Temnothorax splendens

Four colonies of this superb species were found, June 25, nesting in hollow culms of Cladium jamaicense, in marshy ground along the road that leads from Grant's Town to the Blue Hills near Nassau, N. P. There were only 50-75 ants in a colony. They were timid, and moved about rather slowly, with the gaster bent forward between the long hind legs. The nest entrance was a small round hole in one of the internodes of the sedge culm, which was filled with the translucent larva and pupae. (Wheeler 1905)

Identification
Wheeler (1905) - T. splendens belongs to the group of beautiful Cuban species (Temnothorax purpuratus, Temnothorax porphyritis, Temnothorax squamifer, Temnothorax versicolor, and Temnothorax iris), described many years ago by Roger, but not since seen by myrmecologists. The new species seems to be most closely related to M. squamifera, but according to Roger's description, this species has the head rugose only in front of the eyes, the postpetiole is not broader than the petiole, the node of the latter is strongly compressed anteroposteriorly, and the hind metatarsus is shorter than the tibia.

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

Nomenclature

 *  splendens. Macromischa splendens Wheeler, W.M. 1905b: 98, pl. 7, fig. 9 (w.q.m.) BAHAMAS. Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 505; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272. Senior synonym of scabripes: Fontenla Rizo, 1997a: 52.
 * scabripes. Macromischa (Macromischa) scabripes Mann, 1920: 416, fig. 4 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 496. Senior synonym of brunneipes: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 496. Junior synonym of splendens: Fontenla Rizo, 1997a: 52.
 * brunneipes. Macromischa scabripes var. brunneipes Wheeler, W.M. 1937b: 449 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of scabripes: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 496.

Worker
Length 3-3.5 mm.

Head, excluding the mandibles, distinctly longer than broad, sides subparallel, posterior corners broadly rounded, posterior border straight. Eyes prominent, in the middle of the sides of the head. Mandibles 5-toothed. Anterior border of clypeus very faintly excised in the middle. Antennae 12-jointed; scape reaching to the posterior corner of the head; funiculus with a distinct 3-jointed club, the last joint of which is longer than the two preceding subequal joints; joints 2-8 somewhat broader than long. Thorax without a mesoepinotal suture or constriction, but slightly arched above, its dorsal surface somewhat flattened, in profile fully three times as long as high; seen from above it is a little wider in front than behind, with rounded humeral angles and subparallel sides. Epinotal spines shorter than the concave declivity of the epinotum, about twice as long as the distance between their bases, directed outward, upward, and backward, their tips slightly curved downward. Petiole with a slender peduncle, bluntly toothed on its ventral surface; node abrupt and prominent, evenly rounded in profile. Postpetiole campanulate, half again as broad as the petiole. Gaster small, with a very long and powerful sting. Legs long, especially the hind pair, with much thickened femora and tibiae. Hind metatarsus as long as the tibia.

Body shining; petiole, postpetiole, gaster, and legs shining. Mandibles very coarsely rugose-punctate. Clypeus and whole head longitudinally rugose, the rugae of the latter being somewhat vermiculate. Thoracic dorsum crossed by a regular series of deep, curved furrows, which are continued back even over the declivity of the epinotum and obliquely forward and downward on the pleurae, so that there is no interruption in the sculpture of the thorax except on the neck, which is much more finely and transversely reticulate-rugose. Legs finely reticulate, covered with very coarse piligerous punctures.

Body and appendages clothed throughout with abundant, erect, long, slender, silvery white hairs.

Head and thorax deep metallic green, passing on the cheeks, pleurae, and epinotum into metallic violet. Mandibles, clypeus, frontal carinae, neck, terminal tarsal joints, sting, and anterior end of petiolar peduncle dull orange; remainder of petiole, postpetiole, gaster and legs deep black; coxae, trochanters, and extreme bases of femora honey-yellow.

Queen
Length 4-4.5 mm.

Resembling the worker. The epinotal spines are much shorter, more rapidly tapering, and further apart at their bases than long. The pronotum is transversely and irregularly rugose, the mesonotum and paraptera are evenly and longitudinally rugose; the scutellum has three systems of rugae, one oblique on either side and meeting in the middle, and one consisting of a few transverse rugae in the middle near the posterior edge of the sclerite. Epinotum transversely furrowed like the whole thorax of the worker. On the pleurae the rugae are longitudinal. The legs have the same structure as in the worker. In color the following differences can be detected: A broad band across the middle of the head is metallic bronze, or golden, and the petiole and postpetiole have a slightly metallic violet tinge. The venter and bases of the gastric segments, except the first, are yellowish brown.

Male
Length 3-3.5 mm.

Head, excluding the mandibles, longer than broad, much broader behind than in front. Cheeks long, subparallel. Eyes prominent, in the middle of the sides of the head. Posterior corners of the head rounded, posterior border convex. Mandibles large, 6-toothed. Clypeus convex, faintly emarginate in the middle. Antennae I3-jointed, very slender; scape nearly as long as the funiculus, and extending about one third its length beyond the posterior corner of the head; funiculus with an indistinct 4-jointed club, the last joint of which is nearly as long as the three preceding joints; remaining funicular joints somewhat longer than broad, first joint conspicuously thickened. Thorax with very deep Mayrian furrows and a very deep promesonotal constriction, so that the front of the mesonotum rises abruptly. Scutellum with a prominent median keel. Epinotum very small, distinctly angular in profile, but quite unarmed. Petiole very long and slender, the peduncle, which has no tooth on its ventral surface, passing in profile gradually into the very low node; in dorsal view the petiole widens gradually toward its posterior end, which is about one fourth as broad as the length of the segment. Postpetiole about half again as broad as the petiole, campanulate, as long as broad. Gaster rather short, compressed dorsoventrally, genitalia prominent and exserted in some of the specimens. Legs long and slender, femora and tibiwe hardly incrassated. Wings with a very prominent stigma, with a single cubital and no discal cell.

Mandibles and clypeus coarsely punctate, the latter also coarsely and longitudinally rugose. Head and thorax subopaque, densely reticulate-rugose, the rugwe being longitudinal on the head, mesonotum, and scutellum, and transverse on the pronotum; mesopleurae rather smooth and shining. Petiole, postpetiole, gaster, and legs glabrous.

Hairs white and erect on the body, antennae, and legs, but less conspicuous than in the worker.

Black, the head and thorax with an indistinct metallic greenish lustre in some specimens. Mandibles, clypeus, cheeks, front, and sides of pronotum, wing-insertions, metapleurae, coxae, and trochanters dull orange or brownish. Genitalia and terminal tarsal joints pale yellow. Wings whitish hyaline; veins colorless, stigma yellowish.

Type Material
Four colonies of this superb species were found, June 25, nesting in hollow culms of Cladium jamaicense, in marshy ground along the road that leads from Grant's Town to the Blue Hills near Nassau, N. P.