Temnothorax porphyritis

Little is known about the biology of .

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

Nomenclature

 *  porphyritis. Macromischa porphyritis Roger, 1863a: 185 (w.) CUBA. Mann, 1929: 162 (q.). Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 480; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272. Senior synonym of jaumei, latispina: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 480. See also: Mann, 1920: 413; Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 17.
 * jaumei. Macromischa (Macromischa) jaumei Santschi, 1930e: 78 (w.) CUBA. Subspecies of porphyritis: Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 18. Junior synonym of porphyritis: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 480.
 * latispina. Macromischa porphyritis var. latispina Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 18 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of porphyritis: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 480.

Worker
Wheeler (1931) - Length 4.5-5 mm.

Slender; head suboval, about! longer than broad, narrowed behind, with straight posterior border and rather indistinct posterior corners; cheeks rather straight, subparallel. Eyes moderately large and convex, at the middle of the sides. Mandibles narrow, 5-toothed, with rather straight external borders. Clypeus short, convex in the middle, its anterior border feebly sinuate in the middle. Frontal area triangular, distinct, but not deeply impressed. Antennae very slender; scapes reaching fully i their length beyond the occipital border; first funicular joint as long as the second and third together, the second distinctly longer than the third, joints 3-7 one and one-half times as long as broad; club rather indistinctly 3-jointed, shorter than the remainder of the funiculus. Thorax long, of uniform width, except for a pronounced lateral constriction between the pro- and mesonotum; dorsal outline in profile straight and horizontal; base of epinotum twice as long as the declivity, with which it forms a right angle; spines long and slender, nearly as long as the base of the epinotum, directed backward and somewhat upward, their bases rather stout, directed outward, backward and somewhat inward; their tips turned upward, so that each spine has a distinct sigmoidal flexure. Metasternal angles very short and blunt. Petiole very long and slender, the peduncle twice as long as the node, distinctly swollen at the spiracles, with a rudimentary anteroventral denticle and a ventral convexity near the middle; node in profile rather low and evenly rounded, longer than high, about twice as long as broad, constricted behind. Postpetiole campanulate, as broad as long, behind nearly twice as broad as the petiole. Gaster slender, its first segment decidedly longer than broad, the remaining segments forming a long, tapering point. Sting well developed. Legs long; femora only slightly incrassated.

Mandibles somewhat shining, coarsely striate-punctate; head and thorax opaque or somewhat lustrous, finely and densely punctate-rugulose, the rugules indistinctly longitudinal on the vertex, pronotum and pleurae, more distinct and transverse on the mesoepinotum. Petiole, postpetiole, gaster and legs rather shining, sparsely and finely punctate; femora sparsely tuberculate; scape opaque, finely punctatestriate.

Hairs white, pointed, abundant, moderately long and erect on the head, thorax and gaster, somewhat shorter and more oblique on the legs; numerous, conspicuous and curved on the scapes.

Mandibles, clypeus and cheeks anteriorly yellowish red; head and thorax deep, dull metallic purple, often with violaceous reflections; petiole, postpetiole and gaster black, with bluish reflections; legs and antennae more piceous or dark brown; terminal tarsal joints more reddish; sting golden yellow.

Type Material
Wheeler (1931) - Described from numerous specimens taken by Dr. P. J. Bermudez in the Sierra del Grillo, Havana Province, Cuba.