Temnothorax nipensis

Temnothorax nipensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species group:	sallei
Species:	T. nipensis
Binomial name
Temnothorax nipensis (Fontenla Rizo, 1998)

T. nipensis was observed walking slowly in sunny hours on the surface of limestone walls, quite naked of vegetation and exposed to presumed predators. This behavior is very similar to the other limestone-dweller species of Cuban Temnothorax. Known only from the type locality. (Fontenla Rizo 1998)

Identification

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

Fontenla Rizo (1998) - Limestone-dweller species of Cuban Temnothorax, which builts a cartoon tubular entrance to the nest. Body slender with very elongated scapes and legs, femora slightly swollen, tibiae normal, propodeal spines very long, petiole long with a low and rounded node. Postpetiole longer than broad. Color brown reddish. This species is related to Temnothorax mortoni from the South of Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo Provinces and to Temnothorax porphyritis, from the Habana-Matanzas Heights. It is easily distinguished from T. mortoni, because lacks the so distinctive color pattern of the gaster, has more shining tegument, more slender body and appendages and the propodeal spines are more curved in the middle. Both species are alopatric; T. mortoni is associated with coastal habitat. It differs from T. porphyritis in the more slender body and appendages, better defined longitudinal striated pattern over a densely micropunctuated surface, denser pilosity and tegument less shining.

Distribution

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.

• nipensis. Leptothorax nipensis Fontenla Rizo, 1998: 67, fig. 6 (w.) CUBA. 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

(paratypes). SL: 1.35 (1.30-1.35); HW: 0.87 (0.84-0.90); HL: 1.26 (1.23-1.29); ML: 1.83 (1.75-1.83); PL: 0.93 (0.90-0.93); PH: 0.30 (0.27-0.30); PPW: 0.36 (0.33-0.36); PPL: 0.45 (0.42-0.45); FL: 1.83 (1.77-1.8'3) .. 1ndices. SI: 107.1 (104.6-107.7); CI: 69.1 (68.3-69.8); PI: 52.6 (51.4-52.6); HI: 32.3 (30.0-32.4); PPI: 80.0 (78.6-80.0); FI: 102.0 (100.0-102.0).

Mandibles five toothed. Antennae with 12 segments; club little differentiated; scapes slender, surpassing cephalic length; eyes relatively small. Mesosoma with longitudinal profile and slender; pronotum and metanotum broad in comparison with mesonotum, which is relatively constricted. Humeral angles rounded and promesotoraxical suture conspicuous. Propodeal declive very low; propodeal spines long and sharp (36% of mesosoma length); divergent at the base, curved in the middle and straight at the tips. Petiole very long, more than half the mesosoma length, petiolar node rounded and very low, with no defined faces. Postpetiole longer than broad, slender. Gaster proportionally small, with a well developed sting. Posterior femora length similar to mesosoma length, not very swollen; tibiae normal and long. Tegument slightly shining throughout, densely punctuated and feeble but well defined striae. Gaster only with very small punctures. Pilosity dense, white hairs long, and acuminate. Body color dark reddish brown; legs, spines, petiole and postpetiole with lighter tone.

Type Material

Five workers, collected by A. R. Estrada on July 1994, at the limestone cutter Julio Antonio Mella, South of Sierra de Nipe, Santiago de Cuba Province. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Cuba

Etymology

Name derived from Sierra de Nipe.

References

• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 271, Combination in Temnothorax)
• Fontenla Rizo, J. L. 1998b. New species of Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Cuba. Avicennia 8-9: 61-68. (page 67, fig. worker 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).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• 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. 1998. New species of Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Cuba. Avicennia 8-9: 61-68.
• 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 E. 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.