Temnothorax microreticulatus

The species has been collected from two localities, Manali and Khajjiar of Himachal Pradesh. The specimens were collected from soil and under stones by hand collecting. In Manali the area was forested, beside a river with good amount of moisture in the soil. It was a dense pine forest with little undergrowth. The nest was few inches deep. The other locality was a forested area with scarce undergrowth. The collection was done on a hill slope mostly covered by grasses.

Identification
Bharti, Gul & Schulz (2012) - The species is well distinguished by the distinct sculpture of head and mesosoma compared to the rest of the Indian species. However, the species is somewhat similar to Temnothorax nordmeyeri but it can be easily separated from it by the length of propodeal spines as in case of T. nordmeyeri propodeal spines are very long (PSL = 0.20–0.23 mm) while the propodeal spines are much shorter in Temnothorax microreticulatus (spine length PSL = 0.09–0.11 mm). In case of T. nordmeyeri the scape reaches beyond the posterior margin of head by 1/6 of its length, the colour of body is uniformly pale yellow but in T. microreticulatus the scape falls somewhat short to reach posterior margin of head and the middle tergites of gaster are brown.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  microreticulatus. Temnothorax microreticulatus Bharti, Gul & Schulz, 2012: 331, figs. 10-15 (w.q.) INDIA.

Worker
TL 2.8–3.4 (3.3); HL 0.70–0.75 (0.74); HW 0.62–0.65 (0.64); SL 0.52–0.56 (0.55); PW 0.41–0.46 (0.45); WL 0.72–0.85 (0.85); PL 0.28–0.32 (0.32); PH 0.19–0.21 (0.21); PPL 0.26–0.29 (0.28); GL 0.88–1.2 (1.10); PSL 0.08–0.12 (0.11); FCD 0.21–0.23 (0.23); EL 0.17–0.18 (0.18); PEW 0.16–0.19 (0.19) n = 20.

Head – Subrectangular [CI= 115–117 (115)]; in full face view, posterior margin of head almost straight; narrowly round occipital corners; lateral sides subparallel, head somewhat broader posteriorly; anterior clypeal margin broadly rounded; eyes large, situated about the middle on the sides of the head; mandibles triangular, the masticatory margin with 5 prominent teeth; antennae 12 segmented, falling somewhat short to reach posterior margin of head [SI1 = 73–75 (73.3), SI2 = 85–88 (86)].

Mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole – In profile, mesosoma with slightly convex dorsum; metanotal groove shallow; humeri in dorsal view rounded; propodeal spines short, apices oblique, as long as 2/3 the distance between their bases [PSLI = 15–18 (17.1)]; petiole longer than high with moderately long anterior peduncle; petiolar node in profile with steep and very slightly concave anterior face and feebly rounded dorsum; postpetiole shorter than petiole with rounded dorsum and wider than petiole.

Gaster – Ovate, smooth and shiny.

Sculpture – Head longitudinally rugulose between frontal carinae, the rugulae covering the frons, extending to the occiput; longitudinal irregular rugae on genae which run up to the front of eyes; rest of the head rugoreticulate; mandibles with distinct rugosity; clypeus longitudinally rugose except for the median portion; mesosoma reticulate and rugulose all over; petiole and postpetiole finely microreticulated with a few scattered rugulae; head and mesosoma with scattered punctures; gaster smooth and shining.

Pilosity – Suberect to erect hairs covering the whole body; decumbent pubescent hairs on antennae and legs, more dense on antennal funiculus.

Colour – The whole body is light to dark yellow with a reddish tinge except for the middle tergites gaster which are brown; pilosity yellowish white.

Queen
TL 3.82; HL 0.77; HW 0.69; SL 0.56; PW 0.66; WL 0.83; PL 0.38; PH 0.26; PPL 0.29; GL 1.55; PSL 0.36; PSLI 52.2; CI 111; SI1 72; SI2 81; FCD 0.24; EL 0.22; PEW 0.21 n = 1.

Resembles the worker, with modifications expected for caste and the following differences: Body massive, more hairy; head medially longitudinally rugose between the frontal carinae; antennal sockets and clypeus longitudinally rugose, rest of the head rugoreticulated; eyes larger, three prominent ocelli present; mesosoma weakly longitudinally rugose on dorsum, rugulose on sides with some patches smooth; propodeal spines more or less triangular; petiole, postpetiole dull due to weak sculpture on the nodes; hairs of varying lengths cover entire body; mesosoma with scutellum at the same level as of the scutum; propodeal declivity very steep; petiolar node weakly angular, postpetiole very broad; colour darker than in workers and irregular.

Etymology
The species is named after its microreticulate sculpture on head and mesosoma.