Temnothorax iris

Little is known about the biology of .

Identification
Wheeler (1931) - There is considerable variation in the metallic coloration of the head and thorax. Roger describes his specimen as having the thorax purplish violet, the femora dark metallic green or brown, the tarsi and funiculi paler brown. Santschi (1930) has very recently described a var. nigripes of this species from the Sierra de los Organos, Pinar del Rio, with the antennae and legs, excepting the tarsi, black. Since many of my specimens have the antennal scapes and tibiae distinctly brown or black, I am inclined to regard the proposed variety as not worthy of recognition.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Cuba, Greater Antilles.

Biology
Wheeler (1931) - Redescribed from several workers sent me by Dr. C. G. Aguayo from three Cuban localities, namely: El Guabinacho, Rangel; San Diego de los Banos, and Subida al Rangel, all in the province of Pinar del Rio. The species has not been taken since Gundlach found the type at the entrance to the Yurumi valley, near Matanzas.

Nomenclature

 *  iris. Macromischa iris Roger, 1863a: 188 (w.) CUBA. Combination in M. (Croesomyrmex): Mann, 1920: 408; in Croesomyrmex: Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 23; in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 454; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. Senior synonym of nigripes: Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 24; of rufithorax, tristis: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 454.
 * nigripes. Macromischa (Croesomyrmex) iris var. nigripes Santschi, 1930e: 78 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of iris: Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 24.
 * rufithorax. Croesomyrmex iris var. rufithorax Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 24 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of iris: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 454.
 * tristis. Croesomyrmex iris var. tristis Wheeler, W.M. 1931b: 25 (w.) CUBA. [Unresolved junior secondary homonym of tristis Bondroit, above.] Junior synonym of iris: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 454.

Worker
Wheeler (1931) - Length 4-4.5 mm.

Head rectangular, about 1/5 longer than broad, as broad in front as behind, with broadly rounded posterior corners and straight posterior border. Eyes moderately large and convex, a little in front of the middle of the sides. Mandibles rather broad, with moderately convex external borders, two large apical and three smaller, irregular basal teeth. Clypeus convex behind, depressed anteriorly, with broadly rounded, medially sinuate anterior border. Frontal area distinct, elongate-triangular, continued back as a short furrow representing the anterior end of the frontal groove. Antennae slender; scapes extending about i their length beyond the posterior border of the head; first funicular joint somewhat longer than 2 and 3 together, joint 2 slightly longer than 3; club 3-jointed. Thorax broadest through the pronotum, with evenly and feebly rounded dorsal outline, nearly straight in the middle. Metasterna small and rounded. Petiole about five times as long as broad, peduncle with a rudimentary anteroventral tooth, node strongly laterally compressed, as long as the peduncle, nearly as long as high, evenly rounded above and constricted behind. Postpetiole campanulate, convex above, as broad as long, about three times as broad behind as at the petiolar node. Gaster small, elongate-elliptical, pointed; sting small. Legs long, femora thin basally, strongly incrassated distally, tibiae only slightly thickened.

Mandibles striate-punctate, shining; clypeus irregularly rugulose; cheeks indistinctly striate, frontal area shining, head opaque, evenly and densely punctate, the posterior corners somewhat smoother and shining. Thorax shining, longitudinally rugose, the rugae stronger on the pronotum, transverse on the epinotum but continuous on each side with the longitudinal rugae of the pleurae. Peduncle and sides of petiolar node longitudinally rugulose; the narrow upper surface of the node, the postpetiole, gaster, coxae and swollen portions of the femora very smooth and shining; the slender bases of the femora, the tibiae and antennal scapes opaque, finely punctate-striate.

Hairs glistening white, obtuse, moderately long and abundant, erect on the body, more oblique on the appendages.

Mandibles, cheeks and clypeus piceous brown; head dull metallic green or purple; thorax metallic green or cupreous; peduncle of petiole yellow, node metallic green; postpetiole metallic purple; gaster, legs and antennae very dark piceous brown or black, terminal tarsal joints brownish.