Temnothorax laetus

Wheeler (1931) reports this species has been observed nesting in bar and in dead or decaying wood.

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

Nomenclature

 * affinis. Macromischa (Macromischa) affinis Mann, 1920: 417, fig. 5 (w.) CUBA. [Junior secondary homonym of affinis Mayr, above.] Replacement name: Leptothorax similis Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 501.
 *  laetus. Macromischa affinis subsp. laeta Wheeler, W.M. 1937b: 456 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 501; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. Junior synonym of similis: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 501. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Snelling, R.R. 1986: 154. Senior synonym of maerens, similis: Snelling, R.R. 1986: 154; of umbratipes: Fontenla Rizo, 1997a: 51.
 * maerens. Macromischa affinis subsp. maerens Wheeler, W.M. 1937b: 456 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of similis: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 501; of laetus: Snelling, R.R. 1986: 154.
 * umbratipes. Macromischa affinis subsp. umbratipes Wheeler, W.M. 1937b: 455 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 522. Raised to species: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 522. Junior synonym of laetus: Fontenla Rizo, 1997a: 51.
 * similis. Leptothorax similis Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 501. Replacement name for affinis Mann, 1920: 417. [Junior secondary homonym of Leptothorax affinis Mayr, 1855: 442.] Junior synonym of laetus: Snelling, R.R. 1986: 154.

Worker
Length about 3.4 mm.

Peduncle somewhat longer than in the typical affinis and the preceding subspecies; epinotal spines more elevated; sculpture of both head and thorax finer, the thoracic rugae especially much finer and more numerous. Yellowish ferruginous; head slightly darker and more reddish; mandibles, clypeus, cheeks, neck, epinotal spines, petiolar peduncle, gaster and legs yellow; antennae, tips of femora, tips and bases of tibiae and entire basitarsi black; postpetiole and node of petiole ferruginous like the thorax. Lateral borders of first gastric segment and ill-defined bands at the posterior borders of the first, second and third segments, brown.

Type Material
One specimen from the Sierra de Purial, north of Imias, 3500 ft., July 25, 1936.