Temnothorax buddha

These ants are only known from a single collection made at cookie baits kept at Nagarjun Forest nearby Jamacho Monastery, Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Nepal.

Identification
Temnothorax buddha may be confused with Himalayan species such as Temnothorax microreticulatus, Temnothorax pamiricus, Temnothorax pakistanensis, and Temnothorax himachalensis, which also have unicolorous yellow body. But from the first species T. buddha is distinguished by a more strongly sculptured and longer head (CI 1.26 vs max 1.17) and mesosoma, thinner propodeal spines, much rounded petiole node, shorter and broader petiolar peduncle and massive postpetiole. This species differs from T. pamiricus and T. himachalensis in much longer propodeal spines, developed strong sculpture, petiole shape, etc. T. buddha differs from T. pakistanensis in shorter head (CI 1.26 vs min 1.26 and max 1.32) and scape (SI1 0.65 vs min 0.72), absence of deep metanotal groove, longer propodeal spines, shape of petiole, and coarser sculpture of body.

Distribution based on type material
Nepal.

Nomenclature

 * . Temnothorax buddha Subedi, Budha & Yusupov, 2023: 7, figs. 1A–C, 2A–C (w.q.) NEPAL.

Type Material

 * Holotype: worker (CDZMTU HymF121), Nepal: Bagmati Province, Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Nagarjun Forest, Jamacho, 27.7452°N, 85.2667°E, 2094 m asl, bait collection, 3.V 2019, leg. I.P. Subedi.
 * Paratype: 1 queen (CDZMTU HymF122), same data as a holotype.