Temnothorax phaetoni

This species is limited to Greece where it is known from sites at an altitude 8–650 m. Workers were shaken off from herbs and shrubs in phrygana and vegetation growing along the roads and paths. Usually, the vegetation was covering arid and sandy soil. The nests were found in dry tree twigs placed under trees and bushes.

Identification
Temnothorax phaetoni differs from all remaining members of the graecus species-group by a combination of the following characters:
 * low and subangulate petiolar node with dorsum straight and sloping posteriorly
 * short and stout mesosoma
 * yellow antennal club
 * medial frons and vertex shiny and with sparse to dense rugocostulate, sculpture on vertex usually sparser than on frons
 * propodeal spines short, in form of subangulate denticles
 * mesosoma laterally with thick and sparse costulae and smooth to rugulose interspaces, dorsally with sparse and thick rugae with smooth to rugulose interspaces

Temnothorax phaetoni and Temnothorax mytilenes differ from the remaining members of the graecus species-group in presence of entirely yellow antennal clubs and subangulate petiolar node with straight and sloping posteriorly dorsum. While T. phaetoni differs from T. mytilenes in short and stout mesosoma, always yellow femora, medial frons, and vertex with sparse to dense rugocostulae, and short propodeal spines in form of triangular denticles.

Distribution
Most likely T. phaetoni is endemic to Cyclades with presence confirmed from Naxos, Amorgos, and Andros.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Greece.

Nomenclature

 * . Temnothorax phaetoni Salata et al., 2023: 62, figs. 11-13 (w.) GREECE.

Type Material

 * Holotype. 1w. (pin): GREECE, Cyclades, Naxos | vic. Zeus Cave, 650 m | 37.0341 N / 25.4991 E | 1 VII 2016, S. Salata || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-GR02241 (MNHW).
 * Paratypes. 1w. (pin), the same data as holotype (MNHW); 8w. (pin): GREECE, Cyclades, Naxos | Moni, 20 m | 37.0814 N/ 25.4932 E | 4 VII 2016, S. Salata || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-GR02241 (MNHW, MHNG); 1w. (pin): Greece, Cyclades, Naxos, | Zeus Cave, 620 m, | 37.0345, 25.4993, 28-05- | 2022, S. Salata, CYC079 || Collection MNHW | Formicidae | MNHW-GR0354 (MNHW); 1w. (pin): Greece, Cyclades, Naxos, | Zas loc 1., 580 m, 37.0394, | 25.5105, 28-05-2022, S. | Salata, CYC082 || Collection MNHW | Formicidae | MNHW-GR03160 (MNHW); 2w. (pin): Greece, Cyclades, Naxos, | Oros Fanari loc 1., 560 m, | 37.0896, 25.5112, 29-05- | 2022, S. Salata, CYC086 || Collection MNHW | Formicidae | MNHW-GR03168 (MNHW); 3w. (pin), GREECE, Cyclades, Naxos | Lionas, 20 m | 37.1370 N/ 25.5855 E | 4 VII 2016, S. Salata || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-GR02631 (MNHW); 4w. (pin), GREECE, Cyclades, Naxos | Aliki, 15 m | 36.9799 N/ 25.3880 E | 4 VII 2016, S. Salata || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-GR02243 (MNHW, MHNG).