Temnothorax marae

More thermophilous than any other species of Temnothorax from Sicily, this species was found at altitudes between 5 and 175 m a.s.l. (see Fig. 82). Mainly found in the leaf litter of phryganas or shrublands, but also within a native P. halepensis forest and under riparian vegetation. Its habitat was likely severely reduced by strong anthropization of coastal areas and agricultural activities.

Colonies are small and monogynous, and are always found on dead twigs, either on bushes or laying on the ground, although nesting directly on the soil or in other microhabitats on the ground may also occur. Males were produced under rearing conditions during July. One colony was found to be hosting (a slave maker) in the R.N.O. Vendicari.

Identification
Antennal clubs concolorous yellowish, antennae 12-segmented in females and 13 in males, eyes normal, metanotal groove absent, worker propodeal spines short, male propodeal spines absent, petiole upper profile usually with a short horizontal component but no well-defined edges, subpetiolar process carina-like, sculpturing mostly areolate and weak.

Distribution
Apparently restricted to SE Sicily (Hyblaean Plateau) and the Maltese islands. The Hyblean Pleateau may be the earliest sector of Sicily to have emerged from the Mediterranean Sea and has a strong biogeographic characterization (Guarino & Pasta 2018).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Italy.

Nomenclature

 * . Temnothorax marae Alicata, Schifani & Prebus, in Schifani et al., 2022: 157, figs. 34-45 (w.q.m.) ITALY (Sicily).

Type Material

 * Holotype: ITALY • ☿; Vendicari; 36.7814° N, 15.0894° E; 21 Sep. 2019; A. Alicata leg.; MSNG.
 * Paratypes (7 ☿☿, 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂): ITALY • 1 ☿; same collection data as for holotype; MSNG • 2 ♂♂; Isola di Capo Passero; 36.6872° N, 15.1493° E; 10 Jul. 1997; A. Alicata leg.; MSNG • 6 ☿☿; Pineta di Vittoria; 36.8879° N, 14.4828° E; 30 Mar. 2001; A. Alicata and A. Adorno leg.; MSNG • 1 ♀ (damaged); Pineta di Vittoria; 36.8927° N, 14.4745° N; 25 Mar. 2019; A. Alicata and E. Schifani leg.; MSNG • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bosco di S. Pietro; 2 Jun. 2019; A. Alicata and S. Csősz leg.; MSNG.

Taxonomic Notes
Maltese records under Leptothorax rabaudi (now Temnothorax aveli) by Schembri & Collingwood (1981) are partly based on misidentified T. marae according to an investigation of their voucher specimens. Temnothorax aveli (the senior synonym of L. rabaudi, see Casevitz-Weulersse & Galkowski 2009), a mainly arboreal-nesting species found in SW Europe, may be absent from Malta as it is from Sicily (see also under Temnothorax lagrecai).