Temnothorax nebliselva

Temnothorax nebliselva has been collected in montane cloud forest.

Identification
Prebus (2021) – A member of the fuscatus group of the Temnothorax salvini clade. Temnothorax nebliselva can be separated from all other species in the salvini clade by the following character combination: antennal scapes short: failing to reach the posterior margin of the head by about the maximum width of the antennal scape (SI 84-89); body elongate (WLI >150); metanotal groove not strongly impressed; propodeal spines very long, about one and a half times as long as the propodeal declivity (PSI 23-28), with tips truncate; propodeal spines curved and directed posteriorly or posterodorsally, never directly upward; hind femora moderately to strongly incrassate (FI 272-321); petiolar node high, nodiform and rounded dorsally (NI 208-260); postpetiole narrow: greater than one and a half times as wide as the petiole in dorsal view, but less than twice as wide (PWI 154-167); setae on head, mesosoma, waist segments and gaster erect, moderately long, sparse and blunt (never long and tapering); integument dark brown.

Similar species: Temnothorax acutispinosus, Temnothorax altinodus, Temnothorax subditivus, Temnothorax tenuisculptus, Temnothorax tuxtlanus, species of the annexus, augusti, fuscatus, and salvini groups. Temnothorax nebliselva can be distinguished from T. tuxtlanus by the incrassate femora (FI < 280 in T. tuxtlanus). The elongate, dorsally rounded petiolar node (NI >200) will separate T. nebliselva from other members of the fuscatus group, (petiolar node elongate and grading evenly into the petiolar peduncle), the salvini group (petiolar node elongate and grading evenly into the petiolar peduncle to squamiform), the augusti group (posteriorly leaning petiolar node), the annexus group and T. tenuisculptus (subquadrate petiolar node), T. subditivus (squamiform petiolar node), T. acutispinosus, and T. tuxtlanus (shorter petiolar node: NI < 180). The blunt-tipped setae and short antennal scapes, which fail to reach the posterior margin of the head, will separate T. nebliselva from the species of the salvini group, which have long, tapering setae and scapes that surpass the posterior margin of the head by at least one times the maximum width of the antennal scape (SI 83-89 vs. >95). The long, truncate propodeal spines, which are longer than the propodeal declivity, as well as the uniformly colored integument, will distinguish T. nebliselva from Temnothorax fuscatus (acute propodeal spines), Temnothorax ocarinae and Temnothorax skwarrae, (very short propodeal spines and bicolored).

Temnothorax nebliselva most closely resembles T. fuscatus, which has a distribution primarily north of the Nicaraguan depression, save for a single collection of an aberrant light colored form collected in sympatry with T. nebliselva in Monteverde.

Distribution
Known from a couple of localities in northern Costa Rica.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica.

Biology
Prebus (2021) - Collected from montane cloud forest habitat in northern Costa Rica. Hand collections of this species by Jack Longino were small monogynous nests in the internodes of a Cecropia polyphlebia sapling in a pasture abutting cloud forest. The other collections were made by sweeping vegetation and canopy fogging. Little else is known about the biology of this species.

Nomenclature

 * . Temnothorax nebliselva Prebus, 2021: 159, figs. 107B, 111 (w.q.) COSTA RICA.

Worker
(n = 3): SL = 0.508-0.545 (0.526); FRS = 0.228-0.254 (0.241); CW = 0.617-0.688 (0.657); CWb = 0.570-0.625 (0.606); PoOC = 0.281-0.303 (0.293); CL = 0.680-0.729 (0.710); EL = 0.147-0.183 (0.166); EW = 0.106-0.127 (0.117); MD = 0.141-0.157 (0.151); WL = 0.899-0.981 (0.948); SPST = 0.211-0.270 (0.248); MPST = 0.267-0.287 (0.279); PEL = 0.333-0.373 (0.356); NOL = 0.239-0.255 (0.248); NOH = 0.098-0.120 (0.107); PEH = 0.191-0.218 (0.204); PPL = 0.179-0.198 (0.185); PPH = 0.189-0.202 (0.194); PW = 0.403-0.459 (0.422); SBPA = 0.141-0.170 (0.152); SPTI = 0.200-0.246 (0.216); PEW = 0.136-0.147 (0.143); PNW = 0.120-0.139 (0.128); PPW = 0.210-0.245 (0.230); HFL = 0.564-0.647 (0.617); HFWmax = 0.125-0.147 (0.136); HFWmin = 0.039-0.054 (0.045); CS = 0.91-0.99 (0.961); ES = 0.200-0.247 (0.225); SI = 84-89 (87); OI = 22-25 (23); CI = 84-86 (85); WLI = 155-158 (157); SBI = 23-27 (25); PSI = 23-28 (26); PWI = 154-167 (160); PLI = 186-202 (192); NI = 208-260 (234); PNWI = 86-95 (89); NLI = 67-72 (70); FI = 272-321 (304).

In full-face view, head subquadrate, longer than broad (CI 84-86). Mandibles densely, finely striate but shining and armed with five teeth: the apical-most well developed and acute, followed by a less developed preapical tooth and three equally developed smaller teeth. Anterior clypeal margin evenly rounded. Antennal scapes short: when fully retracted, failing to reach the posterior margin of the head capsule by about the maximum width of the antennal scape (SI 84-89). Antennae 12-segmented; antennal club of composed of three segments, with the apical-most segment as long as the preceding two in combination. Frontal carinae moderately long, extending past the antennal toruli by about two and a half times the maximum width of the antennal scape. Compound eyes weakly protruding past the lateral margins of the head capsule. Lateral margin of head weakly convex, forming a continuous arc from the mandibular insertions to the posterior margin of the head. Posterior head margin flat but rounding evenly into the lateral margins.

In profile view, compound eyes ovular and moderately large (OI 22-25), with 11 ommatidia in longest row. Pronotal declivity indistinct, neck and anterior face of pronotum forming a ~120° angle. Mesosoma sinuate: evenly convex from where it joins the pronotal neck to the propodeum; propodeum depressed and rounds evenly into the base of the propodeal spines. Promesonotal suture extending from the posterior margin of the procoxal insertion to the mesothoracic spiracle, which is moderately well developed. Metanotal groove visible as a disruption of the sculpture laterally from where it arises between the mid- and hind coxae to where it ends in the poorly developed metathoracic spiracle, which is nearly indistinguishable from the ground sculpture. Propodeal spiracle moderately well developed, directed posterolaterally, and separated from the propodeal declivity by about five spiracle diameters. Propodeal spines well developed and very long (PSI 23-28), about one and a half times as long as the propodeal declivity, tapering evenly from the base, evenly curved, and apically truncate. Propodeal declivity weakly concave, forming a rounded ~110° angle with the base of the propodeal spines. Propodeal lobes rounded and weakly developed. Metapleural gland bulla very large, extending from the metacoxal insertion three quarters of the way to the propodeal spiracle. Petiole moderately long (PLI 186-202), without tubercles anterodorsally. Subpetiolar process in the form of a moderately large, triangular, acute tooth; ventral margin of petiole slightly bulging medially. Petiolar peduncle moderately long: comprising about half the length of the petiole. Petiolar node moderately high and dorsally rounded: transition between peduncle and node marked by a rounded angle of ~120°, resulting in a concave anterior node face; anterior face rounding evenly into dorsal and posterior faces. Postpetiole long; evenly rounded anteriorly, weakly convex dorsally, and flat to weakly lobed ventrally.

In dorsal view, humeri developed and distinct: evenly rounded and wider than the rest of the mesosoma; mesothoracic spiracles weakly protruding past the lateral margins of the mesosoma, visible as slight angles where the pronotum meets the mesonotum. Promesonotal suture visible as a disruption in the sculpture. Mesometanotal suture and metanotal groove obscured by ground sculpture. Propodeal spines closely approximated basally and diverging apically, their apices separated from each other by about their length, the negative space between them "U" shaped. Petiolar peduncle with spiracles very weakly protruding past the lateral margins, and slightly constricted anterior to them. Petiolar node weakly ovular and slightly longitudinally elongate; node slightly narrower than the peduncle and evenly grading into the caudal cylinder, which is slightly broader than the node. Postpetiole narrow (PWI 154-167) longitudinally elongate, and campaniform. Anterior margin of the postpetiole flat and evenly rounds into the lateral margins, which weakly diverge to the angulate posterior corners; posterior margin flat. Metafemur moderately to strongly incrassate (FI 272-321).

Sculpture: median clypeal carina present, extending posteriorly to the level of the anterior margins of the antennal insertions, and flanked on either side by two equally strong carinae. Lateral clypeal lobes with additional, weaker carinae; ground sculpture finely areolate-costulate. Antennal scapes areolate. Cephalic dorsum areolate, with costulae between the frontal carinae. Lateral surfaces of head areolate with costulae overlying the ground sculpture, become stronger between the compound eye and the mandibular insertion. Ventral surface weakly areolate. Pronotal neck finely areolate-strigulate. Lateral surfaces of the pronotum rugose-costate rugulae in the interspaces; mesopleurae and lateral surface of propodeum rugose, with weak areolate ground sculpture. Propodeal declivity weakly areolate, but smooth and shining between the propodeal spines. Dorsal surface of mesosoma rugose, with weak areolae in the interspaces. Femora weakly areolate, becoming smooth and shining medially. Petiole evenly weakly areolate-rugulose. Postpetiole densely areolate-rugulose. First gastral tergite smooth and shining, with moderately strong spectral iridescence. First gastral sternite smooth and shining, with moderately strong spectral iridescence.

Setae: antennal scapes and funiculi with short, decumbent pilosity. Dorsum of the head, pronotum, waist segments, and gaster with sparse, erect, blunt-tipped setae, the longest of which are about the length of the compound eye. The head bears ~12, mesosoma ~8, petiole 2, postpetiole ~6, and first gastral tergite ~14 setae. Short, sparse pubescence present over the entire body, but difficult to detect against the densely sculptured integument.

Color: predominantly medium brown. Mandibles, antennae, pronotal neck, coxae, trochanters, femora, tibiae, and gastral sclerites (excluding the basalmost) testaceous. Tarsi and sting testaceous yellow.

Queen
(n = 1): SL = 0.602; FRS = 0.328; CW = 0.851; CWb = 0.772; PoOC = 0.357; CL = 0.856; EL = 0.245; EW = 0.196; MD = 0.153; WL = 1.567; SPST = 0; MPST = 0.407; PEL = 0.47; NOL = 0.328; NOH = 0.128; PEH = 0.275; PPL = 0.248; PPH = 0.306; PW = 0.81; SBPA = 0.269; SPTI = 0.269; PEW = 0.215; PNW = 0.237; PPW = 0.347; HFL = 0.801; HFWmax = 0.161; HFWmin = 0.064; CS = 1.2; ES = 0.343; SI = 78; OI = 29; CI = 90; WLI = 203; SBI = 35; PSI = 0; PWI = 161; PLI = 190; NI = 256; PNWI = 110; NLI = 70; FI = 252.

In full-face view, head subquadrate, longer than broad (CI 90). Mandibles densely striate but shining and armed with five teeth: the apical-most well developed, followed by a less developed preapical tooth and three equally developed smaller teeth. Anterior clypeal margin flat medially. Antennal scapes short: when fully retracted, failing to reach the posterior margin of the head capsule by about the maximum width of the antennal scape (SI 78). Antennae 12-segmented; antennal club composed of three segments, with the apical-most segment as long as the preceding two in combination. Frontal carinae moderately long, extending past the antennal toruli by about two and a half times the maximum width of the antennal scape. Compound eyes moderately protruding past the lateral margins of the head capsule. Lateral margin of head evenly convex, converging from below the compound eyes to the mandibular insertions. head margin flat, rounding evenly into the lateral margins.

In profile view, compound eyes ovular and large (OI 28-31), with 17 ommatidia in longest row. Pronotum with a distinct shape: longitudinally excavate laterally. Mesoscutum rounded evenly anteriorly, not fully covering the dorsal surface of the pronotum, and flat dorsally. Mesoscutellum on the same level as the mesoscutum but sloping posteriorly. Metanotum and propodeum slightly depressed below the mesoscutellum. Propodeal spiracle well developed, directed posterolaterally, and separated from the propodeal declivity by about five spiracle diameters. Propodeal spines absent but represented as blunt angles. Propodeal declivity slightly concave. Propodeal lobes rounded and very weakly developed. Metapleural gland bulla large, extending from the metacoxal insertion three quarters of the way to the propodeal spiracle. Petiole moderately long (PLI 190), without tubercles anterodorsally. Subpetiolar process in the form of a small, acute tooth, which grades evenly into the ventral margin of the petiole posteriorly. Petiolar peduncle short: comprising about a third of the total length of the petiole. Petiolar node low and dorsally rounded: transition between peduncle and node an even grade; anterior face meeting the dorsal face at a rounded ~120° angle; dorsal face rounding evenly into the posterior face. Postpetiole weakly convex anteriorly, bulging slightly anterodorsally before flattening posterodorsally; lobed ventrally.

In dorsal view, mesoscutum not fully covering pronotum anteriorly; humeri visible laterally as angulate sclerites. Mesoscutum with a distinctive shape: hexagonal, with anterior face narrow and convex, lateral faces diverging posteriorly to the wing bases, then converging slightly to the posterior face, which is broader than the anterior face. Propodeal angles diverging apically. Petiolar peduncle with spiracles weakly protruding past the lateral margins. Petiolar node, when viewed posterodorsally, with node weakly narrowing apically. Petiolar node slightly narrower than the peduncle, and evenly grading into the caudal cylinder, which slightly narrower than the node. Postpetiole narrow (PWI 161), and campaniform. Anterior margin of postpetiole flat, with corners marked by rounded angles as it transitions to the lateral margins, which are parallel to the angulate posterior corners; posterior margin flat. Metafemur moderately incrassate (FI 252).

Sculpture: median clypeal carina present, but difficult to distinguish from the multitude of equally strong flanking carinae. Lateral clypeal lobes with additional strong carinae. Antennal scapes weakly areolate-costulate. Cephalic dorsum areolate-costulate, becoming costate between the frontal carinae. Ventral surface of head areolate-costulate. Pronotal neck weakly areolate-strigulate, with weak overlying rugae. Pronotum costate. Anepisternum densely rugulose, with costate sculpture ventrally and posteriorly. Katepisternum with predominantly costate. Metapleuron costate, with rugulose ground sculpture. Propodeal declivity weakly strigulate basally, with weak areolae between the propodeal angles. Mesoscutum costulate. Mesoscutellum costulate. Metanotum smooth and shining, with weak strigulate sculpture laterally. Dorsum of propodeum rugose. Femora smooth and shining, with traces of weak areolate sculpture. Petiole costate over areolate ground sculpture. Postpetiole costulate, overlying areolate sculpture. First gastral tergite and sternite smooth and shining, with moderately strong spectral iridescence.

Setae: antennal scapes and funiculi with short, decumbent pilosity. Dorsum of the head, pronotum, waist segments, and gaster with sparse, erect, tapering setae, the longest of which are about half the width of the compound eye. Short, sparse pubescence present over the entire body, but difficult to detect against the densely sculptured integument.

Color: predominantly medium brown. Mandibles, antennae, pronotal neck, coxae, trochanters, femora, tibiae, and gastral sclerites (excluding the basalmost) testaceous. Tarsi and sting testaceous yellow.

Type Material
Holotype worker: COSTA RICA: Heredia: 10 km NE Vara Blanca, 1,500 m,, 10 February 2005, InBio-OET-ALAS transect, J. Longino #JTL5434 (CASENT0869139).

Paratype workers: same data as previous, 3 workers (INB0003659289, CASENT0869137, CASENT0869138) [INBio] 1 worker (CASENT0869139) [CASC] 1 worker (CASENT0869161) 1 worker (CASENT0869162)  2 workers (CASENT0869163, CASENT0869165)  1 worker (CASENT0869164)  1 worker (CASENT0869166)  1 worker (CASENT0869167)  1 worker (CASENT0869168)  1 worker (CASENT0869169).

Etymology
Ecological, Spanish for the cloud forest habitat where this species has been collected.