Temnothorax striatus

Two workers collected in Longtan Forest Management Area, Liupanshan Nature Reserve, Ningxia Autonomous Region were in rotten wood. (Zhou et al. 2010)

Identification
Zhou et al. (2010) - This new species resembles Temnothorax pisarskii but differs from the latter by head and mesosoma with distinct striations, petiole longer than high, whole body concolorous ochreous-yellow.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  striatus. Temnothorax striatus Zhou, et al. 2010: 17, figs. 10-12 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. HL 0.60, HW 0.52, SL 0.48, PW 0.36, ML 0.76, PL 0.28, PH 0.22, ESL 0.110. Paratypes. HL 0.58-0.64, HW 0.50-0.54, SL 0.46-0.48, PW 0.34-0.40, ML 0.72-0.80, PL 0.26-0.28, PH 0.20-0.22, ESL 0.10-0.11 (5 specimens measured).

Head subrectangular (CI= 1.15-1.18), with subparallel sides, weakly convex occipital margin and narrowly rounded occipital corners. Anterior clypeal margin broadly rounded. Antennae 12-segmcnted, antennal scape relatively long, reaching occipital margin (SI1 = 0.75-0.80, SI2 = 0.89-0.92).

Mesosoma with slightly convex dorsum, metanotal groove indistinct. Propodeum in profile with, short, basally widened, sharp spines (ESLI = 0.17-0.20). Humeri in dorsal view broadly rounded. Petiole longer than high (PI = 1.27-1.30), with short anterior peduncle; petiolar node in profile subtriangular, with slightly concave or almost straight. anterior face and narrowly rounded dorsum. Postpetiole as high as petiole, subglobular.

Dorsum of head with fine longitudinal striations and sparse fine punctures, sides finely reticulate. Dorsum of mesosoma with sinuous longitudinal striations; mesopleura, sides of propodeum and waist densely punctuate.

Occipital margin and dorsum of mesosoma with moderately long, slightly curved standing hairs. Whole body concolorous ochreous-yellow.

Type Material
Holotype worker, China: Guamagou Forest Management Area, Liupanshan Nature Reserve, Ningxia Autonomous Region, 1 July 2008 (Chang Lin). Paratype 1 worker, data as holotype; 1 worker, Longtan Forest Management Area, Liupanshan Nature Reserve, Ningxia Autonomous Region, 28 Jun, 2008 (Chang Lin).

Etymology
The species is named after its character of striations on the head and mesosoma.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Zhou S., J.; Huang, D. Yu, and Z. Liu. 2010. Eight new species and three newly recorded species of the ant genus Temnothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Chinese mainland, with a key. Sociobiology 56:(1): 7-26