Temnothorax kinomurai

Four colonies of T. kinomurai were collected from nests of, and all consisted entirely of ergatoid females (Kinomura, pers. comm.). Therefore, T. kinomurai is likely a social parasite of Temnothorax makora and lacks a worker caste. (Terayama and Onoyama 1999; Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification
Terayama and Onoyama (1999) - Total length of ergatoid female around 2.5 mm. Head to postpetiole mostly yellow, gaster brown. Scapes short, not reaching posterior margin of head in full-face view. Three ocelli distinct. Dorsal outline of pronotum and mesoscutum weakly convex. Tegulae absent. Metanotum distinct. Propodeal spines acute, with relatively broad bases, about twice as long as their basal width and somewhat downcurved. Petiole short and high, node reverse U-shaped. Postpetiole high, with strongly convex dorsal margin in profile. Gaster with angulate anterolateral corners in dorsal view.

The ergatoid females of T. kinomurai may resemble those of Temnothorax bikara (if present), as short scapes, shapes of propodeal spines, petiole (especially the thick peduncle) and postpetiole suggest, but may be distinguished by the yellow body coloration in contrast to the black to blackish brown body coloration of T. bikara.

Distribution
Honshu (Gifu Pref.).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  kinomurai. Leptothorax kinomurai Terayama & Onoyama, 1999: 86, figs. 23-26 (q. and ergatoid q.) JAPAN. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Queen
Holotype. Ergatoid. HL 0.71 mm; HW 0.56 mm; CI 79; SL 0.49 mm; SI 88; WL 0.87 mm; PW 0.44 mm; PtW 0.20 mm; PtH 0.26 mm; TL 2.6 mm.

Head 1.3 times as long as wide, with almost straight, very slightly concave posterior margin in full-face view; sides of head behind eyes almost parallel, very slightly convergent posteriorly. Mandibles weakly longitudinally rugulose, apical 1/3 nearly smooth. Anterior margin of median clypeal lobe moderately convex. Antennae with 12 segments; scapes short, not reaching posterior margin of head in full-face view. Eyes relatively large, 0.19 mm in maximum diameter, with about 18 facets in the longest row. Three ocelli distinct, forming a right triangle.

Pronotum short, with weakly convex dorsal margin in profile. Mesoscutal dorsum evenly convex in profile. Mesepisternum with a deep oblique furrow. Mesoscutellum moderately developed and metanotum very short, but tegulae absent. Propodeal spines acute, with relatively broad bases, about twice as long as their basal width and somewhat downcurved.

Petiole short and high, peduncle thick, not distinctly converging anteriorly in profile; node reverse U-shaped; anterodorsal and posterodorsal corners each forming a dull angle; dorsal margin of node relatively short and straight in profile (Fig. 25). Small subpetiolar process present. Postpetiole higher than long, with relatively strongly convex dorsal margin in profile; node in dorsal view 1.8 times as wide as long, with convex sides and convex anterior margin (Fig. 26). Gaster with angulate anterolateral corners in dorsal view.

Head dorsum longitudinally rugulose with sparse cross-meshes. Pronotum weakly rugulose with dense punctulation, mesoscutum longitudinally rugulose and densely punctulate, mesoscutellum superficially rugulose, mesepisternum, metapleula and propodeum reticulatepunctulate. Petiole and postpetiole weakly but densely punctulate. Gaster smooth and shining.

Head dorsum moderately with relatively long erect hairs. Long erect hairs present on the pronotum (3 pairs), mesoscutum (2 pairs), mesoscutellum (2 pairs), metanotum (1 pair), propodeum (1 pair), petiole (3 pairs), and postpetiole (6 pairs); the longest hair on mesosoma 0.15 mm; propodeal spines each with 1 subdecumbent hairs. Gaster with moderately abundant suberect to subdecumbent hairs.

Head, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and legs yellow; gaster brown.

Type Material
Holotype. Ergatoid female, Gifu City, Gifu Pref., 18.I.1992, K. Kinomura leg. Paratypes. 1 alate female, 4 ergatoid females, Nagara, Gifu, 14.VI.1993, K. Kinomura leg.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Terayama. M. 2004. Geological and ecological distribution of Japanese ants communities. (translated from Japanese) Reports of the Saitama Prefecture Animal Research Association. 48:47