Temnothorax skwarrae

The types were collected from in an epiphyte (Tillandsia streptophylla).

Identification
Resembles Temnothorax isabellae of Puerto Rico in the shape of the thorax and petiole, but is very different in sculpture and coloration. (Wheeler 1931)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Nomenclature

 *  skwarrae. Macromischa skwarrae Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 10 (w.q.) MEXICO. Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 503; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272.

Worker
Length 1.4-1.7 mm.

Differing from the preceding forms of stolli in its smaller average size, less swollen femora, in having the petiole as broad as long and in lacking erect hairs on the body. The body is very smooth and shining, yellow throughout, except for a brown subapical ring on the middle and hind tibiae, a brown terminal joint to the antennal club and a spot of the same color on each side of the first to third gastric segments. The fourth segment is indistinctly brownish throughout.

Queen
Length 3.5-3.7 mm.

Decidedly smaller than the females of floridanus and rufescens, with less swollen and more compressed femora, shorter petiole and much less abundant pilosity. Yellow like the worker, with the ocellar triangle, mandibular teeth, wing-insertions and metanotum blackish, the brown spots on the sides of the first to third segments large and conspicuous and the fourth with a broad transverse brown band. The spots on the second and third segments are really the lateral portions of medially interrupted bands. Terminal joint of antennal club fuscous; femora scarcely infuscated. Wings colorless, with yellow veins and pterostigma.

Male
Length 1.3-1.5 mm.

Head distinctly broader than long, somewhat broader behind than in front, with nearly straight posterior border, rounded sides and dorsal surface. Anteriorly placed eyes convex, nearly half as long as the sides of the head. Clypeus convex, with bidenticulate anterior border. Mandibles small, narrow, quadridenticulate. Antennal scape as long as the first and second funicular joints together, first funicular small and globular; joints 2 to 6 slightly longer than broad, the last four decidedly longer, the terminal joint somewhat thicker than the penultimate and twice as long.

Thorax stout anteriorly, narrowed posteriorly to the small epinotum, which is convex and rounded, without distinct base and declivity; mesosterna very convex. Petiole slightly longer than broad, with a low, rounded node above. Postpetiole and gaster shaped much as in the worker.

Shining; head more subopaque, finely striate-punctate. Pilosity sparse, delicate, whitish, short and suberect, as abundant on the legs as on the dorsum of the body. Black or deep piceous brown; appendages and mandibles pale whitish yellow; femora infuscated; wings colorless as in the female, with pale brownish pterostigma.

Type Material
Described from two males, three mature female pupae and several workers taken by Dr. Elisabeth Swarra in an epiphyte, Tillandsia streptophylla Scheidw., at Mirador, in the State of Veracruz, Mexico.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
 * Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133