Temnothorax punctatissimus

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

Mackay (2000) - The holotype was captured in a pitfall trap, the paratype in a Vienna sausage baited trap on the soil surface. The habitat was a very steep, south-facing slope of a mountain, covered with oak trees. The two specimens were collected about 50 meters distant from one another.

Identification

Mackay (2000) - A member of the Temnothorax andersoni species complex. This species is easily recognized as nearly the entire ant (except ventral surface of head and the gaster) is covered with dense, coarse punctures. Some of the punctures, especially those on dorsum of head, are in rows which nearly form poorly defined striae. The antenna has 12 segments, the propodeal spines are small, and the petiolar node is usually blunt, rounded and somewhat truncate as seen in profile. The subpetiolar process is well developed and sharp. The hairs on the mesosoma are blunt and a few are nearly spatulate.

This species is superficially similar to Temnothorax punctaticeps (hispidus species complex), and Temnothorax terrigena (andrei species complex). Leptothorax punctaticeps can be easily separated, as it is considerably larger than the other two species. Temnothorax punctatissimus and Temnothorax terrigena are more difficult to distinguish. Temnothorax punctatissimus is slightly larger and the erect hairs are finer, especially obvious when comparing the hairs of the petiole. Additionally the propodeal spines of Temnothorax terrigena are small, but are developed into spines, whereas the propodeal angles of Temnothorax punctatissimus are very poorly developed.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Mexico: Nuevo Leon.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (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

Oak forest.

Abundance

Only known from types.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

punctatissimus. Leptothorax (Myrafant) punctatissimus Mackay, W.P., 2000: 390, figs. 40, 150 (w.q.) MEXICO. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272.

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

Description

Worker

Mandibles apparently with 5 teeth; anterior border of clypeus convex and broadly rounded, clypeus with about 12 carinae, including a medial carina; vertex straight; eyes small; mesosoma with none of the sutures breaking surface sculpture; propodeal angles very small, consisting of tiny angles; petiole with well developed subpetiolar tooth, directed slightly anteriorly; petiolar node blunt and rounded in profile.

Erect hairs blunt, up to 0.lmm in length, scattered on most surfaces, except scapes and legs, where they are much finer and nearly decumbent.

Sculpture very characteristic of this species: entire ant, with the exception of the ventral surface of the head and the gaster, is evenly and densely covered with coarse punctures.

Color: yellowish brown, gaster with darker, transverse band on posterior third of first tergum, head with dorsum noticeably darker. especially when viewed from side.

Worker measurement (mm): HL 0.55-0.64. HW 0.49-0.53, SL 0.43-0.47. EL 0.10-0.12. WL 0.64-0.70. PW 0.17-0.18. PL 0.20-0.22. PPW 0.20-0.24. PPL 0.17-0.19. Indices: CI 83-89. SI 73-78. PI 77-90. PPI 118-126.

Queen

Similar to worker in most aspects, dorsum of head finely rugose, top of mesosoma With parallel, longitudinal striae, propodeal spines consisting ofsimple angles, node of petiole With transverse rugae, node of postpetiole punctate, petioler node as seen from side with moderately sharp apex.

Female (dealate) measurements (mm): HL 0.64, HW 0.55, SL 0.44, EL0.18, WL0.91, PW0.18, PL0.15, PPW0.29, PPL0.18. Indices: CI 87, SI 70,PI 120, PPI 160.

Type Material

MEXICO, Nuevo Leon: EI Salto (Zaragosa), 11-vi-1988, 1415 meters, W. Mackay, 5 paratype workers (California Academy of Sciences, William and Emma Mackay Collection, Museum of Comparative Zoology, National Museum of Natural History) and 1 paratype female (MCZC), MEXICO, Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Parque Chipinque, vii/ix-1989, J. Garcia. Holotype worker (MCZC, #11013-5) and paratype worker (CWEM, # 11009-10).

Etymology

Morphological, for the densely punctured body surfaces.

References

Alatorre-Bracamontes, C.E., Vásquez-Bolaños, M. 2010. Lista comentada de las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del norte de México. Dugesiana 17(1): 9-36.
Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 272, 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 390, figs. 40, 150 worker, queen described)
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

Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
Vasquez-Bolanos M. 2011. Checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mexico. Dugesiana 18(1): 95-133.
Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133