Temnothorax darlingtoni

Temnothorax darlingtoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species group:	sallei
Species:	T. darlingtoni
Binomial name
Temnothorax darlingtoni (Wheeler, W.M., 1937)
Synonyms
Macromischa opalina Wheeler, W.M., 1937

Identification

Prebus (2017) - A member of the sallei clade.

Wheeler (1937) - This very beautiful species is readily distinguished from Macromischa scabripes by its larger size, more shining head and thorax, much more vivid coloration, the absence of costate rugae on the pronotum, partially orange femora and very different petiolar node.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 23.133° to 19.983333°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

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.

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.

Nomenclature

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

• darlingtoni. Macromischa darlingtoni Wheeler, W.M. 1937b: 450 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 438; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. Senior synonym of opalina: Fontenla Rizo, 1997a: 50.
• opalina. Macromischa opalina Wheeler, W.M. 1937b: 451 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 470. Junior synonym of darlingtoni: Brown, 1959e: 73. Revived from synonymy: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 470. Junior synonym of darlingtoni: Fontenla Rizo, 1997a: 50.

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

Description

Worker

Length 4.3-4.6 mm.

Closely related to Macromischa scabripes but decidedly larger. Head subrectangular, distinctly longer than broad, as broad through the posterior as through the anterior corners, with feebly convex sides and medially placed, convex eyes, the posterior border sinuate. Mandibles convex, with five stout, subequal teeth. Clypeus flattened, its anterior border transverse and broadly sinuate in the middle. Frontal area indistinct. Antennae stout; scapes curved basally, not reaching to the posterior corners of the head; second funicular joint longer than broad, half as long as the first; joints 3-7 slightly broader than long; 8 as long as broad; club well-developed, 3-jointed, the terminal as long as the two preceding joints together. Thorax shaped as in scabripes, distinctly flattened above and without promesonotal and mesoepinotal sutures; epinotal spines closely approximated basally, straight, somewhat stouter but scarcely longer than in scabripes. Petiole with similar peduncle, which is as long as the node, but the latter is quite unlike that of scabripes, being squamiform, rising perpendicularly in profile or with slightly concave anterior face, with rounded summit and long, convex posterior slope; seen from above it is transverse and subtriangular, fully three times as broad as the peduncle at its narrowest point; from behind higher than broad, subelliptical, its apex slightly narrowed but rounded. Postpetiole campanulate, broader than long. Gaster small, elongate-elliptical, acutely pointed posteriorly; sting very long. Legs long, with strongly incrassated femora and tibiae; middle and hind basitarsi compressed.

Shining; mandibles rugose-punctate; clypeus longitudinally, antennal foveae concentrically rugose; remainder of head with delicate, undulating, interrupted rugules, which on the front gradually diverge posteriorly and tend to fade out on the occiput. Neck transversely shagreened; pronotum with sparse, irregular, transverse rugules and coarse, scattered punctures; remainder of thoracic dorsum with a series of about 21 coarse, rounded (costate), transverse rugae, like those of scabripes, becoming longitudinal on the sides of the mesoand epinotum. Sides of petiolar node with 6-7 similar rugae, its posterior surface very smooth and shining, like the postpetiole and gaster. Posterior border of postpetiole coarsely shagreened, gastric segments with scattered, piligerous punctures. Femora tuberculate, but not as strongly as in scabripes; tibiae, basitarsi and antennal scapes finely, longitudinally striate.

Hairs white, erect or suberect, bristly, rather short and uneven, covering the whole body, most abundant on the head and thorax, sparse on the gaster, scarcely shorter on the appendages.

Mandibles, clypeus, frontal carinae and antennal foveae brownish yellow; teeth and basal border of mandibles black; remainder of head red, with vivid purplish and golden reflections; neck reddish yellow; sides and anterior quarter or third of pronotum metallic purple, declivity of epinotum and tips of its spines and metasternal angles yellowish red; remainder of thorax vivid metallic green. Node of petiole, postpetiole and gaster black, the extreme base of the first gastric segment and sting reddish or yellowish; sides of petiolar node metallic green; peduncle of petiole, coxae, trochanters and basal two-thirds or three-fourths of femora orange yellow; antennae and remainder of legs black.

Type Material

Described from seven specimens taken by Dr. Darlington on the coast below Pico Turquino, Sierra Maestra, June 26, 1936.

References

• Baroni Urbani, C. 1978b. Materiali per una revisione dei Leptothorax neotropicali appartenenti al sottogenere Macromischa Roger, n. comb. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomol. Basil. 3: 395-618 (page 438, Combination in Leptothorax)
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 271, Combination in Temnothorax)
• Fontenla Rizo, J. L. 1997b. Notas y sinónimos nuevos de Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de Cuba. Avicennia 7: 47-53 (page 50, Senior synonym of opalina)
• 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).
• Wheeler, W. M. 1937b. Ants mostly from the mountains of Cuba. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 81: 439-465 (page 450, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Alayo D. P. 1974. Introduccion al estudio de los Himenopteros de Cuba. Superfamilia Formicoidea. Academia de Ciencias de Cuba. Instituto de Zoologia. Serie Biologica no.53: 58 pp. La Habana.
• Baroni Urbani C. 1978. Materiali per una revisione dei Leptothorax neotropicali appartenenti al sottogenere Macromischa Roger, n. comb. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomol. Basil. 3: 395-618.
• Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
• Brown W. L. Jr. 1959. Synonymy in the ant genus Macromischa Roger. Florida Entomologist 42: 73-74.
• Fontanla Rizo J.L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba. Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
• 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. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
• Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1997. Notas y sinónimos nuevos de Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de Cuba. Avicennia 6/7: 47-53.
• Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
• Kusnezov N. 1963. Zoogeografia de las hormigas en sudamerica. Acta Zoologica Lilloana 19: 25-186
• 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.
• Wheeler W. M. 1937. Ants mostly from the mountains of Cuba. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 81: 439-465.