Temnothorax punicans

It is the largest species in the genus, measuring 7 mm., and was taken by Gundlach on the farallones of Santiago de Cuba and Monte Toro in the mountains of Guantanamo, at the extreme eastern end of the island. (Wheeler 1931)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Cuba, Greater Antilles.

Nomenclature

 *  punicans. Macromischa punicans Roger, 1863a: 189 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Aphaenogaster: Emery, 1896a: 103; in Pheidole: Emery, 1915d: 67; in Macromischa: Mann, 1920: 418; in Croesomyrmex: Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 22; in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 484; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272.

Worker
Creighton (in Wheeler 1931) - Head (excluding the mandibles) about 1/8 longer than broad, the sides feebly convex, the occipital angles much rounded, the occiput narrow and flat. Eyes small, circular or subcircular, strongly convex, and situated at the middle of the side of the head. Mandibles with two well developed apical teeth and two or three poorly developed basal teeth. Clypeus moderately projecting, broadly truncate anteriorly with a small median notch in the anterior edge. Frontal carinae narrow and parallel, not diverging behind. Antennal scapes short and stout, barely surpassing the occipital border, only slightly curved at the base, becoming steadily thicker from the base to apex. First funicular joint twice as long as broad, second joint slightly longer than broad, the remaining small joints as broad as long or broader than long, club 3-jointed, the last joint equal in length to the two preceding joints but surpassing them slightly in thickness. Greatest width of the thorax seen from above approximately ½ of the head, the pronotum subcircular, slightly wider than the epinotum and notably wider• than the mesonotum, the latter rather strongly constricted anteriorly, gradually diverging posteriorly. Promesonotal suture absent on the dorsum, obsolete on the sides. Mesoepinotal suture absent. Seen in profile the promesonotum is strongly convex above and much higher than the epinotum to which it descends posteriorly through a steep, straight declivity. Basal face of the epinotum approximately three times as long as the declivity, flat in its anterior two thirds, feebly convex in the posterior third, meeting the short declivity in a rather blunt, though well marked angle. Node of the petiole not marked off from the peduncle, the two in profile forming a low wedge which is rounded above posteriorly. Posterior peduncle short and very thick. Postpetiole in profile larger than the petiolar node, the dorsum feebly convex anteriorly, more strongly convex behind. Seen from above, the node of the petiole is longitudinally oval, of equal length with the peduncle, with a pair of prominent lateral stigmatic tubercles at their point of junction. Postpetiole from above with a rectangular node and a triangular peduncle, the node very little broader than that of the petiole. Abdomen elongate, elliptical. Femora strongly but evenly incrassated.

Mandibles entirely covered with fine and rather regular striae, with a few sparse interspersed punctures. Cephalic striae coarser but even more regular, slightly diverging on the occiput. Median portion of the clypeus longitudinally striate. The entire head shining. The whole thorax granulose and opaque as is also the peduncle of the petiole; the node of the petiole and the postpetiole irregularly rugose and feebly shining. Abdomen smooth and moderately shining with minute piligerous punctures.

Hairs on the head, thorax and petiolar nodes rather sparse, erect, golden. Those on the scapes, funiculi and tarsi shorter, whiter and much more numerous. Abdomen, femora and tibiae with short but somewhat sparse hairs.

Head and thorax clear red, legs reddish brown, antennae and abdomen piceous brown. The whole insect, particularly the antennae and abdomen, with faint violaceous reflections in certain lights.