Temnothorax terrigena

Mackay (2000) "This species nests in and on the ground and under stones. It is reasonably common in Austin (Feener, 1981) and in the Chisos Mountains of southwestern TX in pinyons, desert canyons and high forests (Van Pelt, 1983)."



Identification
Mackay (2000) "The workers of this species have a 12-segmented antenna, and are small (total length 1.5mm), yellow ants with black eyes. The maximum diameter of the eye is less than the distance from the anterior border of the eye to the anterior edge of the head near the insertion of the antennae. The propodeal spines are small and the node of the petiole is rounded. The subpeduncular process is small and weakly developed. The postpetiole is massive with the node being nearly twice as wide as the node of the petiole. The petiolar node is somewhat truncate in profile with the anterior and posterior faces being almost parallel. The entire dorsum of the head is densely and evenly punctate, the punctures lining up into poorly defined rows. The dorsum and side of the mesosoma, as well as the petiole and postpetiole, are densely and evenly punctate, similar to the sculpture of the head. The gaster is smooth and glossy.

This is an easily recognized species. Its light yellow color and very finely, but distinctly and completely punctate head separate it from most other species in the genus. The mesosoma is punctate in a similar manner, although the punctures are somewhat coarser. The heavily and densely punctate head would separate this species from most other species, including T. furunculus and T. andrei The relatively small eyes (maximum diameter about equal to distance between anterior margin of eye and base of mandible) would separate it from T. bestelmeyeri. This species can be distinguished from the similar T. andersoni by the smooth and glossy dorsum of the gaster."

Range
USA. Texas: Travis Co., Brewster Co.

Abundance
Common.

Original Combination
Leptothorax terrigena Wheeler, W.M. 1903c: 254, pl. 12, fig. 21 (w.q.) U.S.A. Combination in L. (Myrafant): Smith, D.R. 1979: 1395; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272. See also: MacKay, 2000: 414.

Type Material
As reported in Mackay (2000) "AMNH. MCZC [seen]."