Temnothorax anira

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Terayama and Onoyama (1999) - Total length of workers around 2.5-3 mm. Body color black to blackish brown. Scapes long, reaching posterior margin of head in full-face view. Dorsal outline of mesonotum straight in profile. Metanotal groove present but weak. Propodeal spines acute and narrow but somewhat shorter than those of Temnothorax spinosior; in lateral view, each is 2.5-3 times as long as its basal width. Petiolar node reverse U-shaped.

This species resembles L. spinosior and Temnothorax makora, but is separable by the nearly straight dorsal outline of mesosoma in profile.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  anira. Leptothorax anira Terayama & Onoyama, 1999: 76, fig. 17 (w.) JAPAN. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Worker
Holotype. HL 0.70 mm; HW 0.55 mm; CI 79; SL 0.55 mm; SI 100; WL 0.83 mm; PW 0.40 mm; PtW 0.15 mm; PtH 0.23 mm; TL 2.5 mm.

Head 1.3 times as long as wide, with straight posterior margin in full-face view; sides of head behind eyes slightly convergent posteriorly. Mandibles longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin convex. Antennae with 12 segments; scapes long, reaching posterior margin of head in full-face view. Eyes moderate in size, maximum diameter 0.14 mm.

Dorsal outline of mesonotum straight in profile. Metanotal groove present but weak. Propodeal dorsum straight; propodeal spines acute and narrow; in lateral view, each 2.5-3 times as long as its basal width.

Petiole in profile with a long anterior peduncle; node reverse U-shaped, with almost symmetrical anterior and posterior margins; antero- and posterodorsal angles of node well developed. Small and triangular subpetiolar process present. Postpetiole slightly higher than long, with relatively strongly convex anterodorsal margin; posterior half of dorsal outline straight; in dorsal view 1.4 times as wide as long.

Head and mesosomal dorsa and pronotal sides predominantly longitudinally rugulose, the spaces between densely punctulate; sides of mesonotum and propodeum densely punctulate with irregular rugulae; petiole and postpetiole densely punctulate; gaster smooth and shining.

All dorsal surfaces of head and body with moderately abundant s tout erect hairs; the hairs on head and mesosoma shorter than those on petiole, postpetiole and gaster; the longest hair on mesosoma 0.09 mm.

Color uniform black to blackish brown; mandibles, legs dark brown.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Iou-torishima, Okinawa Pref., 16.III.1983, H. Takamime leg. Paratypes. 14 workers, same data as holotype.

Determination Clarifications
This species corresponds to Leptothorax sp. A. of Onoyama (1976) and Leptothorax sp. 10 of Terayama et al. (1992).