Temnothorax eburneipes

Semixerophilous species. In North Korea it lives mostly in a lower altitude, up to 500 m a.s.l., where it inhabits mainly open, relatively dry grasslands with sandy or stony soil, shrubs, rarely found in young, sparse forests (pine, oak, maple). In Myohyang Mts it inhabits also mountain meadows up to 900 m a.s.l. (Radchenko 2004)

Identification
Radchenko (2004) - T. eburneipes is most similar to Temnothorax taivanensis and differs from it by the shape of the petiole, which is shorter, with relatively short anterior peduncle (PI < 1.40), and with a very weakly concave anterior face (in T. taivanensis the petiole is much longer, with very long anterior peduncle, PI > 1.60, and a strongly concave anterior face); distinctly longer propodeal spines (ESLI = 0.49–0.52 vs. ESLI = 0.40), and by the sculpture of head and alitrunk. In T. eburneipes the frons is finely longitudinally striated laterally and smooth in the middle; the lateral parts of the head dorsum reticulate, but surface appears shiny; the sides of alitrunk finely striated and partially punctate, appears shiny. In T. taivanensis the sides of the alitrunk and the head dorsum are quite coarsely longitudinally rugose, surface between the rugae very finely superficially punctate, but on the alitrunk smooth and shiny. T. eburneipes differs from Temnothorax spinosior by relatively longer propodeal spines (ESLI = 0.49–0.52 vs. 0.36–0.41) and by the higher petiole with a narrowly rounded, less massive petiolar node dorsum (PI < 1.40 vs. > 1.50).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Nomenclature

 *  eburneipes. Leptothorax congruus var. eburneipes Wheeler, W.M. 1927e: 1 (w.) CHINA. Raised to species: Wheeler, W.M. 1929f: 8. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Type Material
Radchenko (2004) - 3 workers, syntypes, “Kuliang near Kiu-Kiang, China, N. Gist Gee”, “M.C.Z. Type 1–9 22618”, “Syntypes Leptothorax congruus var. eburneipes Wheeler”.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Radchenko A. 2004. A review of the ant genera Leptothorax Mayr and Temnothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the eastern Palaearctic. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 50:109-137.
 * Radchenko, A. 2005. Monographic revision of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of North Korea. Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 55: 127-221.