Temnothorax cokendolpheri

The type series was collected in a cave in New Mexico. A second collection, from mixed hardwood leaf litter, was made from Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Identification
Mackay (2000) - A member of the Temnothorax tricarinatus species complex. This species has a 12-segmented antenna and is a small, light brown or pale yellow species in which the dorsum of the head is nearly smooth and shining. The medial carina of the clypeus is well developed, as are several lateral carinae, which converge anteriorly. The sides of the head have frne striae, which pass to the dorsum, where they are weak. The eyes are small, with about 7 ommatidia in the maximum diameter, which is equal to or less than the minimum distance from the anterior border of the eye to the insertion of the mandibles. The mesosoma is punctate, with the sides of the pronotum having striae. The propodeal armature consists of simply small angles, which are poorly developed. The petiole and postpetiole are punctate, and the postpetiole is usually about 1.5 X the maximum diameter of the petiole, although there is a lot of variation. The dorsum of the gaster is polished and shining.

Temnothorax cokendolpheri is similar to Temnothorax punctithorax, and differs in that the post-petiole is noticeably broadened, the propodeal spines are smaller and the eyes are smaller. It is pale yellow in color whereas Temnothorax punctithorax is dark brown. The propodeal armature consists of simple angles, whereas the spines of Temnothorax punctithorax are small, but developed and acute. It appears to be closely related to Temnothorax carinatus, but can be separated as the eyes are smaller (7-8 ommatidia in maximum diameter vs. 8-9 in Temnothorax carinatus), the distance from the anterior margin to the insertion of the mandibles is equal to or greater than the maximum diameter of the eye (equal to or less than in Temnothorax carinatus) and the dorsum of the head is mostly smooth and shining (mostly striate or lightly punctate in Temnothorax carinatus). The females of Temnothorax cokendolpheri and Temnothorax carinatus are similar, but can be easily separated as the katepistemum is completely striate (at least partially smooth in Temnothorax carinatus) and the propodeal spines are well developed (less developed in Temnothorax carinatus). The width of the postpetiole ranges from 1.41 to 1.67 times as wide as the petiole in the type series workers, a single worker from Big Bend National Park appears to be identical to this species, but has a ratio of 1.36. It could be confused with Temnothorax mexicanus, but can be easily separated by the pale yellow color (Temnothorax mexicanus is dark brown), and the top of the postpetiole is completely punctate (top of postpetiole smooth and shining, but posterior surface punctate in Temnothorax mexicanus). Specimens with the dorsum of the head very smooth would key to Temnothorax bristoli. These specimens can be easily separated as the top of the pronotum is densely punctate, whereas the top of the pronotum of Temnothorax bristoli is mostly smooth and shining.

This species could be confused with other light colored species in the Chihuahuan Desert, including Temnothorax andersoni, Temnothorax bestelmeyeri, Temnothorax coleenae, and ´´Temnothorax liebi++. See the discussion of Temnothorax coleenae for hints as to how these species could be separated.

Distribution
USA: New Mexico, known from the type locality in Eddy Co., and a collection from Texas: Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.

Habitat
Temnothorax cokendolpheri likely inhabits woodlands. One collection was made from the leaf litter of a mixed hardwood forest. The type locality samples are collected from a cave but it has been noted (Cokendolpher and Polyak 2004) "The colony was from the entrance drop under a rock and we consider it an accidental" and that the area surrounding the cave entrance is "a mesic-xeric conifer/oak woodland."

Abundance
Known only from the type collections.

Nomenclature

 *  cokendolpheri. Leptothorax (Myrafant) cokendolpheri Mackay, W.P., 2000: 332, figs. 30, 100, 101 (w.q.) U.S.A. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Worker
Mandibles with 5 teeth: anterior border of clypeus convex, clypeal surface convex, with carinae (including middle carina) poorly defined; vertex concave: eyes small, with 7 or 8 ommatidia in greatest diameter, maximum diameter usually less than shortest distance to insertion of mandible; scape barely reaching occipital comer; mesosoma without sutures depressed below surrounding area: propodeal spines consisting of tiny angles: petiole with blunt node as seen in profile (Fig. 100), anterior petiolar face slightly concave, posterior face convex, subpeduncular process well formed, with blunt, rounded tip.

Erect hairs sparse, but present on most surfaces, short (most < 0.05): decumbent pubescence obvious only on head, and consisting of few scattered hairs.

Sculpture of head fine, dorsum nearly completely smooth and shining, butwith a few fine striae on sides, striae well defined anterior to eyes and near frontal carinae, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole punctate, side of pronotum with striae, gaster smooth and shining.

Color: light yellow brown.

Measurements: 0.60-0.63. HW 0.47-0.48, SL 0.46-0.48, EL 0.12-0.13, WL 0.64-0.66, PW 0.16-0.17, PL 0.13-0.14, PPW 0.24-0.25, PPL 0.15-0.16. Indices: CI 76-78, SI 76-77, PI 114-131, PPI 156-160.

Queen
Similar to worker in most aspects, differing in that the eye is larger, diameter about 0.7 times minimum distance to insertion of mandibles; ocelli well developed: scape reaching occipital corner; vertex concave; mesosoma large; propodeal spines well developed, length about 0.8mm: subpeduncular process well developed, rounded tip: petiole similar to that of worker, except node narrower.

Hairs as in worker, blunt tipped, some weakly spatulate, those on gaster up to 0.10mm in length; decumbent pubescence nearly absent, few hairs on head and gaster.

Sculpture slightly more coarse than in worker, dorsum of head completely striate, surfaces lateral to and anterior to eye nearly rugose, scutum and scutellum finely striate, side of pronotum and mesopleuron finely striate, propodeum rugose and punctate in intrarugal spaces, petiole and postpetiole punctate, with rugae on anterior face of petiole, transversely across top of node, on side and across posterior half of postpetiole, gaster smooth and shining.

Color: yellow brown, slightly darker than workers. Measurements: HL 0.74, HW 0.64, SL 0.56, EL 0.22, WL 1.13, PW 0.23, PL 0.16, PPW 0.38, PPL 0.19. Indices: CI 86, SI 76, PI 144, PPI 200.

Male
No Males known for this species.

Type Material
USA: New Mexico, Eddy Co., Hidden Cave, 25-x-1992, J. Cokendolpher, #631. Holotype worker, 21 paratype workers (, , , , EMAU, , , MCZC, , ), 1 paratype female (MCZC).

Etymology
Patronym. "Named in honor of my close friend, James Cokendolpher, who has send me hundreds of interesting ants over the years, including the type series of this new species."