Temnothorax kubira

This species inhabits mountainous regions and is known from about 600 m to 2,000 m above sea level in central Honshu (Kinomura et al., 1982), and from 1,300 - 1,900 m on Yaku Island, Japan (Terayama & Yamane, 1984; Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification
Terayama and Onoyama (1999) - Total length of workers around 2.5-3 mm. Body color reddish brown to brown; in some individuals the head and gaster are darker than the mesosoma, brown to blackish brown; legs yellow. Clypeus with a conspicuous median carina. Scapes relatively long, just reaching posterior margin of head in full-face view. Metanotal groove distinctly incised dorsally, but obscure in some individuals. Propodeal dorsum straight in profile. Propodeal spines narrowly triangular, about 1.7 times as long as their basal width. Petiolar node triangular or reverse U-shaped in profile, subpetiolar process very small.

T. kubira is similar to Temnothorax arimensis, but distinguished by the reddish brown to brown mesosoma and the more straight dorsal outline of mesonotum and propodeum.

Several populations from Hokkaido, Honshu, and Yaku Island show variations, but we treat here these as geographic variants within a single species. Further comparative studies are needed to determine their exact taxonomic statuses. (Japanese Ant Image Database)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  kubira. Leptothorax kubira Terayama & Onoyama, 1999: 89, figs. 11, 12 (w.q.) JAPAN. Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Worker
Holotype. HL 0.70 mm; HW 0.55 mm; CI 79; SL 0.55 mm; SI 100; WL 0.85 mm; PW 0.40 mm; PtW 0.15 mm; PtH 0.21 mm; TL 2.8 mm.

Head 1.3 times as long wide, with evenly convex posterior margin in full-face view; sides behind eyes slightly converging posteriorly. Mandibles longitudinally rugulose. Anterior margin of median clypeal lobe weakly convex. Antennae with 12 segments; scapes relatively long, just reaching posterior margin of head in full-face view. Eyes moderate in size, maximum diameter 0.15 mm.

Promesonotal dorsum s lightly convex in profile. Metanotal groove incised dorsally. Propodeal dorsum straight in profile; propodeal spines in profile narrowly triangular, about 1.7 times as long as their basal width.

Petiolar node rather triangular in profile; dorsal margin of node forming an obtuse angle, anterior ma rgin weakly concave, posterior margin evenly convex. Subpetiolar process present, but very small. Postpetiole longer than high; node with a lmost straight dorsal margin in profile, in dorsal view 1.7 times as wide as long, with subparallel sides and straight anterior margin.

Clypeus with a distinct, long median carina, but smooth around the carina. Head dorsum longitudinally rugulose with a few cross-meshes. Occiput more reticulate, the spaces between densely punctulate. Mesosomal dorsum and pronotal s ides rugulose-punctulate, mesonotal and propodeal sides densely punctulate with some rugulae. Petiole and postpetiole densely punctulate. Gaster smooth and shining.

All dorsal surfaces on head and body with erect hairs, which are acute (not blunt) and relatively fine; the longest hair on mesosoma 0.10 mm.

Body color reddish brown to brown; gaster slightly darker than the mesosoma, grading brown to blackish brown; mandibles, antennae, and legs yellow.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Hanayama, 1,650 m alt., Yaku I., Kagoshima Pref., 17.IX.1983, Sk. Yamane leg. Paratypes. 4 workers, 1 female, same data as holotype; 3 workers, Hanayama, 1,300 m alt., Yaku I., Kagoshima Pref., 19.VII.1983, Sk. Yamane leg.; 1 worker, Mt. Kumotori, Saitama Pref., 5. VIII.1976, M. Terayama leg.; 1 worker, Yaku Pass, Ogano, Saitama Pref., 16.IV.1988, T. Nambu leg.

Determination Clarifications
This species corresponds to Leptothorax sp. 2 of Sonobe (1977), Leptothorax sp. 3 of Kinomura et al. 0982), and Leptothorax sp. 8 of Terayama et al. (1992).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Harada Y., K. Nishikubo, K. Matsumoto, M. Matsuda, Y. Inazawa, Y. Ozono, S. Koto, N. Kawaguchi, and S. Yamane. 2011. Ant fauna of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) forests in southwestern Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 66: 115-127.
 * Hosoishi S., M. Yoshimura, Y. Kuboki, and K. Ogata. 2007. Ants from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Ari 30: 47-54.
 * Maeto K. and S. Sato. 2004. Impacts of forestry on ant species richness and composition in warm-temperate forests of Japan. Forest Ecology and Management 187: 213223.
 * Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
 * Terayama M.; Onoyama, K. 1999. The ant genus Leptothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Japan. Memoirs of the Myrmecological Society of Japan 1:71-97.
 * Yamane S., S. Ikudome, and M. Terayama. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp, 138-317.
 * Yamane S., Y. Harada, and K. Eguchi. 2013. Classification and ecology of ants. Natural history of ants in Southern Kyushu. 200 pages
 * Yamane S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp138-317.
 * Yoshimura M. 2007. List of ants collected in Iwate Prefecture During the 49th Myrmecological congress of Japan. Ari 29: 41.