Temnothorax imias

Known only from the type locality, the type material was collected from a very small nest under a stone. Imias is a locality with a very dry climate and xerophitic vegetation. (Fontenla Rizo 1998)

Identification
Fontenla Rizo (1998) - Terricolous species of cuban Temnothorax with small size, yellow color, longitudinal profile, propodeal spines short, femora swollen, no hairs on the dorsum of mesosoma and very broad and flattened postpetiole. This species shares the common traits already mentioned above with terricolous Antillean Temnothorax. Its affinities are not obvious, and the combination of traits like lacking hairs in the dorsum of mesosoma and a very broad and flattened postpetiole make this species very distinctive among the terricolous group.

Distribution
Santiago de Cuba Province, Cuba.

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

Nomenclature

 *  imias. Leptothorax imias Fontenla Rizo, 1998: 66, figs. 4, 5 (w.q.) CUBA. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Worker
(paratypes). SL: 0,53 (0,50-0.53); HW: 0.57 (0.55-0.57). HL: 0.66 (0.62-0.65); ML: 0.90 (0.85-0.90); PL: 0.42 (0.40-0.42); PPW: 0.18 (0.15-0.18); PPL: 0.27 (0.22-0.27); FL: 0.60 (0.55-0.60). Indices. SI: 80.3 (80.3-80.6); CI: 86.4 (86.4-88.7); PI: 46.7 (44.4-46.7); HI: 42.8 (37.5-42.8); PPI: 133.3 (133.3-136.3); FI: 66.7 (64.7-66.7).

Mandibles five toothed. Antennae with 12 segments; club conspicuous and three segmented; scapes slender, not surpassing cephalic length. Head and eyes proportionally big. Mesosoma robust with longitudinal profile. In dorsal view, pronotum with humeral angles rounded; mesosoma width decreasing from pronotum to propodeum. Promesotoraxical suture superficial. Propodeal spines short, about 17% of mesosoma length, straight and divergent at the tips. Petiolar peduncle short, node high, almost square in profile and rounded in dorsal view. Postpetiole very broad and flattened dorsoventrally. Gaster proportionally big, with a well developed sting. Femora swollen and short, posterior femora less than 70% of mesosoma length. Tegument shining; body punctuated throughout and very feeble striated. Gaster smooth. Pilosity extremely scarce, with only a few short and blunt white hairs restricted mostly to gaster and clypeus; dorsum of mesosoma with no hairs. Color yellow brown. Mandibles with dentarium border red.

Queen
Measurements. SI: 0.60; HW: 0.69; HL: 0.87; ML: 1.29; PL: 0.51; PH: 0.27; PPW: 0.57; PPL: 0.36; FL: 0.72. Indices. SI: 68.9; CI: 79.3; PI: 39.5; HI: 52.9; PPI: 52.6; FI: 55.8.

In comparison with workers, size much bigger, antennal club less conspicuous, eyes very large. Head with three ocelli, mesosoma very robust; petiolar node rounded and massive, postpetiole proportionally small. Tegument, pilosity and coloration like the workers.

Type Material
Holotype; worker, collected by L. F. de Armas in August, 1975, Imias, Santiago de Cuba Province. Paratypes: four workers, one female, same data as holotype.

Etymology
Named after the type locality.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fontenla J. L., and J. Alfonso-Simonetti. 2018. Classification of Cuban ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) into functional groups. Poeyana Revista Cubana de Zoologia 506: 21-30.
 * Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1998. New species of Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Cuba. Avicennia 8-9: 61-68.
 * Portuondo E. F., and J. L. Reyes. 2002. Mirmecofauna de los macizos montañosos de Sierra Maestra y Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa. Cocuyo 12: 10-13
 * Portuondo E. and J. L. Reyes. 2002. Mirmecofauna de los macizos montañosos de Sierra Maestra y Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa. Cocuyo 12: 10-13.
 * Portuondo Ferrer, E. and J. Fernandez Triana. Biodiversidad del orden Hymenoptera en Los Macizos Montanosos de Cuba Oriental. Boletin S.E.A. 35:121-136.