Temnothorax kipyatkovi

Specimens were collected in rhododendron-oak forest (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus and Rhododendron arboreum Sm.), on the road along the edge of the cliff. Nests in the soil, under rocks.

Identification
Temnothorax kipyatkovi differs from all Himalayan species of the genus by the long, straight and apically obliquely truncate propodeal spines (ESLI mean 0.32) and the rough reticulate sculpture of the head and thorax. This species is close to Temnothorax kashmirensis and Temnothorax rothneyi, but clearly differs from the first species by the uniformly dark brown colour and completely rugulose head, and from the latter by its very weak metanotal groove, long antennal scape, head and mesosoma sculpture, and colouration.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Temnothorax kipyatkovi Yusupov, Dubovikoff & Lopatina, 2020: 354, figs. 1-6 (w. q.) INDIA (Uttarakhand).