Temnothorax schoedli

Little is known about the biology of .

Identification
Csösz et al. (2015) - A member of the sordidulus species-complex. Temnothorax schoedli is the lightest colored of the species-complex. In addition to color it can be separated safely from other members of the complex by its very restricted geographical occurrence in the southern ranges of Taurus Mountains in Turkey. Temnothorax schoedli can be separated from Temnothorax artvinensis, which in geographical terms is the most closely situated relative of this species, by the coarse dull head sculpture and the very dark brown to black color of the latter and its significantly shorter head. The non-overlapping CL/CWb ratio (see S4 Table) provides a perfect tool to separate of T. schoedli from T. artvinensis at the level of nest sample means.

In its relatively lighter color and occasionally smooth head dorsum this species may superficially resemble species of Temnothorax angustifrons complex. The geographical range of T. angustifrons, Temnothorax lucidus, Temnothorax similis, and Temnothorax subtilis broadly overlap with that of T. schoedli. However, nest samples of T. schoedli can be separated easily from those of these species by non-overlapping ratios (S4 Table): T. schoedli can be separated from T. subtilis by the longer propodeal spines (SPST/CS); from T. similis by PEH/CS and NOH/CS ratios; from T. lucidus by SPBA/CS; and from T. angustifrons by the FRS/CS ratio.

Distribution
This species occurs in a restricted area of South-Eastern Turkish Lowlands.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Turkey.

Nomenclature

 *  schoedli. Temnothorax schoedli Seifert, 2006: 8, figs. 8-10 (w.q.) TURKEY.
 * Status as species: Csösz, Heinze & Mikó, 2015: 52 (redescription).

Worker
Csösz et al. (2015) - Body color: brown. Body color pattern: mesosoma, antenna and legs excluding femora, waist and anterior region of 1st gastral tergite lighter than head, femora and posterior region of gaster. Antenna color pattern: clava concolorous funicle. Absolute cephalic size: 572–696 μm (mean = 652, n = 11). Cephalic length vs. Maximum width of head capsule (CL/CWb): 1.143–1.196 (mean = 1.172). Postocular distance vs. cephalic length (PoOc/CL): 0.360–0.385 (mean = 0.368). Postocular sides of cranium contour frontal view orientation: converging posteriorly. Postocular sides of cranium contour frontal view shape: broadly convex. Vertex contour line in frontal view shape: straight. Vertex sculpture: main sculpture dispersed forked costate, ground sculpture inconspicuous areolate; main sculpture dispersed forked costate sculpture, ground sculpture areolate; main sculpture homogenously forked costate, ground sculpture areolate. Genae contour from anterior view orientation: converging. Gena contour line in frontal view shape: feebly convex. Gena sculpture: rugoso-reticulate with areolate ground sculpture. Median region of antennal rim vs. frontal carina in frontal view structure: not fully overlapped by frontal carina. Concentric carinae laterally surrounding antennal foramen count: present. Eye length vs. absolute cephalic size (EL/CS): 0.255–0.282 (mean = 0.268). Frontal carina distance vs. absolute cephalic size (FRS/CS): 0.363–0.379 (mean = 0.372). Longitudinal carinae on median region of frons count: present. Longitudinal carinae on medial region of frons shape: forked. Antennomere count: 12. Scape length vs. absolute cephalic size (SL/CS): 0.764–0.805 (mean = 0.784). Facial area of the scape absolute setal angle: 0–15°. External area of the scape absolute setal angle: 30°. Ground sculpture of submedian area of clypeus: smooth. Median carina of clypeus count: present. Lateral carinae of clypeus count: present. Median anatomical line of propodeal spine angle value to Weber length in lateral view: 40–45°. Spine length vs. absolute cephalic size (SPST/CS): 0.232–0.282 (mean = 0.261). Minimum spine distance vs. absolute cephalic size (SPBA/CS): 0.282–0.298 (mean = 0.288). Maximum spine distance vs. absolute cephalic size (SPWI/CS): 0.305–0.342 (mean = 0.327). Apical spine distance vs. absolute cephalic size (SPTI/CS): 0.293–0.328 (mean = 0.310). Maximum mesosoma width vs. absolute cephalic size (MW/CS): 0.613–0.650 (mean = 0.632). Metanotal depression count: present. Metanotal depression shape: shallow. Dorsal region of mesosoma sculpture: areolate ground sculpture, superimposed by dispersed rugae. Lateral region of pronotum sculpture: areolate ground sculpture, main sculpture dispersed costate. Mesopleuron sculpture: areolate ground sculpture superimposed by dispersed rugulae. Metapleuron sculpture: areolate ground sculpture superimposed by dispersed rugulae. Frontal profile of petiolar node contour line in lateral view shape: concave. Anterodorsal rim of petiole count: absent medially. Dorsal profile of petiolar node contour line in lateral view shape: widely rounded or slightly angulate area. Dorsal region of petiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture dispersed rugose. Dorsal region of postpetiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture dispersed rugose.

Type Material
Csösz et al. (2015) - Paratypes: 20 paratype workers of 7 nest samples were investigated from the type locality: Turkey, Antakya, Nur Dağlari, 14 rkm W. Hassa 36.8414 N, 36.4309 E, 1600 mH, 11.05.1997, leg. A. Schulz, K. Vock, M. Sanetra: „no. 287” (2## ) [TUR:Hassa-14W-19970511-287]; “no. 289” (3## SMNK) [TUR:Hassa-14W-19970511-289]; “no. 290” (3## SMNK) [TUR:Hassa-14W-19970511-290]; “no. 292” (3## ASPC) [TUR: Hassa-14W-19970511-292]; “no. 293” (3## ASPC) [TUR:Hassa-14W-19970511-293]; “no. 295” (3## ASPC) [TUR:Hassa-14W-19970511-295]; “no. 299” (3## ASPC) [TUR:Hassa-14W-19970511-299].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Csősz S, Heinze J, and I. Mikó. 2015. Taxonomic synopsis of the Ponto-Mediterranean ants of Temnothorax nylanderi species-group. PLoS ONE 10(11): e0140000. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140000