Temnothorax villarensis

Dr. Creighton took several colonies of this ant nesting in crevices of limestone. Their entrances consisted of carton composed of silk and vegetable detritus. He describes the foraging workers as walking with the long-peduncled abdomen elevated above the thorax, giving them “a curious appearance somewhat reminiscent of a person carrying a parasol.” (Wheeler 1931)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Cuba, Greater Antilles.

Nomenclature

 * manni. Macromischa manni Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 19 (w.) CUBA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1960b: 24 (l.). [Junior secondary homonym of Leptothorax manni Wheeler, above.] Replacement name: villarensis Aguayo, 1931: 177 (junior synonym and hence first available replacement name): Snelling, R.R. 1986: 155.
 *  villarensis. Macromischa manni var. villarensis Aguayo, 1931: 177 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272. Raised to species, first available replacement name for manni Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 19 [Junior secondary homonym of manni Wheeler, W.M. 1914b: 53.] and senior synonym of williami: Snelling, R.R. 1986: 155.
 * williami. Leptothorax williami Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 530. [Unnecessary replacement name for manni Wheeler, 1931b: 19.] Junior synonym of villarensis: Snelling, R.R. 1986: 155.

Worker
Length 5-5.5 mm.

Similar to Temnothorax porphyritis but averaging somewhat larger. Head subrectangular, only slightly longer than broad, distinctly broader behind the eyes than in front, with well developed posterior corners, straight posterior border and very feebly convex cheeks. Mandibles 5-toothed, with distinctly convex external borders. Thorax shaped much as in porphyritis, but more robust and the dorsum of the mesoepinotum very feebly convex; epinotal spines also very similar but slightly shorter, with more slender bases and less pronounced sigmoidal flexure. Petiolar peduncle distinctly stouter, the node higher, more broadly rounded in profile and with more sloping anterior declivity. Postpetiole broader than long and more rounded anteriorly than in porphyritis. Femora distinctly more thickened in the middle. Sculpture of the head and thorax resembling that of porphyritis but the rugae decidedly stronger and the punctuation between them looser and less distinct, so that the surface is not opaque but distinctly shining. Femora more sharply tuberculate.

Pilosity as abundant as in porphyritis but more yellowish and on the scapes shorter and more appressed.

Head and thorax ferruginous red, with faint violet reflections; mandibles, clypeus and cheeks paler and more yellowish; petiole reddish yellow, with the node, postpetiole, legs and antennae yellowish brown, with very faint bluish reflections. Gaster black; bases of femora paler and more reddish.

Type Material
A series of workers and a single dealated female taken by Dr. W. S. Creighton at Soledad, near Cienfuegos, Cuba. The female has been described by Mann as that of porphyritis.