Temnothorax nitens

Mackay (2000) "This species nests under stones (Wheeler. 1906; Cole. 1942; Moody and Francke. 1982; Wheeler and Wheeler. 1986), or logs (Wheeler and Wheeler. 1973a). One nest was found in a termite nest (Wheeler. 1903a). Nests contain 69-276 workers (Cole. 1958a). Nests are monogynous (Frumhoff and Ward. 1992). This species occurs in ponderosa pine and. pinyon-juniper forests (Gregg. 1944; Wheeler and Wheeler. 1986; Mackay et al.. 1987). Cole (l958a) reports sexuals in the nest from June to August. It is one of the last ants to colonize an area (Mackay. 1993b)."



Identification
Mackay (2000) "The mesosoma of the holotype of this species is nearly completely smooth and shining. Wheeler (1903a) stated that smooth workers are found in nests together with workers that are more roughly sculptured. Cole (1958) also found considerable variability in this species in terms of color, scape length, surface sculpture and length of propodeal spines. Thus this species is difficult to characterize. The propodeal spines are nearly always relatively small, which would distinguish it from other species with smooth sculpture, such as L. schmittii. This species appears to be closely related to several others, including L. mariposa, L. melinus and L. adustus. Based on the holotype, it can be separated from these other species by the nearly smooth and polished dorsum of the mesosoma, as all of the other species have mesosomae that are densely sculptured. I am not convinced that we really know the true identity of L. nitens and it is possible that some of the records from the literature are based on misidentifications."

Range
USA. Western states, including Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas.

Abundance
xxxxx Only known from a few collections. xxxxx

Biology
xxxxx At present we known nothing beyond the type information for Temnothorax xxxxxxxx. 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:

xxxxx

Original Combination
Leptothorax (Leptothorax) nitens Emery, 1895c: 322, pl. 8, fig. 16 (w.) U.S.A. Cole, 1958c: 536 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1973b: 71 (l.). Combination in L. (Myrafant): Smith, D.R. 1979: 1394; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. Senior synonym of mariposa, melinus: Ward, 2005: 17. See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1903c: 244; MacKay, 2000: 379.

Worker
Testacea, pedibus dilutioribus, superne nitida, capite nitidissimo, vertice fere impunctato, genis et fronte rugulosis, clypeo antice striatulo, postice laevigato, haud carinato, margine antico subsinuato,mandibulis basi striatis, antennis 12articulatis, flagelli articulo primo sequentibus tribus una longiore, clavae articulis 2 primis subaequalibus; thoracis dorso haud impresso, nitido, parce punctato, lateribus opacis, crebre punctatis, dentibus metanoti brevissimis; pedunculi segmento 1. brevi, nodo alto, cuneiformi, segmento 2. praecedente paulo crassiore; piUs corporis modice copiosis, brevibus, clavatis. Long. 2 1/4 mm.

Queen
(Cole 1958) Head densely punctate and subopaque except for a narrow longitudinal strip, between the median ocellus and the clypeus, which is finely and faintly punctate and rather shining; hairs sparse, slender, pointed, erect and suberect, yellow, of variable length, mostly limited to ocellar area, mandibles, and clypeus. Thorax, except scutum, strongly shining, very faintly punctulate and longitudinally striate; scutum distinctly striato-punctulate and shining to subopaque; epinotal declivity finely and faintly punctate. Mayrian furrows moderately developed. Thoracic dorsum with sparse, slender, pointed, mostly suberect and subappressed, moderately long hairs which are longest on scutellum. Petiolar and postpetiolar nodes with very sparse, suberect hairs. Gaster with sparse, scattered, moderately long, slender, pointed, appressed, subappressed, and suberect hairs. Pubescence absent from entire body.

Male
(Cole 1958) alate - Epinotal spines prominent, rather long, very broad at base, pointed apically, directed posteriorly. Petiole and postpetiole as in worker. Cephalic dorsum with very sparse, rather long, blunt, slender, erect, yellow hairs. Gular area with abundant, short, slender, pointed, suberect hairs. Thoracic dorsum with numerous erect, mostly short (but variable in length), slender, blunt, yellow hairs. Hairs on petiolar and postpetiolar nodes long, slender, pointed, rather numerous. Lateral surfaces of epinotum densely punctate; infraspinal facet transversely striato-punctate. Head and thorax rather uniformly and longitudinally rugulose, faintly and finely punctulate, and shining. Gastric hairs moderately abundant, slender, scattered, of unequal length, erect and sub erect dorsally, sub erect laterally. Pubescence everywhere very dilute. Body color a rather deep tan, gaster strongly infuscated.

Type Material
Mackay (2000) "Although Creighton (1950) states there are no types in this country, the holotype (consisting of only a mesosoma) is in the USNM (labeled AmFkCan. 23-6 Ut; USNMType # 54075) (seen). A specimen labeled as a type in Emery's collection (MCSN) is incorrectly labeled (seen). The locality is: USA, San Francisco. The specimen is poorly mounted and the head is covered with glue. so it is impossible to identify it."

Type Locality
USA, San Francisco