Temnothorax gallae

Nests in cynipid galls on the canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis Liebm.) and galls of Andricus spectabilis (Mackay, 2000).



Identification
Mackay (2000) "The entire dorsum of the head of this species is usually sculptured, with fine costulae mixed with the background punctures and the antenna has 12 segments. The propodeal spines are well developed, longer than the distance between the bases (shorter in smaller workers). The sides of the pronotum are rugose, as well as the top of the mesosoma (can be seen most easily by looking obliquely from the side), but the rugae on the sides of the pronotum are poorly defined and mixed with the background punctuation, and not shiny in the intrarugal surfaces. The rugae are somewhat mixed with the background punctures. The node ofthe petiole is somewhat sharp in profile, the top of the node is coarsely reticulo-rugose, and looks "pinched" or constricted laterally as seen from top, the subpeduncular tooth is well developed. The erect hairs are all blunt and short (about 0.05mm).

This species is similar to chandleri (see discussion of T. chandleri for details). It is easy to confuse with T. mariposa, due to the shape of the petiole (also sharp in profile, but can be separated by the roughly sculptured head, which is predominantly smooth and shining in T. mariposa, and by the longer propodeal spines, much longer than space between bases, spines of T. mariposa about half the length of the distance between the spines). This species could also be confused with T. nevadensis. It differs in that the propodeal spines are long (nearly twice length of distance between bases), and are slightly incurved at the tips. The petiole has an appearance that it has been pinched from the sides, resulting in the sides of the node being slightly concave in the middle. In comparison, the propodeal spines of T. nevadensis are about the length of the distance between their bases (or less), but are also slightly incurved. The petiole is usually rounded or somewhat truncate in profile, but is not "pinched" from the sides and the top of the node is convex. This latter species is usually light brown in color. Temnothorax gallae is usually dark brown in color. This species superficially resembles Temnothorax muscorum, but has a well-defined medial carina on the clypeus."

Range
USA. California.

Abundance
xxxxx Only known from a few collections. xxxxx

Biology
xxxxx

xxxxx

Original Combination
Leptothorax (Leptothorax) gallae Smith, M.R. 1949e: 112 (w.) U.S.A. Combination in L. (Myrafant): Smith, D.R. 1979: 1393; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. See also: MacKay, 2000: 346.

Type Material
As reported in Mackay (2000): USNM, CASC [seen].

Type Locality
California, Pasadena, Devil's Gate Dam