Temnothorax pastinifer

Known primarily from collections made in littoral habitats.

Identification
Prebus (2021) - Temnothorax pastinifer can be separated from all other species in the salvini clade by the following character combination: antennal scape very long, surpassing the posterior margin of the head by about a quarter of the total scape length; dorsum of head uniformly areolate; anterior margin of clypeus strongly emarginate medially; transition between anterior and dorsal faces of pronotum indistinct; in profile view, mesosoma strongly convex dorsally and moderately compact (WLI 133-143); in dorsal view, mesosoma posterior to the pronotum swollen, only slightly narrower than the pronotum; postpetiole moderately to very broad (PWI 174-227); dorsum of propodeum without setae; in dorsal view, propodeal spines broadly approximated basally, negative space between them "U" shaped; propodeal spines longer than the propodeal declivity, directed posteriorly, and downcurved; hind femora moderately to strongly incrassate (FI 269-320); petiolar node squamiform and arched anteriorly; in dorsal view, petiolar node moderately broader than the caudal cylinder (PNWI < 160); setae on head, mesosoma, waist segments and gaster erect, moderately long, sparse and blunt (never long and tapering); dorsum of petiole with two erect setae; postpetiole with < 6 erect setae; integument bicolored: mandibles, head capsule, mesosoma, peduncle and anterior face of petiolar node red; remainder of the body dark brown.

Similar species: Temnothorax misomoschus, Temnothorax subditivus, and other members of the pastinifer group. Temnothorax pastinifer can be distinguished from T. subditivus by the narrower petiolar node in dorsal view (PNWI < 160 vs. >160 in T. subditivus) and the sculpture of the head dorsum (uniformly areolate in T. pastinifer vs. variable in T. subditivus, but never uniformly areolate). In contrast to T. pastinifer, T. misomoschus is devoid of erect setae on most surfaces of the body, has a depressed propodeum, and a posteriorly leaning, subquadrate petiolar node. Temnothorax pastinifer can be separated from other members of the pastinifer group by the areolate head (smooth and shining in Temnothorax schwarzi), and the strongly emarginate anterior margin of the clypeus, which is entire to weakly impressed in all other members of the pastinifer group, except for T. schwarzi.

Distribution
Low elevations of the Bahamas and Cuba.

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

Biology
Wheeler (1931) reports this species has been observed nesting in soil under stones or leaves and, in the Bahamas (Wheeler 1905), "found running over the ground under some dead palmetto leaves on a key in Crawl Creek."

Nomenclature

 *  pastinifer. Macromischa pastinifera Emery, 1894c: 164, pl. 1, fig. 18 (w.) BAHAMAS. Mann, 1929: 161 (q.m.). Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 470; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. Senior synonym of opacipes: Smith, M.R. 1954c: 6; of lucayensis: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 471; of pastoris: Fontenla Rizo, 1997a: 51.
 * lucayensis. Macromischa lucayensis Forel, 1901e: 340 (w.) BAHAMAS. Junior synonym of pastinifer: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 471.
 * opacipes. Macromischa pastinifera var. opacipes Wheeler, W.M. 1905b: 96, fig. I (w.) BAHAMAS. Junior synonym of pastinifer: Smith, M.R. 1954c: 6.
 * pastoris. Leptothorax pastoris Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 475 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of pastinifer: Fontenla Rizo, 1997a: 51.

Prebus (2021) - As for the presence of T. pastinifer on Cuba, I have only been able to confirm this by inspection of the type of T. pastoris, from the coastal village of Siboney, Santiago de Cuba province. Beginning with Mann (1929), this species has a long history of being conflated with Temnothorax rutabulafer, which is broadly sympatric with T. pastinifer. Most of the Cuban specimens and many of the Bahamian specimens that I have examined have proven to be T. rutabulafer. When examining the collections at the collection at the Smithsonian, the source of this confusion became clear: Mann had collected both species in the same sample from North Andros and subsequently mounted one specimen of T. rutabulafer on the same pin with two specimens of T. pastinifer (CASENT0758267 & CASENT0869170, specimens on pin separated in this study). When Mann was describing the gyne and male of T. pastinifer (which are, in fact, T. rutabulafer) in his 1929 article from collections made from Cuba by Creighton, he apparently mistook this mixed pin for a representation of variation within the species. This mistake was replicated by Baroni Urbani (1978), who attempted to reconcile what he interpreted as morphological variation in a redescription of what is apparently a chimaera of the two species. The illustration of T. pastinifer in the article is apparently an attempt to blend the two species as well, showing a specimen with an emarginate anterior margin of the clypeus in dorsal view (anterior margin is described as weakly convex in the main article) and with a narrow petiolar node: characters that are consistent with T. pastinifer. However, the illustration in profile is apparently T. rutabulafer, with abundant erect setae on the petiole (T. pastinifer only has two setae); the illustration also appears to misrepresent the propodeal spines, which are either strongly downcurved along their entire length, or abruptly bent at the basal third in T. pastinifer (more or less straight and posteriorly directed in T. rutabulafer).

Baroni Urbani (1978) - Specie molto caratteristica per il peziolo a nodo anteriormente concavo. Questo carattere la avvicina ad alcune poche altre forme che costituiscono un gruppo di specie molto omogeneo, ma pastinifer e separabile da tutte per numerosi dettagli morfologici e microsculturali e, in primo luogo, anche semplicemente per la taglia maggiore nella maggior parte dei casi. La femmina descritta da Forel come lucayensis corrisponde talmente bene in tutti i dettagli cromatici, strutturali e microsculturali con la femmina di pastinifer raccolta a South Bimini assieme alle operaie, che la sua cospecificita con quest'ultima appare banale. Solo il postpeziolo dell'olotipo di lucayensis e me no fortemente punteggiato che nella femmina delle Bahamas ed anche le misure relative si scostano in modo ahbastanza evidente, ma le stesse operaie di South Bimini mostrano una variabilita cosl elevata per questo carattere che mi sembra del tutto inopportuno mantenere separati i due taxa. Lo stesso Forel, che non conosceva pastinifer che tramite la letteratura, ebbe a dubitare di questa sinonimia al momenta di descrivere lucayensis. Le operaie da me esaminate mostrano una notevole variabilita nella taglia, nel colorito e nella microscultura. Gli estremi a me noti di questa variabilita sono gia stati menzionati nella descrizione precedente.

Worker
Prebus (2021) - (n = 10): SL = 0.828-0.923 (0.878); FRS = 0.224-0.322 (0.274); CW = 0.617-0.826 (0.776); CWb = 0.554-0.772 (0.716); PoOC = 0.282-0.366 (0.339); CL = 0.661-0.864 (0.823); EL = 0.142-0.180 (0.169); EW = 0.108-0.141 (0.126); MD = 0.165-0.239 (0.211); WL = 0.773-1.058 (0.985); SPST = 0.293-0.496 (0.413); MPST = 0.234-0.305 (0.285); PEL = 0.250-0.418 (0.360); NOL = 0.159-0.248 (0.221); NOH = 0.141-0.233 (0.204); PEH = 0.217-0.340 (0.303); PPL = 0.145-0.188 (0.167); PPH = 0.150-0.252 (0.221); PW = 0.438-0.582 (0.548); SBPA = 0.166-0.258 (0.230); SPTI = 0.229-0.359 (0.324); PEW = 0.125-0.183 (0.168); PNW = 0.176-0.294 (0.244); PPW = 0.217-0.413 (0.359); HFL = 0.784-1.035 (0.961); HFWmax = 0.172-0.225 (0.206); HFWmin = 0.060-0.082 (0.071); CS = 0.885-1.204 (1.128); ES = 0.196-0.245 (0.232); SI = 116-127 (120); OI = 20-22 (21); CI = 84-89 (87); WLI = 133-143 (137); SBI = 30-34 (32); PSI = 38-50 (42); PWI = 174-227 (215); PLI = 172-235 (212); NI = 91-121 (109); PNWI = 138-161 (145); NLI = 55-68 (61); FI = 269-320 (288).

In full-face view, head subquadrate, longer than broad (CI 84-89). Mandibles densely, finely striate, but shining and armed with five teeth: the apical-most well developed and acute, followed by a less developed preapical tooth and three equally developed smaller teeth. Anterior clypeal margin strongly emarginated medially. Antennal scapes very long: when fully retracted, surpassing the posterior margin of the head capsule by about a quarter of their total length (SI 116-127). Antennae 12-segmented; antennal club of composed of three segments, with the apical-most segment as long as the preceding two in combination. Torular laminae strongly developed and triangular, roughly as wide as the distance that separates them. Frontal carinae short, extending past the torular laminae by less than the maximum width of the antennal scape. Compound eyes moderately protruding past the lateral margins of the head capsule. Lateral margin of head very weakly convex, forming a continuous arc from the mandibular insertions to the posterior margin of the head. Posterior head margin flat but rounding evenly into the lateral margins.

In profile view, compound eyes ovular and moderately large (OI 20-22), with 15 ommatidia in the longest row. Pronotal declivity indistinct, neck and anterior face of pronotum forming a ~130° angle. Mesosoma evenly convex from where it joins the pronotal neck to the propodeal spines, but pronotum is slightly planar. Promesonotal suture extending from the posterior margin of the procoxal insertion only to the mesothoracic spiracle, which is well developed. Metanotal groove visible as a disruption of the sculpture laterally from where it arises between the mid- and hind coxae to where it ends in the poorly developed metathoracic spiracle, which is nearly indistinguishable against the ground sculpture. Propodeal spiracle well developed, directed posteriorly, and separated from the propodeal declivity by about three and a half spiracle diameters. Propodeal spines well developed and long (PSI 38-50), longer than the propodeal declivity, tapering evenly from the base, strongly downcurved, and acute. In some specimens, the spines are abruptly bent at the basal third, and the apical two thirds are straight. Propodeal declivity straight, forming a rounded ~110° angle with the base of the propodeal spines. Propodeal lobes rounded and weakly developed, but with a slightly angulate dorsal flange. Metapleural gland bulla moderately large, extending from the metacoxal insertion two thirds of the way to the propodeal spiracle. Petiole long (PLI 172-235), without tubercles anterodorsally. Subpetiolar process in the form of a small, acute tooth; ventral margin of petiole bulging slightly posterior to it. Petiolar peduncle long: petiolar node comprising only about a quarter of the petiolar dorsum. Petiolar node strongly squamiform: transition between peduncle and node abrupt: marked by a rounded angle of ~90°; anterior face of the node is strongly concave and overhangs the peduncle; anterior face forming a ~90° angle with the very short dorsal face, which rounds evenly into the convex posterior face. Postpetiole evenly rounded and slightly bulging anteriorly, flattened dorsally, and weakly lobed ventrally. Sting very well developed, slightly longer than the first gastral sternite.

In dorsal view, humeri strongly developed and distinct: when viewed at an oblique angle, the dorsal face of the pronotum transitions to the lateral face through an angle; mesothoracic spiracles weakly protruding past the lateral margins of the mesosoma, visible as slight angles where the pronotum meets the mesonotum. Promesonotal suture visible as a slight disruption in the surface sculpture. Metanotal groove absent: mesonotum and propodeum completely fused and lateral margins converging evenly to the bases of the propodeal spines. Propodeal spines broadly approximated basally and diverging apically, but slightly in-curved at the tips in some specimens. Spine apices separated from each other by about two thirds of their length, the negative space between them an elongated "U". Petiolar peduncle with spiracles strongly protruding past the lateral margins, but not noticeably constricted anterior to them. Petiolar node, when viewed posterodorsally, spade-shaped: dorsal margin flat, meeting the lateral margins at an angle; lateral margins evenly convex and widest medially. Petiolar node wider than the peduncle, and evenly grading into the caudal cylinder, which is narrower than the node. Postpetiole moderately to very broad (PWI 174-227) and campaniform, articulating with the nearly the entire anterior margin of the gaster, but leaving angulate corners of the gaster exposed on each side. Anterior margin of the postpetiole broadly convex and evenly rounds into the lateral margins, which diverge to the angulate posterior corners; posterior margin broadly concave. Metafemur moderately to strongly incrassate (FI 269-).

Sculpture: median clypeal carina present, extending posteriorly to the level of the antennal toruli, and flanked on either side by two weaker carinae. Lateral clypeal lobes with additional, weaker carinae; ground sculpture areolate. Antennal scapes densely areolate. All surfaces of the head densely areolate, but sculpture becomes weaker ventrally. Nearly all surfaces of the mesosoma densely areolate, with very fine, predominantly costulate sculpture overlying the ground sculpture; propodeal declivity shallowly areolate. Femora densely areolate. Petiole shining through weak areolate sculpture on most surfaces, but in some specimens the posterior face and base of the petiolar node opaque, with denser areolae. Postpetiole sculpture matching that of the posterior face of the petiolar node. Gaster with traces of shallow areolate sculpture on the basal quarter of the first gastral tergite, which is otherwise smooth and shining, with weak to moderate spectral iridescence; first gastral sternite smooth and shining, with weak to moderate spectral iridescence.

Setae: antennal scapes and funiculi with short, decumbent pilosity, with several longer setae apically. Dorsum of the head, pronotum, waist segments, and gaster with sparse, erect, blunt-tipped setae, the longest of which are about the width of the compound eye. The head bears ~20, mesosoma ~6 restricted to the pronotum, petiole 2, postpetiole ~6, and first gastral tergite ~12 setae. Short, sparse pubescence present over the entire body, but difficult to detect against the ground sculpture.

Color: mandibles, head capsule, mesosoma, peduncle and anterior face of petiolar node red; remainder of the body dark brown.

Baroni Urbani (1978) - Capo poco allungato a lati poco tondeggianti ed occipite diritto. Angoli posteriori arrotondati. Clipeo a bordo anteriore debolmente convesso ed in forma di curva continua. Scapo lungo e snello, oltrepassante considerevolmente il margine occipita le ripiegato all'indietro. Occhi situati a meta dei lati del capo, abbastanza piccoli e sporgenti sul profilo. Mandibole armate di cinque denti appuntiti con i due distali piu sviluppati degli altri. Alitronco a profilo superiore in forma di curva continua non molto pronunciata tra il pronoto ed il propodeo. Pronoto largo e piatto, con il diametro massimo all'altezza degli omeri che sono molto arretrati e sfuggenti. Sutura promesotoracica marcata sulle pleure e, in taluni esemplari, continuantesi anche nella regione dorsale come deb ole impressione ed interruzione della scultura. Una debole traccia di sutura mesoepinitale visibile ventralmente sui lati. Propodeo a faccia basale che forma con quella discendente un angolo di poco superiore a 90°. Spine propodeali lunghe, diritte e non molto divergenti, a decorso orizzontale; la loro distanza tra gli apici circa eguale alla lunghezza massima. Incavo sottospinale pianeggiante. Peziolo lungamente peduncolato, sormontato da un nodo squamiforme alto e largo a faccia anteriore marcatamente concava e faccia posteriore convessa. La larghezza massima della squama circa a meta della sua altezza. Postpeziolo breve e campaniforme, a convessita dorsale molto marcata. Gastro ad angoli anteriori ristretti. Zampe allungate senza femori ingrossati. Capo ed alitronco interamente rivestiti da minuta zigrinatura reticolare abbastanza profonda. Zampe ed antenne analogamente zigrinate, ma in modo meno profondo. La zigrinatura ricompare poi anche sul peduncolo addominale attenuandosi notevolmente in direzione caudale, tanto da essere poco evidente sul nodo del peziolo e quasi impercettibile sul postpeziolo, mentre il gastro e liscio. Su taluni esemplari questa struttura, talora orientata in cordoni sull'alitronco, e l'unica appariscente, mentre, altri, presentano, sovrapposta alla zigrinatura, una striatura longitudinale abbastanza evidente che puo interessare tutta la superficie superiore del capo e dell'alitronco. Mandibole semplicemente striate in senso longitudinale. Colorito varia bile da giallo carico a rosso o bruno all'interno della stessa serie. Di regola, le antenne, le zampe, la sommita del nodo del peziolo, il postpeziolo, le spine propodeali ed il gastro, sono piu scuri del resto del corpo o neri. Tutte le superfici corporee debolmente lucide. Brevi peli troncati bianchicci, eretti o suberetti, sparsi su quasi tutta la superficie corporea, piu coricati sul gastro e molto piu esili, brevi e adpressi sulle appendici.

Lunghezza totale 2,7-3,5 mm

Dimensioni in mm ed indici: Lc 0,57-0,84; lc 0,46-0,67; Lsc 0,60-0,88; Lp 0,32-0,45; ap 0,24-0,38; lp 0,22-0,36; Lpp 0,15-0,25; lpp 0,34-0,42; IC 86,21-92,85; ISC 87,50-100,00; IAP 63,88-83,87; IP 69,23-93,55; IPP 150,00-250,00; IPA 66,67-93,33.

Queen
Prebus (2021) - (n = 2): SL = 0.856-0.895 (0.876); FRS = 0.323-0.332 (0.328); CW = 0.897-0.906 (0.902); CWb = 0.815-0.839 (0.827); PoOC = 0.359-0.362 (0.361); CL = 0.897-0.900 (0.899); EL = 0.216-0.237 (0.227); EW = 0.168-0.180 (0.174); MD = 0.214-0.219 (0.217); WL = 1.443-1.465 (1.454); SPST = 0.301-0.394 (0.348); MPST = 0.362-0.386 (0.374); PEL = 0.480-0.510 (0.495); NOL = 0.239-0.260 (0.250); NOH = 0.235-0.239 (0.237); PEH = 0.380-0.389 (0.385); PPL = 0.207; PPH = 0.323; PW = 0.822-0.934 (0.878); SBPA = 0.410-0.422 (0.416); SPTI = 0.361-0.423 (0.392); PEW = 0.224-0.247 (0.236); PNW = 0.273-0.312 (0.293); PPW = 0.524; HFL = 0.935-1.026 (0.981); HFWmax = 0.168-0.211 (0.190); HFWmin = 0.083-0.084 (0.084); CS = 1.265-1.288 (1.276); ES = 0.300-0.327 (0.314); SI = 105-107 (106); OI = 24-25 (25); CI = 91-94 (92); WLI = 172-180 (176); SBI = 49-52 (50); PSI = 21-27 (24); PWI = 234; PLI = 232; NI = 100-111 (105); PNWI = 122-126 (124); NLI = 50-51 (50); FI = 200-254 (227).

In full-face view, head subquadrate, about as long as broad (CI 91-94). Mandibles densely, finely striate, but shining and armed with five teeth: the apical-most well developed and acute, followed by a less developed preapical tooth and three equally developed smaller teeth. Anterior clypeal margin weakly strongly emarginated medially. Antennal scapes very long: when fully retracted, surpassing the posterior margin of the head capsule by about a quarter of their total length (SI 105-107). Antennae 12-segmented; antennal club composed of three segments, with the apical-most segment as long as the preceding two in combination. Torular laminae strongly developed and triangular, roughly as wide as the distance that separates them. Frontal carinae short, extending past the torular laminae by about the maximum width of the antennal scape. Compound eyes moderately protruding past the lateral margins of the head capsule. Lateral margin of head evenly convex, converging from below the compound eyes to the mandibular insertions. Posterior head margin flat, rounding evenly into the lateral margins.

In profile view, compound eyes ovular and moderately large (OI 24-25), with 25 ommatidia in longest row. Mesoscutum rounded evenly anteriorly, covering the dorsal surface of the pronotum, and weakly convex dorsally. Mesoscutellum slightly depressed below the level of the mesoscutum. Posterior margin of metanotum extending slightly past the posterior margin of the mesoscutum. Propodeal spiracle well developed, directed posterolaterally, and separated from the propodeal declivity by about three and a half spiracle diameters. Propodeal spines stout and moderately well developed, but short (PSI 21-27), about a third as long as the propodeal declivity, tapering evenly from the base, directed posteriorly, slightly downcurved, and acute. Propodeal declivity straight and flat, forming a rounded ~100° angle with the base of the propodeal spines. Propodeal lobes rounded and very weakly developed. Metapleural gland bulla moderately large, extending from the metacoxal insertion two thirds of the way to the propodeal spiracle. Petiole long (PLI 232), without tubercles anterodorsally. Subpetiolar process in the form of a small, very acute tooth; ventral margin of petiole bulging slightly posterior to it. Petiolar peduncle long: petiolar node comprising only about a quarter of the petiolar dorsum. Petiolar node strongly squamiform: transition between peduncle and node abrupt: marked by a rounded angle of ~90°; anterior face of the node is strongly concave and overhangs the peduncle; anterior face forming a ~90° angle with the very short dorsal face, which rounds evenly into the convex posterior face. Postpetiole evenly rounded and slightly bulging anteriorly, flattened dorsally, and weakly lobed ventrally.

In dorsal view, mesoscutum covering pronotum anteriorly, but humeri visible laterally as rounded sclerites. Propodeal spines short and weakly diverging apically, their apices separated from each other by about one and a half times their length, the negative space between them a truncated "U". Petiolar peduncle with spiracles strongly protruding past the lateral margins, but not noticeably constricted anterior to them. Petiolar node, when viewed posterodorsally, spade-shaped: dorsal margin flat, meeting the lateral margins at an angle; lateral margins evenly convex and widest medially. Petiolar node wider than the peduncle, and evenly grading into the caudal cylinder, which is narrower than the node. Postpetiole very broad (PWI 234) and campaniform, articulating with the nearly the entire anterior margin of the gaster, but leaving angulate corners of the gaster exposed on each side. Anterior margin of postpetiole broadly convex and evenly rounding into the lateral margins, which diverge to the angulate posterior corners; posterior margin broadly concave. Metafemur weakly to moderately incrassate (FI 200-254).

Sculpture: median clypeal carina present, extending from the anterior margin of the clypeus to the level of the antennal toruli, and flanked two by weaker carinae. Lateral clypeal lobes with additional weaker carinae; ground sculpture areolate. Antennal scapes densely areolate. All surfaces of the head densely areolate and costulate, but sculpture becomes weaker ventrally. Nearly all surfaces of the mesosoma densely areolate, with fine, predominantly costulate sculpture overlying the ground sculpture; mesopleurae and propodeal declivity shallowly areolate. Femora appearing dull and shallowly areolate. Petiole shining through weak areolate sculpture on most surfaces, but in some specimens the posterior face and base of the petiolar node dull, with denser areolae. Postpetiole sculpture matching that of the posterior face of the petiolar node. Gaster with traces of shallow areolate sculpture on the basal eighth of the first gastral tergite, which is otherwise smooth and shining, with weak to moderate spectral iridescence; first gastral sternite smooth and shining, with weak to moderate spectral iridescence.

Setae: antennal scapes and funiculi with short, decumbent pilosity, with several longer setae apically. Dorsum of the head, pronotum, waist segments, and gaster with sparse, erect, blunt-tipped setae, the longest of which are about half the width of the compound eye. Short, sparse pubescence present over the entire body, but difficult to detect against the ground sculpture.

Color: mandibles, head capsule, mesosoma, peduncle and anterior face of petiolar node red; mesopleurae dark brown, mesoscutum with dark brown patches anteromedially and posterolaterally, and mesoscutellum dark brown medially; remainder of the body dark brown.

Baroni Urbani (1978) - Capo allungato con i lati quasi diritti e convergenti in avanti. Occipite diritto, passante nei lati del capo con un angolo molto ampio ed arrotondato. Occhi grandi, situati leggermente in avanti alla meta dei lati del capo. Ocelli equidistanti, situati alla sommita della fronte e poco rilevati. Area fontale piccola e poco impressa. Antenne a scapo lungo: ripiegato all'indietro esso oltrepassa ampiamente il margine occipitale. Alitronco globoso, a disco del mesonoto appiattito ed a profilo interamente diritto. Scutello debolmente gibboso e discendente. Propodeo a faccia bas ale brevissima ed inclinata, quasi interamente mascherata dalle spine, lunghe ed orizontali. Faccia discendente debolmente concava, formante un angolo retto con il profilo superiore delle spine. Spine appuntite, a base distanziata ed a decorso quasi parallelo: la distanza tra gli apici e pari a circa due volte la loro espansione massima. Peziolo piu brevemente peduncolato che nell'operaia, ma sormontato da un nodo analogamente squamiforme e concavo anteriormente. Postpeziolo trasverso, molto piu largo del peziolo e sormontato da un nodo alto articolato per tutta la sua superficie posteriore alla base del gastro. Microscultura reticolare analoga a quella dell'operaia ed egualmente diffusa ma piu superficiale. Capo striato longitudinal mente, soprattutto sulla fronte, tra gli ocelli e l'area frontale. Clipeo solo striato e quasi del tutto privo di zigrinatura. Alitronco dorsalmente con striatura longitudinale sovrapposta alla zigrinatura su tutto il disco del mesonoto e sullo scutello. Propodeo con la zigrinatura orientata in cordoni trasversali. Sommira del nodo peziolare e postpeziolo ancora zigrinati in modo abbastanza vistoso. Colore dominante rosso bruno con macchie piu scure sulla sommita del capo, in avanti e sui lati del mesonoto, nella parte posteriore dello scutello, sul postscutello e sulla sommita dei nodi del peduncolo. Gastro bruno scuro con una fascia gialla tra il primo ed il secondo tergo. Zampe ed antenne bruno scure. Ali ialine. Tutto il tegumento abbastanza lucido. Pelosita come nell'operaia.

Lunghezza totale 4,4-4,6 mm.

Dimensioni in mm ed indici: Lc 0,85-0,86; lc 0,74-0,80; Lsc 0,66-0,85; Lp 0,44-0,52; ap 0,31-0,37; lp 0,27-0,31; Lpp 0,20-0,21; lpp 0,48-0,51; IC 86,05-94,12; ISC 94,12-112,12; IAP 70,45-71,15; IP 59,61-61,36; IPP 240,00-242,86; IPA 56,25-60,78.

Male
Baroni Urbani (1978) - Capo a contorni continuamente tondeggianti interrotti soltanto dagli occhi molto sviluppati ed aggettanti e situati anteriormente. L'occipite passa nei lati del capo senza formare un angolo percettibile. Bordo anteriore del clipeo appena debolmente prominente. Mandibole a margine masticatorio largo armato di cinque denti aguzzi e spaziati. Antenne a scapo breve: ripiegato all'indietro esso oltrepassa di poco il bordo posteriore dell'occhio ma non raggiunge il margine occipitale. Area frontale piccola e profondamente impressa. Alitronco a profilo dorsale irregolarmente gibboso a massima aggettanza in corrispondenza del terzo craniale del mesonoto e dello scutello. Lo scutello, posteriormente, sopravanza quasi del tutto il propodeo. Scudo del mesonoto attraversato nella meta anteriore della sua lunghezza da una profonda linea mediana. Notaulici brevi e larghi. Solehi ,parapsidali indistinti. Scutello circa cosl lungo che largo. Propodeo inerme e semplicemente tondeggiante sul profilo; faccia basale circa due volte piu corta di quella discendente e formante, con essa, un angola di circa 130°. Peziolo brevemente peduncolato e sormontato da un no do abbastanza grosso ma a faccia anteriore fortemente declive. Postpeziolo larghissimo ed in forma di coppa. Gastro anteriormente troncato, ma articolato per quasi tutta la sua larghezza con il postpeziolo. Zampe lunghe ed esili. Brevi peli bianchicci ad apice troncato, suberetti o subdecumbenti sparsi soprattutto sul capo e sul gastro, piu rari ed in parte sostituiti da pubescenza coricata sull'alitronco. Zampe ed antenne rivestite da minutissima pubescenza biancastra piu esile e piu coricata. Mandibole liscie e lucide. Clipeo ed area frontale striati longitudinalmente. Resto del capo pure striato longitudinalmente, ma alla striatura e sovrapposta una punteggiatura fitta e non troppo impressa. Alitronco in gran parte liscio e lucente, ma con punteggiatura analoga a quella del capo e piu superficiale, evidente tra i notaulici e sulla porzione mediale del disco del mesonoto, sul pronoto, su parte delle pleure, sul propodeo e soprattutto sullo scutello dove e piu fortemente impressa e sovrapposta a debole striatura longitudinale percettibile. Rimanenti superfici piu o me no interamente liscie e lucide. Colore del corpo fondamentalmente bruno con le aree prive di punteggiatl}ra piu chiare e lucidissime. Zampe ed antenne bianche con la clava appena pigmentata. Ali diafane a nervature e pterostigma quasi indistinguibili.

Lunghezza totale 2,6 mm

Dimensioni in mm ed indici: Lc 0,55; lc 0,47; Lse 0,21; Lp 0,34; ap 0,14; lp 0,13; Lpp 0,16; lpp 0,31; IC 85,71; ISC 225,00; IAP 42,31; IP 38,46; IPP 200,00; IPA 41,67.

Type Material
Prebus (2021) - Syntype workers. Bahamas. One syntype worker here designated lectotype.

Lectotype worker: BAHAMAS: Bahama Isola, [no collection date], Pergande No. 40, 1 worker (images of CASENT0904718 examined on antweb.org).

Leptothorax pastoris paratype worker: CUBA: Santiago de Cuba: Siboney, [no collection date], I. Garcia#I-72, BMNH(E) 1014997, 1 worker (images of CASENT09101798 examined on antweb.org).

Baroni Urbani (1978) mistakenly reported the type locality of Temnothorax pastinifer is Bermuda.

Etymology
Morphological, from the Latin ʻpastinumâʼ, a two-pronged digging instrument used for digging + ʻ-fer' (= bearing); presumably a reference to the long propodeal spines.

Determination Clarifications
Prebus (2021) - Mann, 1929 misidentified and described a male of Temnothorax rutabulafer as Temnothorax pastinifer.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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 * 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.
 * Deyrup M., L. Davis, and S. Buckner. 1998. Composition of the ant fauna of three Bahamian islands. Proceedings of the seventh symposium on the natural history of the Bahamas. 23-32. Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, Bahamas
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 * Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
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 * Forel A. 1901. Variétés myrmécologiques. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 45: 334-382.
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 * Mann W. M. 1920. Additions to the ant fauna of the West Indies and Central America. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 42: 403-439.
 * Mann W. M. 1929. Notes on Cuban ants of the genus Macromischa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 31: 161-166.
 * Morrison L. W. 1998. A review of Bahamian ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) biogeography. Journal of Biogeography 25: 561-571.
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 * Reyes, J. L. "Inventario de la colección de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba." Boletín de la Sociedad Aragonesa 36 (2005): 279-283.
 * Smith, Marion R. 1954. American Museum Novitates. Ants of the Bimini Island Group, Bahamas, British West Indies (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). 1671:1-16
 * Smith, Marion R. 1954. Ants of the Bimini Island Group, Bahamas, British West Indies. American Museum of Natural History. 1671. 1-16.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1905. The ants of the Bahamas, with a list of the known West Indian species. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 21: 79-135.
 * 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.