Temnothorax mongolicus

Temnothorax mongolicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species:	T. mongolicus
Binomial name
	Temnothorax mongolicus; (Pisarski, 1969)
Synonyms
	Leptothorax opaciabdomin Chang & He, 2001;

Temnothorax mongolicus inhabits steppes, dry meadows, and dry, sunlit sparse forests; nests are built in soil. It has been found nesting together with Temnothorax nassonovi in the Russian Federation. Unfortunately, details of this cohabitation are unknown, however it is likely one is an inquiline of the other (Antonov et al., 2024).

Photo Gallery

Antonov et al. (2024), figs 2–3. Details of morphology of Temnothorax mongolicus, collected from Irkutskaya Oblast. 2 — general appearance in lateral view; 3 — head, frontal view. Scale bars 0.5 mm.
Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 1. Temnothorax mongolicus (Pisarski, 1969), paratype worker (MIZW). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Images cited from www.antweb.org, CASENT 0916693, photos by Flavia Esteves.
Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 2. Leptothorax opaciabdomin Chang & He, 2001, holotype worker (NXU 99-161). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Identification

Qian & Xu (2024) - In full-face view, the shapes of the head capsule, mandibles, clypeus and antennae of the holotype worker of Leotothorax opaciabdomin (Fig. 2A) are similar to the ones of the paratype worker of T. mongolicus (Fig. 1A). Head roughly rectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin nearly straight, posterior corners broadly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Clypeus with median carina, anterior margin weakly convex. Antennae 12-segmented, scapes failing to reach posterior head margin. In lateral view, the holotype worker of Temnothorax opaciabdomin (Fig. 2B) also has similar to shaped mesosoma and petiole the paratype worker of T. mongolicus (Fig. 1B). Promesonotum moderately convex. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeal dorsum gently sloping down posteriorly; propodeal spines shorter than declivity. Petiole without anterior peduncle; petiolar node with straight anterior and posterior margins.

In dorsal view, the holotype worker of Temnothorax opaciabdomin (Fig. 2C) shows similar to shape in mesosoma and petiole the paratype worker of T. mongolicus (Fig. 1C). Pronotum broad, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins strongly convex. Mesothorax moderately constricted and narrowing posteriorly, lateral margins moderately concave. Propodeum roughly rectangular, lateral margins almost straight; spines short, pointed posterolaterally. Petiole widening posteriorly and slightly longer than broad, lateral margins weakly convex. Postpetiole roughly trapezoidal.

The holotype worker of Temnothorax opaciabdomin (Fig. 2) shows similar to characters in body surface sculpture, pilosity and color to paratype worker of T. mongolicus (Fig. 1). Head dorsum longitudinally rugose with interface finely reticulate, gradually reticulate posteriorly and laterally. Promesonotum, propodeum, petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate with interface punctate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Head and gaster blackish brown, thorax, petiole and postpetiole light brown.

Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 1. Temnothorax mongolicus (Pisarski, 1969), paratype worker (MIZW). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view. Images cited from www.antweb.org, CASENT 0916693, photos by Flavia Esteves.
Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 2. Leptothorax opaciabdomin Chang & He, 2001, holotype worker (NXU 99-161). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 53.12° to 45.63333333°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps, Antonov et al. (2024)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: China, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Mongolia (type locality), Russian Federation.

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

Association with Other Organisms

Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

This species is a inquiline for the ant Temnothorax nassonovi (a inquiline) in Russian Federation (Antonov et al., 2024) (co-occur in nests, relationship details unknown).

Castes

Nomenclature

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

mongolicus. Leptothorax serviculus subsp. mongolicus Pisarski, 1969b: 299, figs. 5-10 (w.) MONGOLIA. Radchenko, 1995c: 18 (q.m.). Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. Raised to species: Radchenko, 1994d: 156 (in key); Radchenko, 1995c: 18.
opaciabdomin. Leptothorax opaciabdomin Chang & He, 2001b: 2, figs. 2, 6, 10 (w.) CHINA.
- Combination in Temnothorax: Zhou, et al. 2010: 10 (in key).
- Junior synonym of mongolicus: Qian & Xu, 2024: 5.

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

Description

Type Material

Radchenko (2004) - Mongolia, Songino, 24 km SW from Ulan-Bator, 22.v.1962, No 3299, leg. R. Bielawski & B. Pisarski; paratypes: 4 workers, Mongolia, Uburchangaj aimak, Changai Distr., 18 km S from Somon Chužirt, 1830 m a.s.l., 29.vi.1964, No. 223, leg. Z. KASZAB (Museum of the Zoological Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Hungarian Natural History Museum).

Taxonomic Notes

Qian & Xu (2024) - After the above comparison, we could not find significant differences between Temnothorax mongolicus and Temnothorax opaciabdomin. Although in the original description, Chang & He (2001) stated “Gaster finely punctate and therefore not very shiny”. In the key, they stated “Gaster relatively coarsely punctate and therefore not very shiny”, and the Latin name “opaciabdomin” means the gaster is opaque. Zhou et al. (2010) adopted the original description and stated in the key “First gastral tergite coarsely punctuate, opaque”. However, after reexamining the images of holotype specimen, we found the gaster of T. opaciabdomin is wholly smooth and shiny. Therefore, we are confident that T. opaciabdomin is a junior synonym of T. mongolicus.

Determination Clarifications

Radchenko (2004) - Collingwood (1976) determined a couple of specimens from North Korea as Temnothorax serviculus, but really they belong to T. mongolicus (material in HNHM, examined). This mistake was repeated by Terayama et al. (1992) and by Kim (1996, 2003).

References

Antonov, I.A., Yusupov, Z.M., Csősz, S., Chesnokova, S.V. 2024. First record of Temnothorax mongolicus (Pisarski, 1969) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Irkutskaya Oblast of East Siberia, Russia. Euroasian Entomological Journal 23(1): 26–30 (doi:10.15298/euroasentj.23.01.05).
Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 271, Combination in Temnothorax)
Chang, Y.-D.; He, D.-H. 2001b. A taxonomic study of the ant genus Leptothorax from northwestern China. Journal of Ningxia Agricultural College. 22:(2) 1-4.
Pisarski, B. 1969b. 175. Myrmicidae und Formicidae. Ergebnisse der zoologischen Forschungen von Dr. Z. Kaszab in der Mongolei (Hymenoptera). Faun. Abh. (Dres.) 2(2 29: 295-316 (page 299, figs. 5-10 worker described)
Qian, Y.-H., Xu, Z.-H. 2024. Taxonomy of the ant genera Leptothorax Mayr, 1855 and Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of China with descriptions of twenty-eight new species and a key to the known Chinese species. European Journal of Taxonomy 936, 1-97 (doi:10.5852/ejt.2024.936.2569).
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.
Radchenko, A. G. 1994e. Identification table for ants of the genus Leptothorax (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from central and eastern Palearctic. Zool. Zh. 73(7-8 8: 146-158 (page 156, Raised to species (in key))
Radchenko, A. G. 1995c. A review of the ant genus Leptothorax (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the central and eastern Palearctic. Communication 2. Groups tuberum, corticalis, affinis, clypeatus, alinae and singularis. Vestn. Zool. 2-3: 14-21 (page 18, queen, male described; Raised to species)
Zhou, S., Huang, J., Yu, D., Liu, Z. 2010. Eight new species and three newly recorded species of the ant genus Temnothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Chinese mainland, with a key. Sociobiology. 56(1):7-26.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Dlussky G. M., and B. Pisarski. 1970. Formicidae aus der Mongolei. Ergebnisse der Mongolisch-Deutschen Biologischen Expeditionen seit 1962, Nr. 46. Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 46: 85-90.
Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
Pisarski B. 1969. Fourmis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de la Mongolie. Fragmenta Faunistica (Warsaw). 15: 221-236.
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 (Warsaw) 55: 127-221.