Temnothorax josephi

Temnothorax josephi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species group:	rugatulus
Species:	T. josephi
Binomial name
Temnothorax josephi (Mackay, W.P., 2000)

Temnothorax josephi has been collected from dead branches in living oak trees. Mackay (2000) "The nest of the holotype series was collected in a dead branch (15-cm diameter) attached to trunk of the oak Quercus arizonica Sarg., in a grassy area with scattered oaks within a pine forest. The ants were timid and attempted to hide, larvae and pupae were present in the nest. The entire nest population was collected. The second type series was collected in a branch (3cms diameter) of a Q. arizonica, about 1.5 m from soil surface. The third type series was in a dry, dead branch of Q. arizonica. The fourth type series was collected in a 3cm diameter dead branch of Q. arizonica. The nest in the Gila Wilderness was in a 8cm diameter branch of an oak tree, 3 m from the ground on a very steep, south-facing slope. Two other similar nests were found. This species seems to prefer the driest dead branches of Q. arizonica. The nests contain brood throughout the summer. Nest populations ranged from 41-76 workers, with a single dealate female in each nest."

Identification

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

Mackay (2000) - Temnothorax josephi is a large, bicolored (head and gaster black. mesosoma reddish brown) species which is easily confused with the bicolored form of Leptothorax muscorum in the field. The antenna is 11 segmented, the propodeal spines are large, and the mesosoma has coarse rugae. The clypeus has a well-developed medial carina, and 2 prominent lateral carinae. The dorsal surface of the gaster is strongly shining.

This species would key to Temnothorax rugatulus in Creighton (1950), but differs in being much larger (total length 3mm vs. 2.5mm or less in Temnothorax rugatulus) and bicolored (yellow brown with dark infuscation on head and gaster of Temnothorax rugatulus). In addition, the females are much larger (5mm total length vs. 3.5mm total length in Temnothorax rugatulus) and the petiole is broadly rounded (apex sharper in Temnothorax rugatulus), and the males are easily separated by the shape of the petiolar node: high and bilobed (as seen from behind) in Temnothorax josephi. low and not bilobed in Temnothorax rugatulus. The male has numerous parallel carinae on the clypeus, whereas males of Temnothorax rugatulus have reticulated and partially transverse rugae on the clypeus. It differs from two other closely related species, Temnothorax bradleyi and Temnothorax smithi, in that the intrarugal spaces of the head are punctate, but shining. The long propodeal spines are much longer than those of Temnothorax bradleyi. Temnothorax smithi is never bicolored, usually being a concolorous pale brown to yellow. It can be separated from Leptothorax muscorum by the convex clypeus with the well-developed medial carina.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Temnothorax longispinosus species group workers
• Key to the New World Temnothorax

Distribution

USA. Southwestern New Mexico.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 34.156971° to 31.5161°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: United States (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.

Habitat

The habitat is often near a stream, with oaks, pinyon pines and junipers. The soils consist of rocks mixed with very fine sand.

Abundance

Whole nests have been collected from just a few locations, and these constitute all specimens that have been collected to date.

Biology

Expand Explore Overview of biology  Not much is known about the the biology of this taxon. We can speculate that its biology is likely to be similar to other North American species of this genus. Temnothorax is a diverse genus but most species do show a remarkable consistency in some important aspects of their biology. Workers and colonies are small. As a group they nest in many places: small cavities in the soil, under or among stones or in small cavities in living or dead vegetation. Individually, most species have a strong preference for how and where they nest, e.g., there are gall nesting species, soil nesters, arboreal species, those that nest in small downed twigs, etc. Their nest entrances are often a cryptic, tiny hole that is only found by observing a worker exiting or entering the nest. A few common and abundant species are relatively well studied but the majority are rare or are rarely collected. For all but the most common and abundant species finding a nest is difficult because of the combination of their small colony size, small workers, unaggressive behavior, and diminutive, inconspicuous nests. In a few cases where we do know the diet of a species, it consists of sweet exudates and general scavenging of insect pieces and other items. It is presumed most of the unstudied Temnothorax have a similar diet. Aphid tending and hunting small soil arthropods may also be a part of their foraging repertoire. For all the consistency in these characters, individual species exhibit wide variation in others. Habitat affinities are often restrictive at the species level (but overall Temnothorax can be found in places that range from high elevation, high latitude, forests to hot, dry desert regions). Queen number is difficult to predict; there are species that are polygnous, monogynous, and even some species with seasonal polydomy that vary in nesting site queen number over the course of the year. There is also little consistency in color from species to species. ‎

Nomenclature

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

• josephi. Leptothorax (Myrafant) josephi Mackay, W.P., 2000: 349, figs. 78, 115-120 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. 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

Mandibles with 5 teeth, only 3 most apical reasonably well defined; anterior border of clypeus nearly straight, clypeus with several longitudinal carinae, including well developed medial carina; vertex concave; antenna with 11 segments; mesosoma without any obvious sutures, none break the sculpture of dorsal surface; propodeal spines well developed (length > 0.1mm), about as long as distance between them; petiole with well developed subpeduncular process, well developed flange near point of attachment, anterior petiolar face broadly concave, posterior face convex, petiolar node rounded as seen in profile.

Hairs erect (up to 0.08mm in length), covering most body surfaces, except antennae and legs; decumbent pubescence present on antennae and legs.

Entire head covered with coarse, longitudinal rugae, intrarugal spaces punctate and weakly shining, dorsum of mesosoma with longitudinal rugae, both faces of propodeum with transverse rugae, sides of mesosoma, including propodeum, with very rough sculpture, consisting of coarse, predominately longitudinal rugae, interspersed with coarse punctuation, gaster smooth and shining.

Bicolored, head and gaster black, mesosoma reddish brown.

Worker measurements: HL 0.82-0.84, HW 0.71-0.78, SL 0.550.58, EL 0.19-0.20, WL 0.94-1.01, PW 0.23-0.24, PL 0.31-0.37, PPW 0.31-0.34, PPL 0.19-0.22. Indices: CI 87-93, SI 67-69, PI 65-74, PPI 155-163.

Queen

Similar to worker in most aspects, except possessing ocelli and having mesosoma modified for flight. Propodeal spines more robust and relatively shorter, petiole nearly identical in shape.

Female (dealate) measurements: HL 0.90, HW 0.83, SL 0.62, EL 0.25, WL 1.58, PW 0.37, PL 0.35, PPW 0.44, PPL 0.23. Indices: CI 92, SI 69, PI 106, PPI 191.

Male

Mandible with 5 teeth, only apical reasonably well developed; median anterior border of clypeus straight, clypeus convex, with medial carina and 3 on each side of clypeus, remainder of clypeus smooth; eyes large; ocelli well developed; scape very short, about as long as first 2 funicular segments; propodeum without spines, but with dull carinae at positions of armature; petiole without subpeduncular process, anterior petiolar face broadly concave, posterior face convex, petiolar node rounded in profile, weakly bilobate as seen from behind, with depressed, smooth area between lobes.

Hairs sparse, few on mandibles, 1 or 2 on propodeum, very few scattered on gaster. Sculpture finer than in worker and female, granulate with poorly defined rugae on head, top of mesosoma striolate, side of mesosoma granulate with fine rugae, top of petiole and postpetiole mostly shining, gaster strongly shining.

Color: dark brown.

Male measurements: HL 0.62-0.77, HW 0.68-0.74, SL 0.200.22, EL 0.34-0.35, WL 1.36-1.45, PW 0.23-0.28, PL 0.25-0.32, PPW 0.29-0.31, PPL 0.24-0.25. Indices: CI 96-110, SI 29-32, PI 88-92, PPI 116-129.

Type Material

NEW MEXICO, Socorro Co., near Mount Withington, 33°48'32.2" 107°22'57.2", 7-viii-1994, 2185 meters, W. Mackay # 16952. Holotype worker (MCZC), 41 paratype workers (AMNH, CASC, CWEM, FMNH, LACM, EMAU, MCSN, MCZC, MHNG, MZSP, USNM, UNAM, UTIC), 1 paratype female (MCZC) , and 6 paratype males (CASC,CWEM, LACM, MCZC, USNM).

Etymology

Patronym. "This species is dedicated to the memory of my only son, Joseph Luis, born on March 25, 1984 and died on August 17, 1984 from an infection of Hemophilus influenzae."

References

• Mackay, W. P. and E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, NY.
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 271, Combination in Temnothorax)
• MacKay, W. P. 2000. A review of the New World ants of the subgenus Myrafant, (genus Leptothorax) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 36: 265-444 (page 349, figs. 78, 115-120 worker, queen, male 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).
• Prebus, M.M. 2021. Taxonomic revision of the Temnothorax salvini clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a key to the clades of New World Temnothorax. PeerJ 9, e11514 (doi:10.7717/peerj.11514).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Cover S. P., and R. A. Johnson. 20011. Checklist of Arizona Ants. Downloaded on January 7th at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/AZants-2011%20updatev2.pdf
• Johnson R. Personnal Database. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/resources.htm
• Mackay W. P. 2000. A review of the New World ants of the subgenus Myrafant, (genus Leptothorax) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 36: 265-444.
• Mackay W. P., and E. E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 400 pp.
• Ulyssea M. A., L. P. Prado, C. R. F. Brandao. 2015. Type specimens of the traditional Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) ant tribes deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil: Adelomyrmecini, Basicerotini, Blepharidattini, Crematogastrini, Formicoxenini, Lenomyrmecini, Myrmicini, Phalacromyrmecini, Pheidolini, Stegomyrmecini, Stenammini and Tetramoriini. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo 55(12): 175-204.