, and meets the lateral margins at a ~90 <i> °</i> angle; lateral margins parallel to each other; posterior corners rounded; posterior margin flat. Metafemur incrassate (FI 314–388). Sculpture: median clypeal carina present, extending posteriorly to the frontal triangle, and flanked on either side by two weaker carinae. Lateral clypeal lobes with additional, weaker carinae; ground sculpture shining through weak areolae. Antennal scapes areolate. Cephalic dorsum areolate, with fine rugae over the ground sculpture; concentric costulae surrounding the antennal insertions; overlying sculpture becoming costate between the frontal carinae. Lateral surfaces of head areolate, with rugae over the ground sculpture. Ventral surface of head smooth and shining anteromedially, but otherwise weakly areolate with weak costulae. Pronotal neck weakly areolate. Lateral surfaces mesosoma areolate, with costulae over the ground sculpture; region between the propodeal spiracle and propodeal spines areolate, without costulae. Propodeal declivity areolate. Dorsal surface of mesosoma predominantly areolate, with fine costulae on the pronotum and rugae on the rest of the mesosoma. Femora finely, densely areolate. Petiole uniformly areolate; a weak carina present laterally, extending longitudinally from the petiolar spiracle to the caudal cylinder; weak rugae on all faces of the node. Postpetiole uniformly areolate, with rugulose sculpture on the lateral faces. First gastral tergite weakly, finely areolate, with sculpture weakening posteriorly; without spectral iridescence. First gastral sternite smooth and shining, without spectral iridescence. Setae: antennal scapes and funiculi with short, adpressed pilosity. Dorsum of the head, pronotum, waist segments, and gaster with moderately abundant, erect, blunt-tipped setae, the longest of which are about the width of the compound eye. The head bears ~38, mesosoma ~38, petiole 10, postpetiole ~18, and first gastral tergite ~80 setae. Short, sparse pubescence present over the entire body, but difficult to detect against the densely sculptured integument. Color: predominantly yellow, with masticatory margin of the mandibles dark brown. <b> Gyne measurements &amp; indices (<i>n</i> = 1):</b> SL = 0.783; FRS = 0.386; CW = 1.127; CWb = 1.022; PoOC = 0.366; CL = 1.086; EL = 0.354; EW = 0.297; MD = 0.220; WL = 2.001; SPST = 0.440; MPST = 0.495; PEL = 0.567; NOL = 0.293; NOH = 0.254; PEH = 0.538; PPL = 0.333; PW = 1.154; SBPA = 0.496; SPTI = 0.503; PEW = 0.312; PNW = 0.356; PPW = 0.591; HFL = 0.942; HFWmax = 0.282; HFWmin = 0.100; CS = 1.565; ES = 0.503; SI = 77; OI = 32; CI = 94; WLI = 196; SBI = 49; PSI = 22; PWI = 189; PLI = 170; NI = 115; PNWI = 114; NLI = 52; FI = 282. <b>Gyne description:</b> In full-face view, head subquadrate, slightly longer than broad (CI 94). Mandibles densely striate but shining and armed with five teeth: the apical-most well developed, followed by a less developed preapical tooth and three equally developed smaller teeth. Anterior clypeal margin emarginated medially. Antennal scapes short: when fully retracted, failing to reach the posterior margin of the head capsule by about the maximum width of the scape (SI 77). Antennae 12-segmented; antennal club composed of three segments, with the apical-most segment about one and a half times as long as the preceding two in combination. Frontal carinae moderately long, extending past the antennal toruli by about two times the maximum width of the antennal scape. Compound eyes strongly protruding past the lateral margins of the head capsule. Lateral margins of head convex behind the compound eyes, but parallel to each other between the mandibular insertions and the compound eyes. Posterior head margin concave medially, rounding evenly into the lateral margins. In profile view, compound eyes ovular and large (OI 32), with 22 ommatidia in longest row. Mesoscutum rounded evenly anteriorly, covering the dorsal surface of the pronotum, and flat dorsally. Mesoscutellum on the same plane as the mesoscutum and flat dorsally. Posterior margin of metanotum extending slightly past the posterior margin of the mesoscutum. Propodeal spiracle well developed, directed posterolaterally, and separated from the propodeal declivity by about four spiracle diameters. Propodeal spines short and stout (PSI 22), about half as long as the propodeal declivity, tapering evenly from the base, directed posterodorsally, triangular, and blunt. Propodeal declivity straight and flat, forming a rounded ~100 <i> °</i> angle with the base of the propodeal spines. Propodeal lobes rounded, but slightly angulate dorsally. Metapleural gland bulla moderately large, extending from the metacoxal insertion two thirds of the way to the propodeal spiracle. Petiole moderately long (PLI 170), with weakly developed tubercles anterodorsally. Subpetiolar process in the form of a small, blunt, triangular tooth, which grades evenly into the ventral margin of the petiole posteriorly. Petiolar peduncle short: comprising about a third of the total petiole length. Petiolar node robust and erect, subquadrate: transition between peduncle and node an evenly rounded ~120 <i> °</i> angle; anterior face forming a rounded ~90 <i> °</i> angle with the dorsal face, which weakly convex; dorsal face meeting the posterior face at a ~110 <i> °</i> angle; posterior face forms a ~120 <i> °</i> angle with the caudal cylinder. Postpetiole flat anteriorly, bulging slightly anterodorsally before it transitions into the flattened posterodorsal face; ventral surface weakly lobed. In dorsal view, mesoscutum covering pronotum anteriorly, but humeri visible laterally as rounded sclerites. Propodeal spines weakly diverging apically, their apices separated from each other by about three times their length. Petiolar peduncle with spiracles not protruding past the lateral margins, but slightly narrowed anterior to them. Petiolar node subquadrate, anterior margin slightly broader than posterior margin. Petiolar node tapering apically, slightly wider than the peduncle, and evenly grading into the caudal cylinder, which is narrower than the node. Postpetiole narrow (PWI 189), anteroposteriorly compressed, and subquadrate. Anterior margin of postpetiole flat, with corners marked by rounded ~90 <i> °</i> angles as it transitions to the lateral margins; lateral margins parallel to each other; posterior corners rounded; posterior margin flat. Metafemur moderately incrassate (FI 282). Sculpture: median clypeal carina present, extending from the anterior margin nearly to frontal triangle, and flanked by multiple weaker, indistinct carinae. Lateral clypeal lobes with additional weaker carinae; ground sculpture smooth and shining. Antennal scapes finely areolate-costulate. Cephalic dorsum areolate, with rugose sculpture overlying the ground sculpture; concentric costulae surround the antennal insertions. Lateral surfaces of head areolate, with costate sculpture overlying the ground sculpture; sculpture becoming rugose between the compound eye and mandibular insertion. Ventral surface of head smooth and shining medially, with weak areolate-rugulose sculpture laterally and posteriorly. Pronotal neck areolate. Anterior face of pronotum weakly areolate. Lateral surfaces of the mesosoma sculptured similarly to the dorsum of the head; anterior half of anepisternum areolate, without overlying rugose sculpture. Propodeal declivity weakly areolate- strigulate. Mesoscutum with costulate sculpture over finely areolate ground sculpture; a longitudinal strip of very weakly areolate sculpture present medially. Mesoscutellum smooth and shining, with weak costulae on the lateral margins. Metanotum finely areolate. Propodeum areolate, with fine strigulae. Femora shining through weak areolate sculpture. Petiole uniformly areolate; a weak carina present laterally, extending longitudinally from the petiolar spiracle to the caudal cylinder; weak reticulate rugae on all faces of the node. Postpetiole uniformly areolate, with weak rugose sculpture on the lateral faces. First gastral tergite and sternite predominantly smooth and shining, with weak spectral iridesce
description: Published as part of <i>Prebus, Matthew M., 2021, Taxonomic revision of the Temnothorax salvini clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a key to the clades of New World Temnothorax, pp. 1-462 in PeerJ (e 11514) (e 11514) 9</i> on pages 113-121, DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11514, http://zenodo.org/record/5102026
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