Temnothorax laconicus

Temnothorax laconicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species group:	nylanderi
Species complex:	lichtensteini
Species:	T. laconicus
Binomial name
	Temnothorax laconicus; Csősz, Seifert et al., 2013 Specimen Labels

This species, described as a cryptic species easily mistaken for Temnothorax lichtensteini, prefers shadow places inside forests, both deciduous and coniferous. Nests were located in cracked rocks and stones, under moss or inside dry branches of trees (Borowiec & Salata, 2021).

Identification

Csösz et al. (2013) - Part of a lichtensteini species-complex of cryptic species, T. laconicus can be separated from Temnothorax lichtensteini by measuring a series of workers and using a Nest Centroid Clustering function (see Csősz et al. 2013).

Csösz et al. (2015) - Temnothorax laconicus can be distinguished easily from other species by its very long propodeal spines (having the longest propodeal spines of all taxa surveyed within this revision) and its low deviation (20–25°) from the mesosomal axis. This species is most similar to Temnothorax lichtensteini. The simple ratio SPST/CS does not overlap between the two species at the level of nest sample means and is therefore available for separation. For single individuals a simple discriminant (D3 = -0.0498_PoOc -0.0541_FRS +0.0975_SPST +3.3108) function provides a safe determination with very high classification success (98.6%).

Keys including this Species

Key to Temnothorax nylanderi species group workers

Distribution

This species is known to occur in the Peloponnese peninsula and Kerkira.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 39.96944444° to 36.94779°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Greece (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

Worker

Images from AntWeb


Worker. Specimen code casent0914249. Photographer Michele Esposito, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

laconicus. Temnothorax laconicus Csösz, et al. 2014: 82, figs. 5-7 (w.) GREECE.
- Status as species: Csösz, Heinze & Mikó, 2015: 30 (redescription).

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

Description

Worker

General colouration of this species somewhat darker than in Temnothorax lichtensteini; appendages, mesosoma, waist and basis of first gaster tergite dirty yellowish-brown to light-brown. Head dorsum and the posterior surfaces of gaster tergites darker, usually light-brown to brown. Small species (CS 545 μm), but similar in size to its sister species. Head significantly longer than broad (CL/CWb 1.226) and with feebly convex sides. Vertexal corners rounded, posterior margin of vertex strait. Scape long (SL/CS 0.788) with variable pubescence: adpressed (0–5°) to decumbent (10–15°) on the surface that is adjacent to head surface when the scape is directed fully caudad and subdecumbent (30°) to suberect (35–45°) on the surface that becomes external in the same scape position. Clypeus between sagittal level of frontal carinae with a number of longitudinal carinulae, interstices smooth and shiny. Eyes rather large (EL/CS 0.246) and more approached to hind margin of vertex (PoOc/CL 0.396). Vertex with fine microreticulate sculpture that is superimposed by a number of longitudinal rugulae. Frontal carinae non-divergent. Frontal lobes widely distant (FRS/CS 0.344). Propodeal spines very long, longer than in T. lichtensteini (SPST/CS 0.409) and acute, in lateral view deviating from longitudinal axis of mesosoma by 20–25°. Propodeal spines in dorsal view much more divergent than in related species (SPWI/CS 0.434), spine-tips curving inward (SPTI/CS 0.410). Mesosoma as wide as in related species (MW/CS 0.608). Metanotal depression well visible, moderately deep. Mesosoma with microreticulate sculpture that is superimposed by a few irregular or longitudinal rugulae. Petiole and postpetiole covered by a fine reticulate microsculpture that can occasionally be superimposed by a few irregular rugulae in particular on dorsum of petiolar node. Petiole in profile with a high node and a rather straight or slightly concave anterior face; the top of the node forms a short truncate dorsum that slopes down to caudal cylinder without a distinct step.

Type Material

Holotype worker Taygethos Oros, Street to Profitis Ilias (GRE:S_342), N36.968, E22.404, 800 mH, 01.05.2011, leg: A. Schulz, (1 worker / HNHMBudapest).

Paratypes Taygethos Oros, Street to Profitis Ilias (GRE:S_342), N36.968, E22.404, 800 mH, 01.05.2011, leg: A. Schulz, (2 workers / CAS San Francisco [unique specimen identifier CASENT0906682], 3 workers / Hungarian Natural History Museum Budapest, 3 workers / SMNG); W Taygethos Oros, Pigadia Canyon (GRE:S_358), N36.984, E22.262, 700-800 mH, 01.05.2011, leg: A. Schulz, (2 workers / HNHM Budapest); Taygethos Oros, Street to Profitis Ilias (GRE:2011:0345), N36.968, E22.404, 800 mH, 01.05.2011, leg: A. Schulz, (4 workers / HNHM Budapest); W Taygethos Oros, Pigadia Canyon (GRE:2011:0356), N36.984, E22.262, 700-800 mH, 01.05.2011, leg: A. Schulz, (3 workers / HNHM Budapest); Taygethos Oros, Street to Profitis Ilias (GRE:2011:0336), N36.968, E22.404, 800 mH, 01.05.2011, leg: A. Schulz, (4 workers / HNHM Budapest);

Etymology

This adjective laconicus (masculinum) refers to Laconia, the region of the Peloponnese peninsula in which the type locality is situated.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2013. Ants of Greece additions and corrections (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 24(3-4): 335-401.
Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2017. Ants of the Peloponnese, Greece (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Polish Journal of Entomology 86: 193-236.
Csosz S., B. Seifert, B. Muller, A. Trindl, A. Schulz, J. Heinze. 2013. Cryptic diversity in the Mediterranean Temnothorax lichtensteini species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Org Divers Evol DOI 10.1007/s13127-013-0153-3
Csősz S, Heinze J, and I. Mikó. 2015. Taxonomic synopsis of the Ponto-Mediterranean ants of Temnothorax nylanderi species-group. PLoS ONE 10(11): e0140000. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140000
Salata S., and L Borowiec. 2017. Species of Tetramorium semilaeve complex from Balkans and western Turkey, with description of two new species of (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 62:279–313.
Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2018. Taxonomic and faunistic notes on Greek ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 27: 1-51.
Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2019. Preliminary division of not socially parasitic Greek Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with a description of three new species. ZooKeys 877: 81-131.