Solenopsis tennesseensis

Solenopsis tennesseensis nests under stones as well as in the soil. Areas with dense populations have about five nests per square meter (unpublished data). This species is generally completely subterranean and can usually be collected only with subterranean Vienna sausage baits. Occasionally S. tennesseensis can be found in extractions of leaf litter. It is found in habitats ranging from urban lawns to thorn shrubland. (Pacheco and Mackay 2013)

Identification
A New World thief ant that is a member of the pygmaea species complex.

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker - The head is elongate and flat dorsally. The anterior clypeal margin has well developed lateral teeth, but the extralateral position carries only bumps. This species is very hairy, with erect and suberect hairs on all body surfaces. The minor funicular segments are short at 0.079 mm in total length. The eyes are minute and light brown, with at least one ommatidium.

The length and form of the gastral hairs separate this species from similar species that have shorter hairs (less than 0.050 mm) such as Solenopsis pygmaea, Solenopsis minutissima and those with short minor funicular segments such as Solenopsis subterranea. The workers of S. tennesseensis are especially difficult to distinguish from the workers of S. pygmaea, differing in being slightly larger and slightly less hairy.


 * Key to New World Solenopsis Species Complexes

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

Nomenclature

 * longiceps. Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) longiceps Smith, M.R. 1943a: 210 (w.) U.S.A. [Junior primary homonym of longiceps Forel, above.] Replacement name: tennesseensis: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 814.
 *  tennesseensis. Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) tennesseensis Smith, M.R. 1951a: 814. Replacement name for longiceps Smith, M.R. 1943a: 210. [Junior primary homonym of longiceps Forel, 1907b: 202.] See also: Thompson & Johnson, 1989: 698.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=5). TL 1.08-1.50 (1.30); HL 0.360-0.390 (0.366); HW 0.252-0.282 (0.269); EL 0.024-0.030 (0.029); ED 0.024-0.030 (0.025); SL 0.210-0.240 (0.226); FSL 0.072-0.102 (0.079); CI 70.0-75.0 (73.5); SI 58.3-66.7 (61.6); PL 0.060-0.078 (0.071); PW 0.090-0.108 (0.103); PI 58.8-72.2 (68.4); PPL 0.078-0.108 (0.097); PPW 0.102-0.120 (0.114); PPI 72.2-90.0 (85.1); WL 0.222-0.282 (0.254); PSL 0.024-0.030 (0.028); PSW 0.024.

Head elongate, much longer than wide, flat dorsoventrally; lateral clypeal teeth well developed; extralateral teeth present as bumps; clypeal carinae weakly developed; scape short, barely reaching past half length of head; minor segments of funiculus 3-8 short; eyes small, round, light brown, one ommatidium; notopropodeal suture weakly depressed; mesopleuron lacking striae; metapleuron with horizontal striae; propodeal spiracle small; peduncle short; petiole wider than postpetiole viewed laterally; postpetiole with rounded node (viewed dorsally); gaster flat, elongate.

Hairy, suberect hairs on head same length; mandibles very hairy with suberect hairs; gaster hairy, hairs on dorsum of first tergum scattered, of various lengths (longest hairs approximately 0.050 mm).

Type Material
Tennessee, Hamilton Co., Smith (paratype #563441, seen and #28092, seen ).