Temnothorax versicolor

Wheeler (1931) states Dr. C. G. Aguayo "collected specimens of this species in crevices of a limestone cliff at Camoa, in the province of Havana, Cuba, the very locality in which Gundlach found the type. "

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Cuba.

Nomenclature

 * lugens. Macromischa lugens Roger, 1863a: 188 (w.) CUBA. Aguayo, 1932: 221 (q.). Combination in Croesomyrmex: Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 21. Senior synonym of nigra: Borgmeier, 1955a: 109. Junior synonym of versicolor: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 523. See also: Mann, 1920: 419.
 *  versicolor. Macromischa versicolor Roger, 1863a: 187 (w.) CUBA. Mann, 1929: 166 (q.); Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 524 (m.). Combination in M. (Croesomyrmex): Mann, 1920: 421; in Croesomyrmex: Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 32; in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 523; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272. Senior synonym of lugens (and its junior synonym nigra): Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 523. Current subspecies: nominal plus guanahacabibes.
 * nigra. Macromischa (Croesomyrmex) lugens var. nigra Santschi, 1931c: 273, fig. 8 (w.) CUBA. [Unresolved junior secondary homonym of niger Forel, above.] Junior synonym of lugens: Borgmeier, 1955a: 109.

Worker
Wheeler (1931) - Length 5-5.5 mm.

Head suboval, fully 1/4 longer than broad, produced and semicircular behind where it is narrower than at the anterior border. Eyes rather large, moderately convex, distinctly in front of the middle of the sides. Mandibules stout, with straight external borders, 5-toothed, the two apical teeth stout, the others small and rather indistinct. Clypeus convex in the middle, subcarinate, with broadly rounded, entire anterior border. Frontal area very distinct, elongate triangular, with a median carinula. Frontal carinae well developed and rather long. Antennae long and slender, the scapes reaching fully 2/5 their length beyond the posterior border of the head, first funicular joint as long as the nearly equal second and third joints together, joints 2-8 subequal, about It times as long as broad, club 3-jointed, terminal shorter than the two basal joints together. Thorax long, narrower than the head, broad through the pronotum and laterally constricted behind it, mesoepinotum not longer than the pronotum. In profile the thorax is low, its dorsal outline straight in the middle, the anterior end of the pronotum feebly, the epinotum behind more strongly though evenly rounded. Metasterna broad and rounded, somewhat projecting. Petiole fully five times as long as broad, only slightly widened behind at the node, which is decidedly shorter than the peduncle, laterally compressed and constricted behind, in profile rather low, about as long as high, broadly and evenly rounded above. The peduncle has no anteroventral tooth and is not enlarged at the spiracles. Postpetiole campanulate, convex above, as long as broad, strongly narrowed anteriorly. Gaster small, elongate-elliptical, pointed posteriorly, nearly as high as broad. Sting small. Legs long, the femora but not the tibiae distinctly incrassated.

Mandibles coarsely striated, rather shining. Head, thorax, abdomen and appendages subopaque, densely and evenly punctate, the nodes of the petiole and postpetiole and the abdomen somewhat more shining. Cheeks and clypeus loosely, longitudinally rugulose; thorax longitudinally rugose, most distinctly on the pronotum which has about sixteen regular rugae, which are coarsest on the sides.

Hairs snow white, obtuse, flattened and somewhat scalelike, abundant and covering the whole insect, erect, of even length and distribution on the body, more oblique on the legs and scapes, appressed on the funiculi and tarsi.

Black; mandibles, frontal carinae, insertions of antennae, extreme tips of antennae and terminal tarsal joints reddish brown. Gaster sometimes with bluish or aeneous reflections.