Temnothorax cuneinodis

Temnothorax cuneinodis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species:	T. cuneinodis
Binomial name
	Temnothorax cuneinodis; Radchenko, 2004

The single known specimen was collected on a dry open slope of a hill near a stream valley in sparse and young mixed forest. (Radchenko 2004)

Identification

Radchenko (2004) - T. cuneinodis is a quite conspicuous species and well differs from all known Eastern Palaearctic (including Japanese) Temnothorax species with 12-segmented antennae by the combination of several features: distinctly marked and slightly angulate humeri [except of Temnothorax alinae]; high and short, cuneiform petiole; reduced sculpture on the head dorsum, etc. T. alinae well differs from T. cuneinodis by the densely sculptured, rugulose and reticulate head dorsum; the much lower and massive petiole, which is distinctly longer than high (PI > 1.20), with a broadly rounded node dorsum (seen in profile); the longer (ESLI > 0.25), straight, not widened basally, finger-like and bluntly rounded on the tip propodeal spines; the straight, blunt, thick and short standing hairs on the alitrunk, which at most as long as the minimal eye diameter, etc.

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

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

Castes

Nomenclature

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

cuneinodis. Temnothorax cuneinodis Radchenko, 2004: 112, figs. 1-3 (w.) NORTH KOREA.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Head subrectangular (CI = 1.17), with parallel sides, very weakly concave occipital margin, and narrowly rounded occipital corners. Anterior clypeal margin broadly rounded. Antennae 12-segmented, antennal scape relatively short, not reaching the occipital margin by at least its maximal diameter (SI1 = 0.69, SI2 = 0.81).

Alitrunk with slightly flattened promesonotal dorsum, without metanotal groove. Propodeum with moderately long, basally widened, blunt spines (ESLI = 0.23). Humeri in dorsal view distinctly marked and slightly angulate. Petiole short and high (PI = 1.05), without anterior peduncle; petiolar node (seen in profile) cuneiform, with steep and very slightly concave anterior face and narrowly rounded dorsum. Postpetiole distinctly lower than petiole, subglobular.

Head dorsum with reduced sculpture, only with fine rugulae and striation on frons and near eyes, surface unpunctured, smooth and shiny. Alitrunk with relatively coarse but scattered, irregular longitudinal rugosity, punctures present only on mesopleura; surface between rugae shiny. Sides of petiole and postpetiole finely but densely punctate, petiolar and postpetiolar nodes dorsally with rugulosity, surface shiny.

Head with sparse short standing hairs, alitrunk and waist with more abundant and longer standing hairs, which distinctly longer than the minimal eye diameter.

Head, alitrunk and waist dark reddish, gaster reddish-brown, appendages somewhat lighter than the alitrunk.

Type Material

1 worker (holotype), North Korea, Maram ad Pyongyang, 10.viii.1959 leg. B. Pisarkski & J. Proszynski. Deposited in the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Warsaw, Poland).

Etymology

The species is named after the peculiar, cuneiform shape of its petiole.

References

Radchenko, A. 2004. A review of the ant genera Leptothorax Mayr and Temnothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the Eastern Palaearctic. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. 50(2):109-137. (page 112, figs. 1-3 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
Radchenko A. 2004. A review of the ant genera Leptothorax Mayr and Temnothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the eastern Palaearctic. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 50:109-137.
Radchenko, A. 2005. Monographic revision of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of North Korea. Annales Zoologici 55(2): 127-221.