Temnothorax poldii

Temnothorax poldii has been collected between 340 and 1612 m a.s.l., mostly in hilly to mountainous conditions, always under tree coverage, usually consisting of different oak species. Massive historic deforestation of Sicily likely resulted in a huge habitat loss and fragmentation into isolated populations at least outside the mountain chains along the Tyrrhenian coast (Sicilian Apennines). Nests are found in the soil, probably opportunistically exploiting several kinds of microhabitats when available, and are monogynous in all documented cases. Males were found within nests in August, but the time when nuptial flights occur is unknown.

Identification
Antennal clubs concolorous and ferruginous, 12-segmented in females and 13 in males, eyes normal, metanotal groove absent, worker propodeal spines long, male propodeal spines absent, petiole upper profile usually with a clear horizontal component, subpetiolar process tooth-like, sculpturing characterized by distinct rugae, especially in larger workers, and a shiny area at the center of the frons.

Distribution
Occurs almost all over Sicily (although its ecological requirements clearly make it less widespread than Temnothorax lagrecai, e.g., absence from the westernmost section may be due to aridity and lack of suitable forests). An apparently similar niche is occupied by Temnothorax alienus in the southern Italian Peninsula (Aspromonte, Calabria).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Italy.

Nomenclature

 * . Temnothorax poldii Alicata, Schifani & Prebus, in Schifani et al., 2022: 160, figs. 46-63 (w.q.m.) ITALY (Sicily).

Type Material

 * Holotype: ITALY • ☿; Monte Arso; 37.7564° N, 14.9103° E, 14 Aug. 1992; A. Alicata leg.; MSNG.
 * Paratypes: (30 ☿☿, 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂) ITALY • 8 ☿☿, 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; MSNG • 17 ☿☿, 1 ♂; Monte Ruvolo; 37.7514° N, 14.8907° E; 18 Aug. 1992; A. Alicata leg.; MSNG • 5 ☿☿, 1 ♀; Monte Manfrè; 37.6735° N, 14.9814° E; 24 May 1992; A. Alicata leg.; MSNG.