Temnothorax texanus

Mackay (2000) "This species nests in sandy soil (Wheeler, 1903a; Talbot, 1934; Wesson and Wesson, 1940; Gregg, 1944; Smith, 1952) or even sand dunes (Talbot, 1934; Cole, 1952), or clay soils (Cole, 1952) in damp spots under post-oaks, cedars and pines (Talbot, 1934; Carter, 1962; Mackay et al., 1988), often in the driest sites (Carter, 1962). They often nest at the base of a grass clump (Smith, 1952). Males have been collected from late May to late July in the nests (Wesson and Wesson, 1940; Cole, 1952; Smith, 1952). These ants form foraging trails which are nearly invisible, across sand dunes and moss (Smith, 1952), and apparently use tandem running."



Identification
Mackay (2000) "This is a small (total length 2.25mm), dark brown species with a 12-segmented antenna, in which the postpetiole is more than 1.5 X the width of the petiole. The entire ant is roughly sculptured, with rugae on the head, top and side of the mesosoma, on the petiole and on the postpetiole. The gaster is smooth and glossy. The subpeduncular process is poorly defined and consists of a tiny tooth. The node of the petiole is truncate, the propodeum has well-developed spines.

The massive postpetiolar node, which is coarsely reticulo-rugose or punctate, separates this taxon from all others in the genus. Temnothorax davisi differs in that the postpetiole is somewhat wider and is covered with poorly defined punctures. The head of T. texanus is mostly covered with punctures, but the central region is partially smooth, without striae, which are found in T. davisi. The node of the petiole is not truncate as it is in T. davis. Temnothorax texanus is found in the mid west and western part of the United States, T. davisi from eastern US."

Abundance
xxxxx Only known from a few collections. xxxxx

Biology
xxxxx

xxxxx

Original Combination
Leptothorax texanus Wheeler, W.M. 1903c: 245, pl. 12, fig. 16 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1960b: 24 (l.). Combination in L. (Myrafant): Smith, M.R. 1950a: 30; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272. Senior synonym of davisi: Deyrup & Cover, 2004a: 56. See also: Smith, M.R. 1952b: 102; MacKay, 2000: 415.

Type Material
As reported in Mackay (2000) "AMNH, MCZC [seen]."