Temnothorax americanus

Protomognathus americanus is the only species in the genus. It is a social parasite of a number of widespread and common Temnothorax species that occur in North America.

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

Nomenclature

 *  americanus. Tomognathus americanus Emery, 1895c: 272 (w.) U.S.A. Creighton, 1927: 27 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1955b: 26 (l.). Combination in T. (Protomognathus): Wheeler, W.M. 1905a: 3; in Harpagoxenus: Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 494; in Protomognathus: Cover, in Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990: 65. See also: Smith, M.R. 1939b: 166.

Worker
Picea, pilosa et microscopice pubescens, capite thoraceque creberrime reticulato-punctatis, illius dimidio postico et fronte tamen laevioribus, nitidulis, clypeo laevi, nitido, medio depresso et late emarginato, mandibularum margine masticatorio dente apicali valido, aliisque 3-4 brevibus, obtusis armato, antennarum flagelli articulo]. tribus sequentibus aulo breviore, 2-6 transversis; thorace versus metanoti basin depresso, sutura tamen non impressa, spinis brevibus, rectis, divergentibus; abdominis nitidissimi pedunculo punctulato, segmento 1. antice breviter petiolato, postice cum nodo squamiformi, 2. Transverse ovato, praecedente fere duplo latiore, subtus mutico, scapis et pedibus sine pilis erectis. Long. 2 ½ - 2 ¾ mm.

Type Material
Washington D. C., im Neste von Leptothorax curvispinosus (=Temnothorax curvispinosus) Mayr von Herrn Pergande gefunden. Ein Exemplar aus Beatty, Pennsylvanien, ohne weitere Angabe.

A syntype worker is located in the Emery collection,

Additional References

 * [[Media:Alloway & Keough 1990.pdf|Alloway, Thomas & Keough, Gregory. 1990. Slave Marking by the Slave-Making Ant Harpagoxenus Americanus (Emery) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)PsycheVolume 97 (1990), Issue 1-2, Pages 55-64 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Creighton 1927.pdf|Creighton, W. S. 1927. The slave-raids of Harpagoxenus americanus. Psyche (Camb.) 34: 11-29 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Creighton 1929b.pdf|Creighton, W.S. 1929b. Further Notes on the habits of Harpagoxenus amercianus. Psyche (Camb.) 36:48-50. PDF]]