Temnothorax smithi

Arboreal and nesting in cavities in trees under bark. This species is common in Ohio, nesting in galleries of hardened, weathered logs and old, deserted cabins exposed to the sun. Sexuals were found in nests in early August. Workers were observed feeding on exuviae of wood-boring beetles. This species is very desiccation resistance, having 3 rectal pads, which are used to absorb water from the feces. Modified from Mackay (2000) with information from Wesson and Wesson (1940) and Hood and Tschinkel (1990)."

Identification
Mackay (2000) "This is a large (total length over 3mm), concolorous reddish-brown species in which the head is very roughly sculptured with coarse rugae and roughened intrarugal spaces, that are only slightly shiny. The antenna has 11 segments. The propodeal spines are very well developed, their length is nearly equal to the distance between the tips. The subpetiolar process is developed, but not large. The node of the petiole is truncate in profile.

This species is similar to Temnothorax silvestrii, having the same roughened sculpture, the raised area anterior to the antennal fossa (similar to Tetramorium), the long propodeal spines and the nearly quadrate petiolar node. Thus it is considered to be a member of the silvestrii species complex. It is unlikely that this species would be confused with any other species in the subgenus Myrafant. It can be easily separated from Temnothorax silvestrii on the basis of the distribution (Temnothorax smithi in the eastern half of the US, Temnothorax silvestrii in Arizona) and the gaster is completely smooth and glossy (sculptured in Temnothorax silvestrii). In addition, Temnothorax smithi has an 11-segmented antenna, whereas Temnothorax silvestrii has a 12-segmented antenna."

Distribution
United States. Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama.

Habitat
Open areas with trees.

Abundance
Common.

Mississippi
"One colony was found nesting in an oak tree, apparently in the hardwood where the ants could be seen entering and leaving by small holes in the wood which I believe to have been made by some small boring beetle. March 20, 1922 I found a colony nesting in a niche in a dead. but fallen cottonwood tree. In this colony were 2 dealated females, 31 workers and a number of larvae, but no other immature forms. Apri1 25, 1928 another colony was found nesting in a cavity beneath the bark of a well rotted pine stump. In this nest were found 3 dealated females, 40 workers, and numerous larvae. When the nest was disturbed the workers made frantic efforts to conceal themselves by crawling in small crevices, etc. The ants have also been taken in similar habitats at Adaton, Mississippi. Nothing is known concerning their feeding habits." (Smith 1929)

Reproduction
Temnothorax smithi appears to be a polygynous species (Smith 1929).

Nesting Biology
Makes nests in dead and live trees.

Nomenclature

 * wheeleri. Leptothorax wheeleri Smith, M.R. 1929: 547, fig. 1 (w.q.) U.S.A. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1989a: 323 (l.). Combination in L. (Myrafant): Smith, D.R. 1979: 1395. [Junior secondary homonym of wheeleri Mann, above.] Replacement name: smithi Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 557.
 *  smithi. Leptothorax smithi Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 557. Replacement name for Leptothorax wheeleri Smith, M.R. 1929: 547. [Junior secondary homonym of Macromischa wheeleri Mann, 1920: 422.] Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272. See also: Mackay, 2000: 409.

Worker
(Smith 1929) Worker.-Length: 2.2-2.9 mm. Head, rather large, subrectangular, excluding the mandibles, slightly longer than broad, with practically straight posterior border, rounded posterior angles and feebly convex, almost straight, subparallel sides. Eyes moderately large, oval, convex, placed at a distance from the mandibles equivalent to or slightly surpassing their greatest diameter. Mandibles with 5 distinct teeth. Clypeus convex, with rounded anterior border, and a rounded posterior border extending for some distance between the frontal carince. Frontal area obsolete. Antennae 11-segmented; scapes fairly robust not attaining the posterior angles of the head, first segment of the funiculi almost as long as the next three taken together, the distal segment longer than the two preceding segments taken together. Thorax robust, narrower than the head, anteriorly with rounded, yet distinct humeral angles; dorsum convex, sides not laterally compressed as with fortinodis and related species. Epinotal spines rather robust, long and curved, slowly narrowing to their apices which are directed upward, backward, and outward. Petiole viewed in lateral profile, not strikingly larger than the postpetiole, with feebly concave anterior and faintly convex or somewhat flattened dorsal surface, below with a distinct ventral tooth. Postpetiolar node strongly convex dorsally. Gaster viewed from above oval, truncate at base, with distinct humeral angles, apex with a sting. Legs stout, with inC'rassated femora.

Head, thorax, petiole, postpetiole and antennae opaque. Mandibles longitudinally striated. Clypeus coarsely, longitudinally rugulose. Head, thorax, and petiole rather coarsely rugulose-recticulate, with the interspaces finely punctate; on the head and thorax the rugulae are decidedly longitudinal. Post petiole finely punctate. Gaster smooth and shining, the legs less so.

Hairs light yellowish or grayish, short and rather abundant, erect on the head, thorax, epinotal spines, petiole, postpetiole and gaster.

Color, light to dark ferruginous red; gaster except the posterior borders of the segments and legs slightly paler. Mandibular teeth black. Antennae somewhat infuscated, especially the funiculi.

Queen
(Smith 1929) Female (dealated).-Length: 3.9-4.2 mm. Like the worker in coloration except that the ocelli, the mesoparapteral furrows, the wing insertions, the posterior edge of the scutellum, the metanotum, and a rather broad band at the distal end of the first gastric segment and a fainter band at the tip of the second and third gastric segments are infuscated.

Sculpturing similar to that of the worker, but coarser, especially on the thorax. Epinotal spines not as proportionally large as with the worker, but shorter and blunter, the intraspinal spaces greater than the length of either epinotal spine. The petiolar node of the female is decidedly more convex dorsally and has a sharper more abrupt posterior slope than that of the worker.

Pilosity and pubescence not noticeably different from that of the worker.

Male
The male is undescribed.

Type Material
As reported in Mackay (2000) "AMNH, MCZC, USNM; [seen]."

Type Locality Information
A. & M. College, Mississippi (now known as Mississippi State University, which is located in Starkville).

Etymology
Commemorative. The original name was a homonym and was replaced with smithi after the ant taxonomist M.R. Smith, who first described the species.

Additional References

 * Deyrup, M. and S. Cover. 2004. A new species of the ant genus Leptothorax from Florida, with a key to the Leptothorax of the southeast (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Florida Entomologist. 87:51-59.
 * Hood, W. G. and W. R. Tschinkel. 1990. Desiccation resistance in arboreal and terrestrial ants. Physiological Entomology. 15:23-25.
 * MacKay, W. P. 2000. A review of the New World ants of the subgenus Myrafant, (Genus Leptothorax) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology. 36:265-444.
 * Smith, M. R. 1929. Descriptions of five new North American ants, with biological notes. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 22:543-551.
 * Wesson, L. G. and R. G. Wesson. 1940. A collection an ants from southcentral Ohio. American Midland Naturalist. 24:89-103.


 * [[Media:Wilson 1952a.pdf|Wilson, E.O. 1952a. Notes on Leptothorax bradleyi Wheeler and  L. wheeleri M.R. Smith. Entomological News 63: 67-71. [19.iii.1952.]PDF]]