Temnothorax minutissimus

Introductory text here.



Identification
Mackay (2000) "This species is known only from the female. It differs from all other species in the subgenus in that the propodeal spines are blunt and are about the same diameter from the base to the tip. It is a small, pale yellow species with an 11-segmented antenna.

This species is only known from the female. It is obviously a member of Myrafant, as the clypeus is convex with a medial carina, but which is not as well developed as in other species in the subgenus. It could be confused with males of L. curvispinosus or L. ambiguus. It differs from both in its smaller size (Weber's length 0.7 mm), versus the larger L. curoispinosus (WL 1. 2mm) and L. ambiguus (WL 1.lmm) and in that the eyes are small and round. Eyes of the females of the other two species are larger and oblong. There is little likelihood that this species could be confused with any others in the subgenus. The petiole has a relatively sharp apex, but the worker (if it exists) would be expected to have a blunt petiole, as this pattern of the shape of the petiole between the worker and female is common throughout the subgenus."

Range
USA. District of Columbia.

Habitat
The type specimens were collected at the edge of a marsh.

Abundance
Only known from the type collection.

Biology
At present we known nothing beyond the type information for Temnothorax minutissimus. Given only queens were collected, and these ants were found together with Temnothorax curvispinosus, it may be a workerless parasite (as suggested by Mackay, 2000).

Original Combination
Leptothorax minutissimus Smith, M.R. 1942a: 59, pl. 6 (q.) U.S.A. Buschinger & Linksvayer, 2004: 71 (m.). Combination in L. (Myrafant): Smith, D.R. 1979: 1393; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 271. See also: MacKay, 2000: 373.

Type Material
As reported in Mackay (2000) "Holotype female and three paratype females. USNM. #56210 [seen]."

Type Locality
USA. District of Columbia.