Temnothorax oxynodis

Mackay (2000) reports the type label state "Emerged fr.: Knob-cone pine IV-1958" and that the ants were likely extracted from pine needle litter. Additional workers have been collected in a Pinus attenuata forest by Phil Ward and Brian Fisher.

Identification
Leptothorax oxynodis is readily separated from other Temnothorax with an 11-segmented antenna by the sharply acute petiolar node.

Mackay (2000) "This species is distinct and easily recognized as it has an 11-segmented antenna, and the node of the petiole is sharply acute. Additionally, the head is finely rugose, the mesosoma is densely punctate and the propodeal spines are tiny, blunt angles. The area on the dorsum of the mesosoma at the mesopropodeal suture is depressed below the remainder of the mesosoma. The mesosoma has abundant blunt-tipped hairs (nearly spatulate), those on petiole are finer."

Key to Temnothorax of California

Distribution
United States: California.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.



Habitat
Workers collected in Pinus attenuata forest.

Abundance
Only known from a few collections.

Nomenclature

 *  oxynodis. Leptothorax (Myrafant) oxynodis Mackay, W.P., 2000: 385, figs. 63, 146 (w.) U.S.A. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272.

Worker
Anterior border of clypeus straight, clypeus with well developed medial carina and several lateral carinae; vertex concave; mesosoma with none of the sutures breaking surface, although the mesosoma is slightly depressed at the mesopropodeal suture, which is obvious on dorsum of mesosoma; propodeal angles small; petiole with very sharp apex as seen in profile.

Erect hairs scattered over surface, maximum length 0.6mm, blunt or weakly spatulate, absent from antennae and legs, which have decumbent hairs.

Sculpture generally rough, head with fine rugae, surface shining between rugae, mesosoma densely punctate, punctures on side in rows forming weak striae, side of petiole punctate, forming striae which pass vertically to top of node, side of postpetiole punctate, posterior face of petiolar node with rugae which pass from the base to node, lateral edges of top of postpetiole with fine rugae, top mostly punctate, gaster smooth and shining.

Color: medium brown, gaster infuscated, eye black.

Worker measurements: HL 0.76, HW 0.64, SL 0.52, EL 0.17, WL 0.83, PW 0.17, PL 0.15, PPWO.24, PPL 0.20. Indices: CI84, SI 68, PI 113, PPI 120.

Queen
No Queens known for this species.

Male
No males known for this species.

Type Material
Holotype worker. USA. California, Santa Cruz Co., near Big Basin, ix-1957, D. Giuliani.

Etymology
Morphological. From Greek oxys, sharp, acute, referring to the acute apex of the petiolar node.