Temnothorax dongzhi

Temnothorax dongzhi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species:	Temnothorax dongzhi
Binomial name
	Temnothorax dongzhi; Qian & Xu, 2024

This species inhabits Pinus yunnanensis forest (Fig. 69I) and semi-evergreen broadleaf forest (Fig. 69H) at an elevation of 2050-2513 m, and forages arboreally.

Photo Gallery

Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 17. Temnothorax dongzhi Qian & Xu, 2024, holotype worker (SWFU C18-962). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.
Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 69. Middle elevational vegetations. A. Pinus densata Masters forest (2750 m, Bomi, Tibet). B. Pinus armandi Franch. forest (2557 m, Qiaojia, Yunnan). C. Subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest (2500 m, Lushui, Yunnan). D. Conifer-broadleaf mixed forest (2500 m, Huaping, Yunnan). E. Moss evergreen broadleaf forest (2450 m. Cangyuan, Yunnan). F. Warm conifer forest (2230 m, Huili, Sichuan). G. Dry-warm valley shrubland (2230 m, Muli, Sichuan). H. Semi-evergreen broadleaf forest (2050 m, Danba, Sichuan). I. Pinus yunnanensis forest (2030 m, Huaping, Yunnan). Photos by Zheng-Hui Xu.

Identification

According to Zhou et al. (2010)'s Key to Temnothorax of mainland China, this species is similar to Temnothorax leyeensis (Fig. 18), but differs in having head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose on the central area, propodeal spines relatively shorter and suberect, and body color blackish brown, head and gaster black; in T. leyeensis head dorsum densely reticulate on the central area, propodeal spines relatively longer and posterodorsally pointed, and body color brownish yellow, head and gaster black.

It is also similar to Temnothorax shuangjiang (Fig. 34), but differs in having propodeal spines suberect and forming a right angle with propodeal dorsum in lateral view, pronotal sides coarsely rugose; in T. shuangjiang propodeal spines oblique and forming a blunt angle with propodeal dorsum in lateral view, pronotal sides reticulate.

It is also similar to Temnothorax xia (Fig. 35), but differs in having propodeal spines suberect and forming a right angle with propodeal dorsum in lateral view, dorsum of petiolar node narrowly rounded; in T. xia propodeal spines oblique and forming a very blunt angle with propodeal dorsum in lateral view, dorsum of petiolar node broadly rounded.

Meanwhile, this species is similar to Temnothorax xiaoman (Fig. 37), but differs in having dorsum of mesonotum and propodeam weakly convex in lateral view, propodeal spines about three time as long as their basal width, dorsum of petiolar node narrowly rounded; in T. xiaoman dorsum of mesonotum and propodeam straight in lateral view, propodeal spines weakly longer than their basal width, dorsum of petiolar node bluntly angled.

Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 18. Temnothorax leyeensis Zhou et al., 2010, holotype worker (GXNU0407356). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Photos by Zhi-Lin Chen.
Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 34. Temnothorax shuangjiang Qian & Xu, 2024, holotype worker (SWFU A13-198). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.
Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 35. Temnothorax xia Qian & Xu, 2024, holotype worker (SWFU A91-353). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Keys including this Species

Key to Leptothorax and Temnothorax of China

Distribution

China: Sichuan.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 30.8° to 27.7°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: Qian & Xu, 2024

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: China (type locality).

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.

dongzhi. Temnothorax dongzhi Qian & Xu, 2024: 26, fig. 17 (w.) CHINA (Sichuan).

Type Material

Holotype worker CHINA • Sichuan Province, Muli County, Xiamaidi Town, Xiaochanggou Village; 27.776050° N, 101.216714° E; 2513 m a.s.l.; 28 Jul. 2018; Xin-Min Zhang leg.; canopy sample from Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU C18-962.
Paratype worker CHINA • 1 worker; Sichuan Province, Danba County, Zhanggu Town, Gongcha Village; 30.831517° N, 101.801936° E; 2050 m a.s.l.; 23 Aug. 2018; Cheng-Long Luo leg.; canopy sample from semi-evergreen broadleaf forest; SWFU A18-1498.

Description

References