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Temnothorax abeli
| Temnothorax abeli | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Temnothorax |
| Species group: | sallei |
| Species: | T. abeli |
| Binomial name | |
| Temnothorax abeli (Fontenla Rizo, 1998) | |
This species was observed in relatively high numbers, running on tree trunks and branches. Captured workers reacted in an aggressive way, stinging painfully. (Fontenla Rizo 1998)
Identification
Prebus 2017 - A member of the sallei clade.
Fontenla Rizo (1998) - Arboreal species of Cuban Temnothorax with a very distinctive pattern of policromous coloration and heavy mesosoma rugae, except in the anterior dorsal part of pronotum. Short propodeal spines present, tibiae and femora swollen with very small tubercles. Petiolar node scale-shaped and postpetiole broader than long.
This species is related to Temnothorax darlingtoni and Temnothorax splendens. It differs from both of them by lacking the heavy mgae in the anterior part of pronotum in dorsal view. It is more similar to L. splendens in general size and body proportions, but differs in the more vivid color pattern, broader petiolar node and smoother head. Both species have not overlapping distribution (L. abeli in Western Sierra Maestra, L. splendens in the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa Masiff).
Distribution
Western Sierra Maestra, Cuba.
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Cuba (type locality), Greater Antilles.
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. |
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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. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- abeli. Leptothorax abeli Fontenla Rizo, 1998: 62, fig. 1 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
(paratypes) SL: 1,12 (1,12-1,2), HW: 1,2 (1,1-1,2), HL: 1,4 (1,4-1,42), ML: 2,1 (1,9-2,1), PL: 0,78 (0,70-0,78), PH: 0,55 (q,52-0,55), PPW: 0,6 (0,6-0,53), PPL: 0,37 (0,37-0,40), FL: 1,55 (1,150-1,55). Indices. SI: 80,3 (80,3-85,7), CI: 82,1 (73,8-82,1), PI: 36,9 (33,3-36,9), ill: 70,9 (70,9-75), PPI: 160 (131-160), FI: 73,8 (73,8-79,4).
Mandibles five toothed, slighted striated. Antennae with 12 segments, club well differentiated and three-segmented; funiculum segments rounded and stout; scapes short and stout, no surpassing the cephalic length. Head subquadrated. Mesosoma massive, curved in profile, almost evenly broad in dorsal view, throughout. Humeral angles rounded. Promesonotal depression not very conspicuous. Propodeal spines short (16,6% mesosoma length) and stout but sharp at the tips, slightly curved outward in the middle and divergent at the tips; propodeum with a gently declive. Petiolar peduncle short, with 36,9% of mesosoma length, petiolar node scale-shaped and high (54,8% of petiole length). Postpetiole broader than longer. Gaster with a well developed sting. Femora and tibiae swollen and with small scattered tubercles; femora do not surpass mesosoma length. Tegument shining throughout. Head surface polished, with only feeble striae on the fron and surrounded the eyes. Mesosoma with thick sulcae, transverse at the dorsum and diagonal on the pleurae. Dorsal anterior part of pronotum lacks the sulcae, surface smooth, only with very faint longitudinal striae. Body pilosity composed by long and white acuminate hairs, mostly erected, abundant, but not densely packed. Colour of head, antennae, legs, petiole, postpetiole and gaster shining brown. Smooth part of pronotum with violaceus reflections. Rest of mesosoma darker brown with conspicuous greenish reflections. Coxae yellowish brown.
Type Material
Holotype: worker, collected by Abel Perez on May 20, 1995, in Subida a la Nigua, Sierra Maestra, Santiago de Cuba Province. Paratypes: 8 workers; same data as holotype; 4 workers, collected by A. G. Debras, on July 25, in Rio Peladeros, Sierra Maestra, Santiago de Cuba Province. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Cuba
Etymology
Named after Abel Perez, a Cuban arachnologist and first collector of the species
References
- Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 271, Combination in Temnothorax)
- Fontenla Rizo, J. L. 1998b. New species of Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Cuba. Avicennia 8-9: 61-68. (page 62, fig. worker described)
- Prebus, M. 2017. Insights into the evolution, biogeography and natural history of the acorn ants, genus Temnothorax Mayr (hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bmc Evolutionary Biology. 17:250. doi:10.1186/s12862-017-1095-8 (The doi link to the publication's journal webpage provides access to the 24 files that accompany this article).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Fontenla J. L. 2001. Claves para las especies cubanas del taxon Macromischa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Leptothorax). Cocuyo (Havana) 11: 15-17.
- Fontenla J. L., and J. Alfonso-Simonetti. 2018. Classification of Cuban ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) into functional groups. Poeyana Revista Cubana de Zoologia 506: 21-30.
- Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1998. New species of Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Cuba. Avicennia 8-9: 61-68
- Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1998. New species of Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Cuba. Avicennia 8-9: 61-68.
- Fontenla Rizo J. L. 2001. Claves para las especies cubanas del taxon Macromischa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Leptothorax). Cocuyo 11: 15-17
- Portuondo E. F., and J. L. Reyes. 2002. Mirmecofauna de los macizos montañosos de Sierra Maestra y Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa. Cocuyo 12: 10-13
- Portuondo Ferrer, E. and J. Fernandez Triana. Biodiversidad del orden Hymenoptera en Los Macizos Montanosos de Cuba Oriental. Boletin S.E.A. 35:121-136.