Temnothorax cuyaguateje

Known only from the type locality, this species has been collected in pine tree forest litter. The forest was growing in serpentine soil and is very close to the typical “mogotes” hills of the Sierra de los Organos. Temnothorax cuyaguateje is the first known species of Antillean Temnothorax associated at this particular habitat. (Fontenla Rizo 1998)

Identification
Fontenla Rizo (1998) - Terricolous species of Cuban Temnothorax with small size, massive constitution, convex profile, long propodeal spines, petiolar node scale-shaped, very broad postpetiole, femora swollen, pilosity scarce with short and blunt hairs, and polimorphic coloration. This species.shows a general resemblance with the species of the heterogeneus “pulchellus” group. All of these species share some traits like terricolous habits, scarce pilosity composed by short anq blunt hairs and scapes and posterior femora not surpassing cephalic and mesosoma length respectively. T. cuyaguateje does not seem obviously close to any of them in particular, according to the combination of traits listed in the diagnosis.

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

Nomenclature

 *  cuyaguateje. Leptothorax cuyaguateje Fontenla Rizo, 1998: 65, fig. 3 (w.) CUBA.
 * Combination in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271.

Worker
Workers (paratypes) SL: 0.66 (0.64-0.66), HW: 0.54 (0.52-0.54), HL: 0.72 (0.68-0.72), ML: 0.81 (0.79-0.81), PL: 0.33 (0.30-0.33), PH: 0.27 (0.25-0.27), PPW: 0.39 (0.37-0.39), PPL: 0.30 (0.25-0.30), FL: 0.57 (0.55-0.57). Indices. SI: 91.7 (91.7-94.1), Cl: 75.0 (75.0-76.5), PI: 40.7 (37.9-40.7), HI: 81.8 (81.8-83.3), PPI: 130.0 (130.0-148.0), FI: 70.4 (69.6-70.4).

Mandibles five toothed. Funiculum with 11 segments, antennal club well differentiated and three segmented, scapes slender, not surpassing cephalic length. Mesosoma robust, with convex profile, and promesotoraxic suture no deep. Propodeal spines long, almost 30% of rnesosoma length, straight and divergent from base to tips. Petiole long, about 40% of mesosoma length. Petiolar node scale-shaped and high. Postpetiole bell-shaped, broader than long. Gaster relatively big. Femora short, not surpassing mesosoma length and swollen. Tegument slightly shining. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole punctuated; petiolar node and gaster smooth. Pilosity scarce, composed by short and blunt white erected hairs. Antennae and legs with more abundant hairs, very short and appressed. Coloration variable, dark brown throughout, or opaque yellowish in head and mesosoma, with the remain body areas dark brown.

Type Material
Holotype, worker, from Ceja de Francisco, Northern Serpentinous Heighs, Pinar del Rio Province, collected by J. L. Fontenla in March, 1993. Paratypes; three workers, same data as holotype.

Etymology
Aborigen voice. It is the name of the largest river in the Pinar del Rio Province.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fontenla J. L., and J. Alfonso-Simonetti. 2018. Classification of Cuban ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) into functional groups. Poeyana Revista Cubana de Zoologia 506: 21-30.
 * Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1998. New species of Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Cuba. Avicennia 8-9: 61-68
 * Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1998. New species of Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Cuba. Avicennia 8-9: 61-68.