Temnothorax xiazhi

Temnothorax xiazhi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species:	Temnothorax xiazhi
Binomial name
	Temnothorax xiazhi; Qian & Xu, 2024

This species inhabits Pinus yunnanensis forest (Fig. 69I) at an elevation of 3000 m, and forages on the ground.

Photo Gallery

Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 41. Temnothorax xiazhi Qian & Xu, 2024, holotype worker (SWFU A04-1198). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.
Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 69. Middle elevational vegetations. A. Pinus densata Masters forest (2750 m, Bomi, Tibet). B. Pinus armandi Franch. forest (2557 m, Qiaojia, Yunnan). C. Subalpine moist evergreen broadleaf forest (2500 m, Lushui, Yunnan). D. Conifer-broadleaf mixed forest (2500 m, Huaping, Yunnan). E. Moss evergreen broadleaf forest (2450 m. Cangyuan, Yunnan). F. Warm conifer forest (2230 m, Huili, Sichuan). G. Dry-warm valley shrubland (2230 m, Muli, Sichuan). H. Semi-evergreen broadleaf forest (2050 m, Danba, Sichuan). I. Pinus yunnanensis forest (2030 m, Huaping, Yunnan). Photos by Zheng-Hui Xu.

Identification

According to Zhou et al. (2010)'s Key to Temnothorax of mainland China, this species is similar to Temnothorax argentipes (Fig. 42), but differs in having head dorsum densely longitudinally rugose on the central area, propodeal spines roughly triangular and slightly longer than its base, and body color brownish black, gaster black; in T. argentipes head dorsum coarsely reticulate on the central area, propodeal spines slender and much longer than its base, and body color reddish brown, head and gaster black.

It is also similar to Temnothorax dong (Fig. 15), but differs in having dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum straight in lateral view, propodeal spines shorter than half length of declivity, head dorsum longitudinally rugose, interface without punctures; in T. dong dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex in lateral view, propodeal spines longer than half length of declivity, head dorsum longitudinally rugose, interface with punctures.

It is also similar to Temnothorax lixia (Fig. 28), but differs in having dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum straight in lateral view, petiolar node relatively thin and without dorsal face, mesosomal sides finely reticulate; in T. lixia dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex in lateral view, petiolar node relatively thick and with sloping dorsal face, mesosomal sides coarsely reticulate.

Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 42. Temnothorax argentipes (Wheeler, 1928), worker (MCZC). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. Illustrations cited from Radchenko (2004).
Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 15. Temnothorax dong Qian & Xu, 2024, holotype worker (SWFU A99-428). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.
Qian & Xu (2024), Fig. 28. Temnothorax lixia Qian & Xu, 2024, holotype worker (SWFU A05-869). A. Head in full-face view. B. Body in lateral view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Keys including this Species

Key to Leptothorax and Temnothorax of China

Distribution

China: Yunnan.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 27.1° to 27.1°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: Qian & Xu, 2024

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: China (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

Nomenclature

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

xiazhi. Temnothorax xiazhi Qian & Xu, 2024: 65, fig. 41 (w.) CHINA (Yunnan).

Type Material

Holotype worker CHINA • Yunnan Province, Yulong County, Baisha Town, Yulongxueshan Village; 27.134850° N, 100.259831° E; 3000 m a.s.l.; 20 Oct. 2004; Zheng-Hui Xu leg.; ground sample from Pinus yunnanensis forest; SWFU A04-1198.
Paratype workers CHINA • 5 workers; same collection data as for holotype; SWFU A04-1198.

Description

References