Temnothorax leigong

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Terayama (2009) - Small yellowish species. Easily separated from the other Taiwanese yellowish species, Temnothorax confucii, by the microreticulate head and metasternum, and small body size. Rather it is resembles Temnothorax basara, from the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. However, it is separated from the latter by the incised metanotal groove, black gaster, and weakly concave anterior margin of petiolar node.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 *  leigong. Temnothorax leigong Terayama, 2009: 184 (w.) TAIWAN.

Worker
HL 0.58, HW 0.53, HW-II 0.48, SL 0.48, WL 0.65, PL 0.28, PH 0.18, DPW 0.13, PPL 0.18, PPH 0.18, PPW 0.14, TL 1.4.

Head 1.21 times as long as wide excluding eyes, with convex posterior margin; frons and vertex micro reticulate, without distinct longitudinal rugae. Antennal scape exceeding posterior margin of head. Eye 0.11 mm in maximum diameter. Promesonotum with gently convex dorsum; pronotal disc and mesonotum with reticulate rugae; metanotal groove incised dorsally; metapleuron microreticulate, without longitudinal rugae; propodeum with straight dorsal margin; propodeal spine long and thin, needle-shaped. Petiole with a long peduncle, node reversed U-shaped; subpetiolar process distinct, bearing acute triangular. Postpetiole as long as high, with convex anterodorsal and straight posterodorsal margins.

Color. Head, alitrunk, and pedicel yellowish brown; gaster black excepting basal portion of 1st tergum brown.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Wushe, Datong-Cun, Nantou Pref., 5.viii.1982, M. Terayama leg. Paratypes. 1 w, same locality, 23. viii. 1987, S. Kubota leg. NIAES.

Etymology
The specific epithet is the Chinese noun Leigong, which is the name of a Taiwanese god.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
 * Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
 * Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.