Temnothorax josephi

Temnothorax josephi has only been collected from dead branches of oak trees, with the majority being the species Quercus arizonica.



Identification
Mackay (2000) "Temnothorax josephi is a large, bicolored (head and gaster black. mesosoma reddish brown) species which is easily confused with the bicolored form of Leptothorax (Leptothorax) muscorum in the field. The antenna is 11 segmented, the propodeal spines are large, and the mesosoma has coarse rugae. The clypeus has a well-developed medial carina, and 2 prominent lateral carinae. The dorsal surface of the gaster is strongly shining.

This species would key to T. rugatulus in Creighton (1950), but differs in being much larger (total length 3mm vs. 2.5mm or less in T. rugatulus) and bicolored (yellow brown with dark infuscation on head and gaster of T. rugatulus). In addition, the females are much larger (5mm total length vs. 3.5mm total length in T. rugatulus) and the petiole is broadly rounded (apex sharper in T. rugatulus), and the males are easily separated by the shape of the petiolar node: high and bilobed (as seen from behind) in T. josephi. low and not bilobed in T. rugatulus. The male has numerous parallel carinae on the clypeus, whereas males of T. rugatulus have reticulated and partially transverse rugae on the clypeus. It differs from two other closely related species, T. bradleyi and T. smithi, in that the intrarugal spaces of the head are punctate, but shining. The long propodeal spines are much longer than those of T. bradleyi. Temnothorax smithi is never bicolored, usually being a concolorous pale brown to yellow. It can be separated from Temnothorax muscorum by the convex clypeus with the well-developed medial carina."

Range
USA. Southwestern New Mexico.

Habitat
The habitat is often near a stream, with oaks, pinyon pines and junipers. This species seems to prefer the driest dead branches of Q. arizonica. The soils consist of rocks mixed with very fine sand.

Abundance
A number of whole nests have been collected from a few locations.

Biology
The nest of the holotype series was collected in a dead branch (15-cm diameter) attached to trunk of the oak Quercus arizonica Sarg., in a grassy area with scattered oaks within a pine forest. The ants were timid and attempted to hide, larvae and pupae were present in the nest. The entire nest population was collected. The second type series was collected in a branch (3cms diameter) of a Q. arizonica, about 1.5 m from soil surface. The third type series was in a dry, dead branch of Q. anzonica. The fourth type series was collected in a 3cm diameter dead branch of Q. arizonica. The nest in the Gila Wilderness was in a 8cm diameter branch of an oak tree, 3 m from the ground on a very steep, south-facing slope. Two other similar nests were found. The nests contain brood throughout the summer. Nest populations ranged from 41-76 workers, with a single dealate female in each nest.

Original Combination
Leptothorax (Myrafant) josephi MacKay, 2000: 349, figs. 78, 115-120 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Worker
Mandibles with 5 teeth, only 3 most apical reasonably well defined; anterior border of clypeus nearly straight, clypeus with several longitudinal carinae, including well developed medial carina; vertex concave; antenna with 11 segments; mesosoma without any obvious sutures, none break the sculpture of dorsal surface; propodeal spines well developed (length > 0.1mm), about as long as distance between them; petiole with well developed subpeduncular process, well developed flange near point of attachment, anterior petiolar face broadly concave, posterior face convex, petiolar node rounded as seen in profile.

Hairs erect (up to 0.08mm in length), covering most body surfaces, except antennae and legs; decumbent pubescence present on antennae and legs.

Entire head covered with coarse, longitudinal rugae, intrarugal spaces punctate and weakly shining, dorsum of mesosoma with longitudinal rugae, both faces of propodeum with transverse rugae, sides of mesosoma, including propodeum, with very rough sculpture, consisting of coarse, predominately longitudinal rugae, interspersed with coarse punctuation, gaster smooth and shining.

Bicolored, head and gaster black, mesosoma reddish brown.

Worker measurements: HL 0.82-0.84, HW 0.71-0.78, SL 0.550.58, EL 0.19-0.20, WL 0.94-1.01, PW 0.23-0.24, PL 0.31-0.37, PPW 0.31-0.34, PPL 0.19-0.22. Indices: CI 87-93, SI 67-69, PI 65-74, PPI 155-163.

Queen
Similar to worker in most aspects, except possessing ocelli and having mesosoma modified for flight. Propodeal spines more robust and relatively shorter, petiole nearly identical in shape.

Female (dealate) measurements: HL 0.90, HW 0.83, SL 0.62, EL 0.25, WL 1.58, PW 0.37, PL 0.35, PPW 0.44, PPL 0.23. Indices: CI 92, SI 69, PI 106, PPI 191.

Male
Mandible with 5 teeth, only apical reasonably well developed; median anterior border of clypeus straight, clypeus convex, with medial carina and 3 on each side of clypeus, remainder of clypeus smooth; eyes large; ocelli well developed; scape very short, about as long as first 2 funicular segments; propodeum without spines, but with dull carinae at positions of armature; petiole without subpeduncular process, anterior petiolar face broadly concave, posterior face convex, petiolar node rounded in profile, weakly bilobate as seen from behind, with depressed, smooth area between lobes.

Hairs sparse, few on mandibles, 1 or 2 on propodeum, very few scattered on gaster. Sculpture finer than in worker and female, granulate with poorly defined rugae on head, top of mesosoma striolate, side of mesosoma granulate with fine rugae, top of petiole and postpetiole mostly shining, gaster strongly shining.

Color: dark brown.

Male measurements: HL 0.62-0.77, HW 0.68-0.74, SL 0.200.22, EL 0.34-0.35, WL 1.36-1.45, PW 0.23-0.28, PL 0.25-0.32, PPW 0.29-0.31, PPL 0.24-0.25. Indices: CI 96-110, SI 29-32, PI 88-92, PPI 116-129.

Type Material
Holotype worker (MCZC), 41 paratype workers (AMNH, CASC, CWEM, FMNH, LACM, EMAU, MCSN, MCZC, MHNG, MZSP, USNM, UNAM), 1 paratype female (MCZC), and 6 paratype males (CASC,CWEM, LACM, MCZC, USNM).

Type Locality
NEW MEXICO, Socorro Co., near Mount Withington, 33°48'32.2" 107°22'57.2", 7-viii-1994, 2185 meters, W. Mackay # 16952.

Etymology
Commemorative. "This species is dedicated to the memory of my only son, Joseph Luis, born on March 25, 1984 and died on August 17, 1984 from an infection of Hemophilus influenzae."