Key to Temnothorax of eastern United States

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Key to Temnothorax species of the eastern United States based on the worker caste, based on Prebus et al. (2024).

1

  • Antennae with 11 segments => 2
  • Antennae with 12 segments => 13

2

return to couplet #1

  • Antennal scrobe present; mandible with 3-4 teeth (see Fig. 6a); dulotic social parasite of [[Temnothorax ambiguus], Temnothorax curvispinosus and Temnothorax longispinosus; widespread: Quebec, Canada south to Georgia, west to Kansas => Temnothorax americanus
  • Antennal scrobe absent; mandible variable, but usually with 5 teeth (see Fig. 6b); social parasite or free-living => 3
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 6. Comparison of antennal scrobe and mandibular dentition characters in full face view. a. Temnothorax americanus (☿, CASC, CASENT0104553). b. T. curvispinosus (☿, ABS, CASENT0104032). Photographs by April Nobile. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

3

return to couplet #2

  • Only apical and preapical masticatory teeth developed and acute, remainder of masticatory teeth reduced to shallow crenulae (see Fig. 7a) => 4
  • Masticatory teeth well developed, with 5 acute teeth (see Fig. 7b) => 5
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 7. Comparison of mandibular dentition characters in full face view a. Temnothorax minutissimus (Smith, 1942) (♀, LACM, CASENT0172598). b. T. curvispinosus (☿, ABS, CASENT0104032). Photographs by April Nobile. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

4

return to couplet #3

  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 8. Comparison of Temnothorax minutissimus and T. pilagens in profile view. a. Temnothorax minutissimus (♀, LACM, CASENT0172598; photograph by April Nobile). b. T. pilagens (☿, MMPC, CASENT0868793; photograph by Matthew Prebus). Scale bars 0.2 mm.

5

return to couplet #3

  • Antennal scapes short, failing to reach the posterior margin of the head by ≥ 2 antennal scape widths when fully retracted (see Fig. 9a–c); arboreal species nesting in dead branches on live trees, in tree cavities, or under bark (rugatulus clade sensu Prebus, 2021) => 6
  • Antennal scapes long: if failing to reach the posterior margin of the head when fully retracted, then they do so by < 2 (usually < 1) antennal scape widths (see Fig. 9d–f); arboreal or not (longispinosus group) => 8
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 9. Comparison of antennal scape lengths in full face view. a. Temnothorax bradleyi (☿, ABS, CASENT0104011; photograph by April Nobile). b. T. schaumii (☿, ABS, CASENT0104047; photograph by April Nobile). c. T. smithi (☿, ABS, CASENT0104053; photograph by April Nobile). d. T. caryaluteus (holotype ☿, USNM, CASENT4011115; photograph by Matthew Prebus). e. T. duloticus (☿, USNM, CASENT0103163; photograph by April Nobile). f. T. ambiguus (☿, MSNG, CASENT0904763; photograph by Will Ericson). Scale bars 0.2 mm.

6

return to couplet #5

  • Propodeal spines long: about as long as the propodeal declivity in profile view (see Fig. 10a); nests in cavities under bark; widespread: Ohio south to Florida, west to Mississippi and Indiana => Temnothorax smithi
  • Propodeal spines short: shorter than the propodeal declivity in profile view (see Fig. 10b–c); widespread; nesting under bark or in branches => 7
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 10. Comparison of Temnothorax propodeal spines in profile view; inset drawings depict propodeal spine length (dotted outlines) in comparison to length of the propodeal declivity. a. Temnothorax bradleyi (☿, ABS, CASENT0104011). b. T. smithi (☿, ABS, CASENT0104053). c. T. schaumii (☿, ABS, CASENT0104047). Photographs by April Nobile, from www.antweb.org. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

7

return to couplet #6

  • Head densely sculptured in full face view: covered in longitudinal rugae, with the interstices densely areolate (see Fig. 11a); nests in hollow cavities under bark; North Carolina south to Florida, west to Louisiana and Tennessee => Temnothorax bradleyi
  • Head less sculptured in full face view: mostly smooth and shining, with weak longitudinal rugulae and weak areolae around the compound eyes and radiating posteriorly from the antennal insertions (see Fig. 11b); nests in upper branches of mature oaks and hickories; widespread: Maine south to Florida, west to New Mexico and Nebraska => Temnothorax schaumii
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 11. Comparison of head integument sculpture in full face view. a. Temnothorax bradleyi (☿, ABS, CASENT0104011). b. T. schaumii (☿, ABS, CASENT0104047). Photographs by April Nobile, from www.antweb.org. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

8

return to couplet #5

  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 12. Comparison of subpostpetiolar processes in profile view. a. Temnothorax duloticus (☿, SMNG, ANTWEB1008479; photograph by Roland Schultz). b. T. ambiguus (☿, UCDC, CASENT0104803; photograph by April Nobile). c. T. longispinosus (Roger, 1863) (☿, USNM, CASENT0105559; photograph by Dan Kjar). Scale bars 0.2 mm.

9

return to couplet #8

  • Propodeal spines shorter than, or as long as, the propodeal declivity in profile view (see Fig. 13a–b) => 10
  • Propodeal spines much longer than the propodeal declivity in profile view (see Fig. 13c–d) => 12
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 13. Comparison of Temnothorax propodeal spines in profile view; inset drawings depict propodeal spine length (dotted outlines) in comparison to length of the propodeal declivity a. T. ambiguus (☿, UCDC, CASENT0104803; photograph by April Nobile). b. T. tuscaloosae (syntype ☿, MCZC; photograph by Gary Alpert). c. T. curvispinosus (☿, ABS, CASENT0104040; photograph by April Nobile). d. T. longispinosus (☿, USNM, CASENT0105559; photograph by Dan Kjar). Scale bars 0.2 mm.

10

return to couplet #9

  • Dorsum of mesosoma mostly smooth and shining (see Fig. 14a); workers small: ~ 2 mm in length; head, mesosoma, and gaster with dark integument; nests in small cavities in soil, hickory nuts, or acorns; Virginia south to Florida, west to Mississippi and Tennessee => Temnothorax tuscaloosae
  • Dorsum of mesosoma sculptured (see Fig. 14b); workers larger: > 3 mm in length; head, mesosoma, and gaster with light colored integument => 11
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 14. Comparison of mesosoma integument sculpture in dorsal view. a. Temnothorax tuscaloosae (Wilson, 1951) (syntype ☿, MCZC; photograph by Gary Alpert). b. T. ambiguus (☿, UCDC, CASENT0104803; photograph by April Nobile). Scale bars 0.2 mm.

11

return to couplet #12

  • Propodeal spines closely approximated at base, their union forming a U-shape with a narrow base (see Fig. 15a); petiolar node acute to narrowly rounded in profile view, narrower than petiole in dorsal view (see Fig.15a); mesosoma slightly arched in profile view (see Fig. 15b); nests in hollow twigs, in branches, and under bark on live trees; widespread: Delaware south to Mississippi, west to Oklahoma (see Fig. 5) => Temnothorax caryaluteus
  • Propodeal spines further apart at base, their union forming a squared-off, broad-based U-shape (see Fig. 15c); petiolar node broadly rounded or with a distinct dorsal face in profile view, about as broad as petiole in dorsal view (see Fig. 15c); mesosoma flat in profile view (see Fig. 15d); nests in hollow acorns, hickory nuts, and hollow twigs in the leaf litter; widespread: Nova Scotia south to West Virginia, west to South Dakota and Manitoba (see Fig. 4) => Temnothorax ambiguus
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 15. Comparison of propodeal spine and mesosoma profile characters. a–b. Temnothorax caryaluteus (holotype ☿, USNM, CASENT4011115, photographs by Matthew Prebus). a. Dorsal view. b. Profile view. c–d. T. ambiguus (☿, UCDC, CASENT0104803, photographs by April Nobile). c. Dorsal view. d. Profile view. Scale bars 0.2 mm.
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 5. Distribution map comparing the ranges of Temnothorax caryaluteus, T. ambiguus and T. curvispinosus in North America.
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 4. Castes of Temnothorax caryaluteus a–c. Holotype ☿ (USNM, CASENT4011115). a. Full face view. b. Profile view. c. Dorsal view. d–f. Paratype ♀ (USNM, CASENT4011128). d. Full face view. e. Profile view. f. Dorsal view. g–i. Non-type ♂ (USNM, CASENT4012896). g. Full face view. h. Profile view. i. Dorsal view. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

12

return to couplet #9

  • Integument typically light colored; head densely sculptured (see Fig. 16a); propodeal spines bent in profile view (see Fig. 16b); nests in hollow acorns, hickory nuts, and hollow twigs in the leaf litter; widespread: New Hampshire south to Florida, west to Oklahoma and Iowa (see Fig. 5) => Temnothorax curvispinosus
  • Integument typically dark colored; head sculpture variable, ranging from mostly smooth to densely sculptured (see Fig. 16c); propodeal spines straight in profile view (see Fig. 16d); nests in hollow acorns, hickory nuts, and hollow twigs in the leaf litter; widespread: Quebec, Canada south to Georgia, west to Arkansas and Minnesota => Temnothorax longispinosus
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 16. Comparison of head integument sculpture and propodeal spine characters. a–b. Temnothorax curvispinosus. a. Full face view (☿, NHMUK, CASENT0901789; photograph by Will Ericson). b. Profile view (☿, ABS, CASENT0104040; photograph by April Nobile). c–d. T. longispinosus. c. Full face view (☿, CASC, CASENT0914508; photograph by Dominique Monie). d. Profile view (☿, USNM, CASENT0105559; photograph by Dan Kjar). Scale bars 0.2 mm.
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 5. Distribution map comparing the ranges of Temnothorax caryaluteus, T. ambiguus and T. curvispinosus in North America.

13

return to couplet #1

  • Metanotal groove deeply impressed (see Fig. 17a); nests in stumps, logs, nutshells, or in the soil; widespread: New Jersey south to Hidalgo, Mexico, west to Arizona and Nebraska => Temnothorax pergandei
  • Metanotal groove not deeply impressed (see Fig. 17b–c) => 14
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 17. Comparison of mesosoma profile characters in profile view. a. Temnothorax pergandei (☿, ABS, CASENT0104016; photograph by April Nobile). b. T. allardycei (☿, ABS, CASENT0104009; photograph by April Nobile). c. T. texanus (☿, CASC, CASENT0923379; photograph by Michele Esposito). Scale bars 0.2 mm.

14

return to couplet #13

  • Mesosoma arched (see Fig. 17b) => 15
  • Mesosoma not arched (see Fig. 17c) => 16
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 17. Comparison of mesosoma profile characters in profile view. a. Temnothorax pergandei (☿, ABS, CASENT0104016; photograph by April Nobile). b. T. allardycei (☿, ABS, CASENT0104009; photograph by April Nobile). c. T. texanus (☿, CASC, CASENT0923379; photograph by Michele Esposito). Scale bars 0.2 mm.

15=

return to couplet #14

  • Dorsum of petiole with two setae (see Fig. 18a); head lightly sculptured (see Fig. 18b); nesting in leaf litter; southern Florida and the Caribbean => Temnothorax torrei
  • Dorsum of petiole with > 2 setae (see Fig. 18c); head densely sculptured (see Fig. 18d); nesting in hollow twigs, vines, and culms of sawgrass; southern Florida and the Caribbean => Temnothorax allardycei
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 18. Comparison of propodeal node setae and head integument sculpture. a–b. Temnothorax torrei (☿, MCZC, MCZENT00583611, photograph by Matthew Prebus). a. Profile view. b. Full face view. c–d. T. allardycei (☿, ABS, CASENT0104009; photograph by April Nobile). c. Profile view. d. Full face view. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

16

return to couplet #14

  • Integument typically dark colored; postpetiole wider than long in dorsal view (see Fig. 19a); ground nesting; occurring in open to semi-open sites with well-drained soil; widespread: Massachusetts south to Florida, west to New Mexico and Minnesota => Temnothorax texanus
  • Integument typically light colored; postpetiole about as wide as long in dorsal view (see Fig. 19b); ground nesting; occurs in marshes of the Florida panhandle => Temnothorax palustris
  • Prebus et al. (2024), Fig. 19. Comparison of postpetiole proportions in dorsal view. a. Temnothorax texanus (☿, ABS, CASENT0104063). b. T. palustris (☿, ABS, CASENT0104045). Photographs by April Nobile. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

References

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