Temnothorax fragosus

(Mackay and Buschinger, 2002) "Although several Temnothorax species were collected at about 15 localities in and around Jasper National Park, Temnothorax fragosus was found only in this specific locality." Close to 20 colonies were found and the nests were in the soil, under "pebbles." All but two orphaned colonies had a single queen. Five colonies were counted and found to contain between 25 and 150 workers and numerous worker pupae. No sexual adults or pupae were found when the nests were collected (17 -viii-1979).

Identification
Mackay and Buschinger (2000) "The worker is easily recognized on the basis of the 11 segmented antenna and the rough, rugose sculpture covering the entire head, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole. The propodeal spines are very well-developed (0.16 mm in length), and are thick and blunt tipped. The apex of the petiole is moderately sharp, with the concave anterior face meeting the dorsal, convex face, in an angle. The female also has an 11 segmented antenna, and has sculpturing similar to that of the worker except the spaces between the rugae of the head are more shiny, and the dorsum of the mesosoma is not as coarsely sculptured. The propodeal spines are similar in shape of those of the worker; the petiole has a much sharper apex. The male is a small specimen, with a 12 segmented antenna, and is much more finely sculptured than is the worker and the female. The rugae are scarce on the male and most surfaces are either punctate or moderately smooth and shining with fine costulae. The nodes of the petiole and postpetiole are low and rounded. The body of the male is nearly devoid of erect hairs.

The 11-segmented antenna, and the roughly sculptured head, would separate this species from nearly all the others in the subgenus Myrafant."

Distribution
Known only from the type locality in Alberta, Canada.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: Canada.

Habitat
The collection of numerous colonies, including the types, were made from an area at the base of a SE-exposed slope, in an open pine forest.

Abundance
Abundant within the type locality.

Nomenclature

 *  fragosus. Leptothorax (Myrafant) fragosus Mackay, W.P. & Buschinger, 2002: 540, figs. 1-8 (w.q.m.) CANADA. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Worker
Clypeus concave along anterior medial border, as seen with clypeus in full view; head narrowed anteriorly, sides of head weakly convex, vertex concave; scape nearly reaches posterior lateral comer; dorsum of mesosoma nearly flat; propodeal spines very well-developed, somewhat thickened in profile, with blunt tips; suprapeduncular processes well developed, subpeduncular process also well-developed; anterior face of petiole concave, meeting dorsal face at poorly defined angle dorsal face broadly rounded posteriorly; propodeal spines curved inwards, as seen from above; postpetiole noticeably wider than petiole, when viewed from above.

Erect hairs scattered across dorsum of head, most short (0.03 mm), mesosoma with similar hairs on dorsum, except most longer (up to 0.05 mm). hairs on dorsum of petiole, dorsum of postpetiole, and dorsum of gaster similar.

Mandibles with parallel striae, clypeus with well-developed medial carina, as well as several less well-developed lateral carinae, which converge anteriorly, dorsum of head with well-defined rugae, intrarugal spaces punctate, but shining, dorsum and sides of mesosoma with longitudinal rugae, most intrarugal surfaces punctate, side of petiole punctate, with rugae near apex, postpetiole with similar sculpture, dorsum of gaster smooth and polished.

Concolorous medium brown.

Worker measurements: HL 0.74 - 0.79. HW 0.66 - 0.70. SL 0.54 - 0.59, EL 0.16 - 0 .17, WL 0.86 - 0.88, PW 0.20 - 0.22, PL 0.17 - 0.20, PPW 0.30 - 0.32, PPL 0.19 - 0.22. Indices: CI 88 – 89, SI 73 - 74, PI 106 - 121, PPI 150 - 156.

Queen
The type queens were obtained by rearing field collected colonies in the laboratory.

Clypeus with medial carina, and several lateral carinae which converge anteriorly; head noticeably more narrow anterior to eye than posterior to eye; ocelli small; scape failing to reach posterior lateral corner by approximately first funicular segment; propodeum with well developed, thick, blunt tipped spines; petiole anteriorly with moderately sharp apex, which is rounded posteriorly, subpeduncular process well developed.

Erect hairs abundant on dorsum of head (0.1 mm in length) scattered across dorsum of mesosoma (approximately 0.08 mm in length) scattered on petiole (up to 0.12 mm in length), postpetiole, and gaster.

Mandibles with striae, moderately shining, head with longitudinal, diverging rugae, with intrarugal spaces moderately smooth and shining: dorsum of scutum with fine, longitudinal costulae, predominantly smooth and shining, side of pronotum with rugulae, shining, mesopleuron with poorly defined rugulae, partially smooth and shining, propodeum with poorly defined rugae on side, with scattered punctures, dorsal half of side of petiole with rugae, ventral half punctate, dorsum of petiole with rugae, dorsum of postpetiole with rugae, sides of postpetiole punctate.

Concolorous pale brown.

Female measurements: HL 0.82 – 0.83, HW 0.74 - 0 .76. SL 0.61 - 0.64, EL 0.22 - 0.23, WL 1.30 - 1.34. PW 0.26 - 0.28, PL 0.18- 0.25, PPW 0.32 - 0.35, PPL 0.19 - 0 .23. Indices: CI 91, SI 75 - 77, PI 110 - 147, PI 153 - 169.

Male
The type males were obtained by rearing field collected colonies in the laboratory.

Clypeus with poorly defined carinae; head narrowed anterior to eyes, posterior margin convex and rounded; scutellum greatly swollen; propodeum with or without angles; subpeduncular process poorly developed, dorsum of petiole rounded; dorsum of postpetiole rounded. Erect hairs sparse, nearly absent on head (except clypeus, cheeks, and mandibles), few scattered hairs on dorsum of mesosoma (up to 0.06 mm), petiole with few erect hairs (up to 0 .1 mm) postpetiole without erect hairs, gaster with few erect hairs.

Mandibles with very fine, longitudinal striae, head mostly punctate, few rugae anterior to eyes, along posterior border, and posterior to eyes, dorsum of scutum mostly smooth, polished, side of pronotum with fine rugulae, mostly polished, mesopleuron with similar sculpture, side of propodeum with fine rugulae and punctures, petiole with fine striolae, and punctures, sculpture of postpetiole similar.

Concolorous pale brown.

Male measurements: HL 0.47 - 0.48, HW 0.43 - 0.44, SL 0.16 0.17, EL 0.22 - 0.23, WL 1.03 - 1.09, PW 0.18 - 0.19, PL 0.16 - 0.17, PPW 0.20 - 0.22, PPL 0.16 - 0.17. Indices: CI 92 - 93, SI 33 - 35, PI 114 - 115, PPI 121 - 138.

Type Material
CANADA, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Celestine Lake road, ca 20 km N of Jasper, ca 1250 m, 17-viii-1979, A. Buschinger #'s 8691, 8692, 8696. Holotype worker (MCZC), 29 paratype workers (AMNH, CAFC, CASC, CNCI, CWEM, FMNH, FSCA, IAVH, LACM, MCZC, MZSP, UASM, USNM - abbreviations from Arnett and Samuelson, 1986), 16 paratype females (AMNH, CAFC, CASC, CNCI, CWEM, FMNH, FSCA, IAVH, LACM, MCZC, MZSP, UASM, USNM), 8 paratype males (CASC,CWEM, FSCA, LACM, MCZC, USNM).

Etymology
Morphological. "From Latin, fragosus meaning rough, referring to the sculpturing of the head and mesosoma."

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Buschinger, A. and A. Schulz. 2008. Leptothorax athabasca sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Alberta, Canada and ant with an apparently restricted range. Myrmecological News 11:243-248