Temnothorax rugithorax

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Temnothorax rugithorax.

Identification

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

Mackay (2000) - This is a small (less than 2mm total length) brown species in which the head is covered with rugulae and the mesosoma is covered with coarse rugae. The clypeus is convex, nearly smooth and shining with a well-developed median carina. The head is partially glossy and shining. The antenna has 12 segments. The propodeal spines are tiny and the petiolar node is broadly rounded as seen in proflle. The postpetiole is about 1.5 times as wide as the petiole.

The sculpture of the head and mesosoma, and the shape ofthe petiolar node will separate this species from all others in the subgenus. It would be most likely to be confused with Temnothorax tricarinatus, which also has a wide postpetiole. It can be easily separated by the much finer sculptured head, and in being much smaller. The shape of the node could cause it to be confused with Temnothorax peninsularis (known only from the female from Baja California). The petiole has a short peduncle and the propodeal spines are poorly developed in Temnothorax rugithorax, workers of Temnothorax peninsularis would be expected to have a well-developed peduncle and well developed propodeal spines. The simple propodeal angles would separate it from Temnothorax gallae and Temnothorax nevadensis, which have propodeal spines that are at least 1/2 the distance between the bases. The blunt petiolar node would separate it from Temnothorax furunculus, which has a node with a sharp apex, and Temnothorax andrei in which the top of the node is rounded. Additionally the side of the mesosoma of Temnothorax rugithorax is coarsely sculptured, whereas the side of the mesosomae of Temnothorax furunculus and Temnothorax andrei are densely and evenly punctate. It could be confused with Temnothorax rugulosus, but differs as the propodeal spines are much less developed, the pronotum has only fine rugae, and the mesonotum is punctate.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Mexico: Hidalgo.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Abundance

Only known from types.

Castes

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

  • rugithorax. Leptothorax (Myrafant) rugithorax Mackay, W.P., 2000: 397, figs. 22, 53, 158, 159 (w.) 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 with 5 (? difficult to see mandible) teeth; anterior border ofclypeus convex, clypeus with medial carina and a few poorly defined lateral carinae; vertex straight; mesosoma without sutures breaking surface; propodeal spines poorly developed, consisting of tiny angles with acute points; petiole with well developed subpetiolar tooth, petiolar node rounded and blunt in proflle. Erect hairs scattered on most surfaces, most hairs less than 0.05mm in length, a few up to 0.lmm, absent on scapes and lower legs, where smaller, decumbent hairs are present, hairs on coxae to femora erect, but fmer than those on remainder of body. Sculpture coarse, consisting of striae on upper surface of head, clypeus and area posterior to frontal area smooth and shining, dorsum of mesosoma and sides of pronotum covered with coarse rugae, with dense punnctures in intrarugal areas, mesopleuron and propodeum with rough sculpture, consisting in part of punctures, petiole rugose with scattered punctures, postpetiole roughly sculpturedwith coarse punctures, gaster polished and shining.

Color: medium brown.

Female and male: Unknown.

Worker measurement (mm): HL 0.66, HW 0.54, SL 0.44, EL 0.14, WL 0.71, PW 0.18, PL 0.23, PPW 0.26, PPL 0.17. Indices: CI 82, SI 67, PI 78, PPI 153.

Type Material

MEXICO, Hidalgo, EI Chico, 23-ix-1938, L. J. Lipovsky. Holotype worker (Museum of Comparative Zoology).

Etymology

Morphology. "Name based on the rugose mesosoma."

References

  • 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 397, figs. 22, 53, 158, 159 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

  • Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
  • Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133