Temnothorax albispinus

Wheeler (1931) reports this species has been observed nesting in soil under stones or leaves.

Identification
A synonymized form (Wheeler 1931): from Mona Island, off Porto Rico..... A worker and a dealated female in my collection measure only 1.5 and 2.6 mm. respectively, whereas the worker and female of the typical albispina measure 2-2.5 and 4 mm. In both castes of pallipes the legs, antennal scapes and mandibles are yellowish white and the petiolar node is distinctly smooth and shining. The antennal funiculi are slightly brownish.

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

Nomenclature

 *  albispinus. Macromischa albispina Wheeler, W.M. 1908a: 139, pl. 11, figs. 3, 4 (w.q.) PUERTO RICO. Combination in M. (Antillaemyrmex): Mann, 1920: 408; in Antillaemyrmex: Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 27; in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 413; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. Senior synonym of pallipes: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 413.
 * pallipes. Antillaemyrmex albispina subsp. pallipes Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 27 (w.q.) PUERTO RICO (attributed to Mann). [Macromischa albispina var. pallipes Mann, 1920: 424. Nomen nudum.] Subspecies of albispinus: Smith, M.R. 1937: 851. Junior synonym of albispinus: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 413.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Baroni Urbani C. 1978. Materiali per una revisione dei Leptothorax neotropicali appartenenti al sottogenere Macromischa Roger, n. comb. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomol. Basil. 3: 395-618.
 * Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
 * Garcia M. A. The vulnerability of leaflitter ants to forest disturbances in the islands of Puerto Rico, Greater Antilles. Novitates Caribaea 13: 74-91.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Smith M. R. 1937. The ants of Puerto Rico. Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico 20: 819-875.
 * Torres, Juan A. and Roy R. Snelling. 1997. Biogeography of Puerto Rican ants: a non-equilibrium case?. Biodiversity and Conservation 6:1103-1121.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1908. The ants of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 24: 117-158.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1931. New and little-known ants of the genera Macromischa, Creosomyrmex and Antillaemyrmex. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 72: 1-34.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1937. Ants mostly from the mountains of Cuba. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 81: 439-465.