Temnothorax bicolor

Only a single worker of this species has been collected. It was captured at a bait trap placed on the ground.

Identification
Mackay (2000) - A member of the Temnothorax andersoni species complex. This is a bicolored species (dark brown head and gaster, reddish brown mesosoma) with a 12-segmented antenna. The dorsum of the head is smooth and shining, the mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole are heavily sculptured. The medial clypeal carina is poorly developed, as are the lateral carinae. The surface of the clypeus is weakly convex. The propodeal spines are long and well developed. The petiole is broadly rounded.

The long, well-developed propodeal spines of this species will separate it from most similar species. It could be most likely to confuse this species with Temnothorax stollii, from which it can be separated by the presence of the semicircular striae posterior to the insertion of the antenna.

Distribution
MEXICO, Chiapas.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Habitat
The type worker was collected in a pine forest mixed with hardwoods that had been recently burned. Some litter was present and the soils were a pale red clay.

Abundance
Only known from a single collection.

Nomenclature

 *  bicolor. Leptothorax (Myrafant) bicolor Mackay, W.P., 2000: 320, figs. 23, 25, 90, 91 (w.) MEXICO. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Worker
Mandibles with 5 teeth; anterior border of clypeus nearly straight, clypeus with poorly defmed medial carina and 4 lateral carinae on each side; vertex straight; mesosoma with none of the sutures breaking the sculpture; propodeal spines small (0.06mm in length), but well developed; petiole with well developed, blunt subpetiolar tooth, anterior petiolar face concave, posterior face convex, petiolar node blunt and rounded in profile. Erect, blunt hairs scattered on most surfaces, up to 0.05mm in length, legs and scapes with finer hairs, which are nearly decumbent.

Dorsum of head and gaster smooth and polished, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole mostly punctured and rough, poorly defmed rugae on sides of mesosoma.

Head and gaster very dark brown, mesosoma reddish brown.

Measurements: HL 0.66, HW 0.56, SL 0.52. EL 0.18, WL 0.77,  PW 0.19, PL 0.25, PPW 0.28,  PPL 0.20. Indices: CI 85, S1 79, PI 76, PPI 140.

Queen
No known Queens for this species.

Male
No known Males for this species.

Type Material
MEXICO. Chiapas: 20 KE San Cristobal de las Casas (3 miles NW Highway 190 on Highway 199). l-vi-1988. 2400 meters. W. Mackay # 10700. Holotype worker

Etymology
Descriptive. "Based on the color of the worker."

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
 * Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133