Temnothorax emmae

A whole nest (one queen, 116 workers) was collected from the dead branch of an Emory oak.

Identification
Mackay (2000) "The 11-segmented antenna, well developed medial clypeal carina, with two prominent lateral carinae, the thick, blunt petiole and the well-developed suprapeduncular process would separate L. emmae from all of the other species in the subgenus, except L. whiifordi. It could be separated from this latter species as the mesosoma has longitudinal striae (punctate or partially smooth and shining in the latter species). Additionally, it is bicolored, whereas the other species is dark brown."

Range
USA New Mexico (Hidalgo Co.).

Habitat
From the type series nest collection (Mackay, 2000): "The trees were located in the bottom of a draw, in a flat area of oak-juniper grassland. The soils are a light brown, sandy loam, where the moisture level was high."

Abundance
Only known from a few collections.

Biology
At present we known nothing beyond the type information for Temnothorax emmae . A whole nest of the this species was collected from a 3cm diameter dead Emory oak ("Quercus emoryi" Torr.) branch. The colony consisted of one queen and 116 workers.

This ant was once a member of the now synonymized subgenus Myrafant and we can speculate that the biology of this species will be found to be like many other similar forms from North America:

Original Combination
Leptothorax (Myrafant) emmae MacKay, 2000:342

Unless otherwise noted the taxonomic information that follows is from the same publication as the original combination.

Worker
Mandible with 6 teeth; anterior horder of clypeus slightly concave, crenulated by carinae, surface of clypeus with well developed medial carina and several lateral carinae; head nearly quadrate, almost as wide as long, vertex slightly conave; eyes reaching side of head; scape failing to reach occipital corer by about first three funicular segments; mesosoma without depression at site of sutures; propodeal spines consisting of small angles; petiolar node rounded (profile), subpeduncular tooth well formed, broad.

Erect hairs sparse, short (0.06mm), bristly, several on dorsal surface and ventral surface of head, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and gaster. Decumbent hairs nearly absent.

Dorsal surface of head mostly smooth and polished, semi-circular carinae present posterior to insertion of antenna, longitudinal carinae on each side along frontal carinae, side of mesosoma densely sculptured, consisting of punctae and striae, dorsum of mesosoma similar except striae more developed, posterior face of propodeum with transverse carinae, side of petiole punctate, dorsum with fine rugae, top of postpetiole with fine rugulae, dorsum of gaster smooth and polished.

Color dark brown, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole yellow-red.

Worker measurements: HL 0.60-0.62. HW 0.53-0.54. SL 0.39-0.41. ELO.14. WLO.66-0.70. PW 0.16-0.18. PL 0.18-0.19. PPW 0.20-0.23. PPL 0.16-0.17. Indices CI 87-94, SI 65-68, PI 87-97, PPI 131-135.

Queen
Mandible with 5 teeth; anterior border of clypeus convex, medial carina well formed, several lateral carinae present; head narrowed slightly anteriorly; vertex convex; eyes extending well past sides of head; scape failing to reach occipital comer by first 2 funicular segments; propodeum without spines, but with lateral swellings; petiole thickened in profile with rounded node, subpetiolar peduncle moderately developed.

Erect hairs abundant on head, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster; decumbent hairs scarce, few present on head and gaster.

Sculpture on dorsum of head consisting of fine striae or rugulae, most surfaces moderately to strongly shining, dorsum of mesosoma with parallel striae, sides of petiole and postpetiole very finely punctate with scattered rugae, dorsum of petiole with transverse striae, dorsum of postpetiole nearly smooth, with the few lateral striae, dorsum of gaster smooth and shining.

Dorsum of head dark brown, lower surfaces lighter, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole yellow-brown, gaster dark brown.

Female measurements: HL 0.68, HW 0.62, SL 0.47, EL 0.22, WL 1.18, PW 0.27, PL 0.20, PPW 0.31, PPL 0.22. Indices CI 91, SI68, PI 132, PPI 144

Male
No Males known for this species.

Type Material
Holotype worker (MCZC), 115 paratype workers (AMNH, CASC, CWEM, FMNH, LACM, EMAU, MCSN, MCZC, MHNG, MZSP, USNM, UNAM), 1 paratype female (MCZC).

Type Locality
New Mexico, Hidalgo Co., Peloncillo Mts., Coronado National Forest, 31°30'58"N 109°00'04"W, 21-iii-1998, Mackay family #17975; 54 paratype workers, same area, Cloverdale Creek, 31°26'25"N lO8°58'29"W, 1491 m 19-iii-1998 Mackay family #17925.

Etymology
Commemorative. Presumably named for Emma Mackay.