Temnothorax sordidulus

Temnothorax sordidulus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species group:	nylanderi
Species complex:	sordidulus
Species:	T. sordidulus
Binomial name
Temnothorax sordidulus (Müller, 1923) Specimen Labels
Synonyms
Leptothorax carinthiacus Bernard, 1957 Leptothorax mulleri Santschi, 1926

Little is known about the biology of Temnothorax sordidulus.

Identification

Csösz et al. (2015) - A member of the sordidulus species-complex. Due to its dark brown to black color this species can only be confused with its European sibling, Temnothorax tergestinus. The other black species belonging to this complex, Temnothorax artvinensis is endemic to Turkey. Though T. sordidulus seems endemic to the Dinaran Alps, its distribution slightly overlaps with that of T. tergestinus in Slovenia and Austria. The darker, often black color of T. sordidulus in contrast to the brown color of Central European populations of T. tergestinus, its shorter spines (SPST/CS), shorter scapes (SL/CS), longer petioles (PL/CS) and petiolar nodes (NOL/CS) may help to separate T. sordidulus from Central European populations of T. tergestinus. If these ratios overlap and do not clearly separate between the two taxa, or if T. sordidulus shall be separated from Bulgarian or Greek populations of T. tergestinus, a discriminant function (D7 = +0.0323_SPTI -0.0594_NOL +0.0859_SL -0.0490_ML +0.0867_CWb -0.1167_EL -0.0414_CL -1.2164) yields 99% classification success rate in single individuals and 100% in nest sample means.

In its restricted distributional area T. sordidulus cannot be confused with any other species treated in this revision.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Temnothorax nylanderi species group workers

Distribution

This species has a relatively restricted distributional area and is occurs in the Dinaran Alps of Austria, Croatia and Slovenia. (Csösz et al. 2015)

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 48.869328° to 35.248591°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy (type locality), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Türkiye.

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Flight Period

						X
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Source: antkeeping.info.

• Check details at Worldwide Ant Nuptial Flights Data, AntNupTracker and AntKeeping.

 Explore: Show all Flight Month data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Worker. Specimen code casent0906023. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by PCAS, Andreas Schulz Collection.

Worker. Specimen code casent0235364. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Worker. Specimen code casent0906712. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0906024. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by PCAS, Andreas Schulz Collection.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• sordidulus. Leptothorax sordidulus Müller, 1923: 70 (w.) ITALY.
  • [Also described as new by Müller, 1923b: 96.]
  • Novák, in Kratochvíl, Novák & Šnoflák, 1944: 118 (m.).
  • Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.
  • Status as species: Novák & Sadil, 1941: 90 (in key); Baroni Urbani, 1971c: 123; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 274 (in key); Schulz, 1991: 121; Bolton, 1995b: 244; Seifert, 1995: 14; Czechowski, et al. 2002: 52; Seifert, 2006: 8; Seifert, 2007: 241; Csösz, Heinze & Mikó, 2015: 55 (redescription).
  • Senior synonym of carinthiacus: Schulz, 1991: 121; Csösz, Heinze & Mikó, 2015: 55.
  • Senior synonym of mulleri: Bolton, 1995b: 244.
• mulleri. Leptothorax mulleri Santschi, 1926f: 293.
  • Unnecessary replacement name for sordidulus Müller, 1923b: 96.
  • [Misspelled as sordidus by Santschi, 1926f: 293.]
  • Junior synonym of sordidulus: Bolton, 1995b: 241.
• carinthiacus. Leptothorax carinthiacus Bernard, 1957a: 46, figs. 1, 2 (w.q.m.) AUSTRIA.
  • Status as species: Bernard, 1967: 203 (redescription); Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 274 (in key).
  • Junior synonym of sordidulus: Schulz, 1991: 121; Csösz, Heinze & Mikó, 2015: 55.

Type Material

Csösz et al. (2015) - Type material of Leptothorax sordidulus Müller, 1923: not investigated, most probably lost, see also Seifert (2006).

Lectotype and Paralectotype of Leptothorax carinthiacus Bernard, 1957: Carinthia Viktring Hölzler leg. [on reverse side: “V/55”], Lectotype Leptothorax carinthiacus Bernard 1957 desig. B. Seifert 2006 (2# LMK), [AUT:Viktring-carinthiacus-TYPE] (CASENT0913637). Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Csösz et al. (2015) - Body color: brown; black. Body color pattern: head, mesosoma, waist and anterior region of 1st gastral tergite lighter than antenna and legs and posterior region of gaster. Antenna color pattern: clava concolorous funicle. Absolute cephalic size: 518–607μm (mean = 574, n = 15). Cephalic length vs. Maximum width of head capsule (CL/CWb): 1.192–1.278 (mean = 1.238). Postocular distance vs. cephalic length (PoOc/CL): 0.363–0.390 (mean = 0.374). Postocular sides of cranium contour frontal view orientation: parallel; converging posteriorly. Postocular sides of cranium contour frontal view shape: feebly convex. Vertex contour line in frontal view shape: straight. Vertex sculpture: main sculpture homogenously forked costate, ground sculpture areolate. Genae contour from anterior view orientation: converging. Gena contour line in frontal view shape: feebly convex. Gena sculpture: rugoso-reticulate with areolate ground sculpture. Median region of antennal rim vs. frontal carina in frontal view structure: not fully overlapped by frontal carina. Concentric carinae laterally surrounding antennal foramen count: present. Eye length vs. absolute cephalic size (EL/CS): 0.258–0.280 (mean = 0.266). Frontal carina distance vs. absolute cephalic size (FRS/CS): 0.353–0.378 (mean = 0.366). Longitudinal carinae on median region of frons count: present. Longitudinal carinae on medial region of frons shape: forked. Smooth median region on frons count: absent. Antennomere count: 12. Scape length vs. absolute cephalic size (SL/CS): 0.763–0.809 (mean = 0.785). Facial area of the scape absolute setal angle: 0–15°. External area of the scape absolute setal angle: 30°. Ground sculpture of submedian area of clypeus: smooth; carinate. Median carina of clypeus count: present. Lateral carinae of clypeus count: present. Median anatomical line of propodeal spine angle value to Weber length in lateral view: 42–48°. Spine length vs. absolute cephalic size (SPST/CS): 0.227–0.281 (mean = 0.258). Minimum spine distance vs. absolute cephalic size (SPBA/CS): 0.257–0.291 (mean = 0.273). Maximum spine distance vs. absolute cephalic size (SPWI/CS): 0.280–0.331 (mean = 0.306). Apical spine distance vs. absolute cephalic size (SPTI/CS): 0.266–0.312 (mean = 0.288). Maximum mesosoma width vs. absolute cephalic size (MW/CS): 0.599–0.640 (mean = 0.615). Metanotal depression count: present. Metanotal depression shape: deep. Dorsal region of mesosoma sculpture: rugulose with areolate ground sculpture. Lateral region of pronotum sculpture: areolate ground sculpture, main sculpture forked costate. Mesopleuron sculpture: areolate ground sculpture superimposed by dispersed rugulae. Metapleuron sculpture: areolate ground sculpture superimposed by dispersed rugulae. Frontal profile of petiolar node contour line in lateral view shape: concave. Dorsal profile of petiolar node contour line angle value to frontal profile of petiole contour line in lateral view: 110–120°. Anterodorsal rim of petiole count: absent medially. Dorsal profile of petiolar node contour line in lateral view shape: slightly convex. Dorsal region of petiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture dispersed rugose; ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Dorso-caudal petiolar profile contour line in lateral view shape: straight; concave. Dorsal region of postpetiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture dispersed rugose; ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent.

Karyotype

• See additional details at the Ant Chromosome Database.

 Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

• n = 11 (Croatia, Italy, Switzerland) (Fischer, 1987) (as Leptothorax sordidulus).

References

• Csösz, S., Heinze, J. and Mikó, I. 2015. Taxonomic synopsis of the Ponto-Mediterranean ants of Temnothorax nylanderi species-group. PLoS ONE. 10(11):62pp. e0140000 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140000).
• Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 244, Senior synonym of mulleri)
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 271, Combination in Temnothorax)
• Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Csősz, S., Báthori, F., Gallé, L., Lőrinczi, G., Maák, I., Tartally, A., Kovács, É., Somogyi, A.Á., Markó, B. 2021. The myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Hungary: Survey of ant species with an annotated synonymic inventory. Insects 16;12(1):78 (doi:10.3390/insects12010078).
• Csosz, S., Marko, B., Galle, L. 2011. The myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Hungary: an updated checklist. North-Western Journal of Zoology 7: 55-62.
• Gonzalez, J.A. 2021. Description of Temnothorax estel sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a review of the Iberian species of the sordidulus species-complex. Zootaxa 5005, 145–160 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5005.2.2).
• Kiran, K., Karaman, C. 2020. Additions to the ant fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zoosystema 42(18), 285-329 (doi:10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a18).
• Lapeva-Gjonova, A., Antonova, V. 2022. An updated checklist of ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Bulgaria, after 130 years of research. Biodiversity Data Journal 10, e95599 (doi:10.3897/bdj.10.e95599).
• Müller, G. 1923b. Le formiche della Venezia Guilia e della Dalmazia. Boll. Soc. Adriat. Sci. Nat. Trieste 28: 11-180 (page 96, worker described)
• Novák, V. 1944c. K taxonomii mravencu rodu Bothriomyrmex a Leptothorax. Pp. 103-132 in: Kratochvíl, J., Novák, V., Snoflák, J. Mohelno. Soubor práci venoványch studiu vyznamne památky prírodní. 5. Hymenoptera - Aculeata. Formicidae - Apidae - Vespidae. (page 118, male described)
• Paul, J. Gronenberg, W. 1999. Optimizing force and velocity: mandible muscle fibre attachments in ants. Journal of Experimental Biology 202, 797-808.
• Salata, S., Borowiec, L. 2019. Preliminary division of not socially parasitic Greek Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with a description of three new species. ZooKeys 877: 81-131 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.877.36320).
• Schulz, A. 1991b. Tetramorium semilaeve (Hym.: Formicidae, Myrmicinae) und Bothriomyrmex gibbus (Hym.: Formicidae, Dolichoderinae) neu für Österreich sowie über die Verbreitung von Leptothorax sordidulus (Hym.: Formicidae, Myrmicinae). Z. Arbeitsgem. Öst (page 121, Senior synonym of carinthiacus)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Agosti, D. and C.A. Collingwood. 1987. A provisional list of the Balkan ants (Hym. Formicidae) and a key to the worker caste. I. Synonymic list. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 60: 51-62
• Bezdecka P. 1996. The ants of Slovakia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomofauna carpathica 8: 108-114.
• Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2012. Ants of Greece - Checklist, comments and new faunistic data (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus 23(4): 461-563.
• Bracko G. 2007. Checklist of the ants of Slovenia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Natura Sloveniae 9: 15-24
• Bracko, G. 2006. Review of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) of Croatia. Acta Entomologica Slovenica 14(2): 131-156.
• Buschinger A. 1999. Bemerkenswerte ameisenfunde aus Sudtirol (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecologische Nachrichten 3: 1-8.
• Csősz S, Heinze J, and I. Mikó. 2015. Taxonomic synopsis of the Ponto-Mediterranean ants of Temnothorax nylanderi species-group. PLoS ONE 10(11): e0140000. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140000
• Csősz S. 2001. Taxonomical and distributional notes on two new and a rare Leptothorax Mayr, 1855 species for the Hungarian ant fauna (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici 93: 99-106.
• Csősz S., B. Markó, and L. Gallé. 2011. The myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Hungary: an updated checklist. North-Western Journal of Zoology 7: 55-62.
• Czechowski W., A. Radchenko, W. Czechowska and K. Vepsäläinen. 2012. The ants of Poland with reference to the myrmecofauna of Europe. Fauna Poloniae 4. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 1-496 pp
• Finzi, B. "Quarto contributo alla conoscenza della fauna mirmecologica della Venezia Giulia." Bollettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 60 (1928): 128-130.
• Karaman M. G. 2011. A catalogue of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Montenegro. Podgorica: Catalogues 3, Volume 2, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, 140 pp.
• Legakis Collection Database
• Petrov I. Z., and C. A. Collingwood. 1992. Survey of the myrmecofauna (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) of Yugoslavia. Archives of Biological Sciences (Belgrade) 44: 79-91.
• Schlick-Steiner B. C., and F. M. Steiner. 1999. Faunistisch-ökologische Untersuchungen an den freilebenden Ameisen (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Wiens. Myrmecologische Nachrichten 3: 9-53.
• Schulz A. 1991. Tetramorium semilaeve (Hym.: Formicidae, Myrmicinae) und Bothriomyrmex gibbus (Hym.: Formicidae, Dolichoderinae) neu für Österreich sowie über die Verbreitung von Leptothorax sordidulus (Hym.: Formicidae, Myrmicinae). Zeitschrift der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Entomologen 43: 120-122.
• Seifert B. 1995. Two new Central European subspecies of Leptothorax nylanderi (Förster, 1850) and Leptothorax sordidulus Müller, 1923 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Abhandlungen und Berichte des Naturkundemuseums Görlitz 68(7): 1-18.
• Seifert B. 1998. Rote Liste der Ameisen. - in: M. Binot, R. Bless, P. Boye, H. Gruttke und P. Pretscher: Rote Liste gefährdeter Tiere Deutschlands. Bonn-Bad Godesberg 1998: 130-133.
• Seifert, B. "Temnothorax saxonicus (Seifert, 1995) stat.n., comb.n.: a parapatric, closely-related species of T. sordidulus (Müller, 1923) comb.n. and description of two new closely-related species, T. schoedli sp.n. and T. artvinense sp.n., from Turkey (Hym., Form.)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 (2006): 1-12.
• Soudek, S. "Dalmatsti mravenci." Casopis Csl. Spolecnosti Entomologické 20 (1-2) (1925): 12-17.
• Steiner F. M., S. Schödl, and B. C. Schlick-Steiner. 2002. Liste der Ameisen Österreichs (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Stand Oktober 2002. Beiträge zur Entomofaunistik 3: 17-25.