Temnothorax platycnemis

Temnothorax platycnemis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Temnothorax
Species group:	sallei
Species:	T. platycnemis
Binomial name
Temnothorax platycnemis (Wheeler, W.M., 1937)

Identification

Prebus (2017) - A member of the sallei clade.

Wheeler (1937) - This fine species resembles some of the non-metallic species of the genus, such as Temnothorax allardycei and affinis (=Temnothorax laetus) in the conformation of the thorax, but differs from all the species of Macromischa sens. str., except Temnothorax purpuratus, in the great length and tenuity of the petiolar peduncle.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 23.133° to 19.983333°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Cuba (type locality), Greater Antilles.

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• platycnemis. Macromischa platycnemis Wheeler, W.M. 1937b: 452 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Leptothorax: Baroni Urbani, 1978b: 476; in Temnothorax: Bolton, 2003: 272.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Length about 4 mm.

Head subrectangular, without the mandibles only slightly longer than broad, slightly broader behind than in front, with nearly straight sides and posterior border and rounded posterior corners. Mandibles convex, with five large, blunt teeth. Clypeus flattened, with a median carinula, its anterior border emarginate in the middle and sinuate on each side. Eyes convex, at the middle of the sides of the head. Frontal area distinct, impressed. Antennae stout, their scapes reaching nearly to the posterior corners of the head; second funicular joint longer than broad, half as long as the first joint; joints 3-8 broader than long; club well-developed, 3-jointed, its terminal joint as long as the two preceding joints together. Thorax short, about two and one-half times longer than broad; in profile evenly and rather strongly convex dorsally, without promesonotal and mesoepinotal sutures, the declivity of the epinotum perpendicular, the spines long, closely approximated basally, directed backward, obliquely outward and upward, their tips very slightly upturned. Peduncle of petiole very long and slender, more than four times as long as the node, when seen from above, slightly enlarged at the middle where the spiracles are situated; in profile with the posterior thinner than the anterior half. Petiolar node squamiform, in profile rising perpendicularly from the peduncle, narrowly rounded at the summit and less abruptly sloping and somewhat convex behind; from behind as high as broad, semicircular above and rather abruptly contracted below at the sides; in dorsal view more then twice as broad as long, three times as broad as the peduncle, broadly convex behind and roundly triangular in front, the sides bluntly marginate. Postpetiole campanulate, distinctly longer than broad, its sides straight and subparallel behind. Gaster small and very slender, nearly three times as long as broad, with very long sting. Femora and tibiae incrassated, but less strongly than in the two preceding species; femora nontuberculate, both the tibiae and basitarsi distinctly compressed.

Mandibles, antennae, head and thorax subopaque; legs and remainder of body shining. Mandibles striate-punctate; clypeus with a few delicate longitudinal rugules, mainly on the sides; head longitudinally rugose, the rugae fine and diverging on the front, coarser and more reticulate on the occiput, sharp and concentric in the antennal foveae. Both the scapes and funiculi of the antennae microscopically reticulate. Thorax coarsely and regularly, longitudinally rugose both dorsally and laterally, the rugae rounded and vermiculate, occasionally anastomosing, irregularly reticulate on the epinotal declivity; neck transversely rugulose. Gaster very smooth, with sparse piligerous punctures; legs superficially and very finely reticulate.

Hairs white, erect or suberect, moderately long, of uneven length, abundant on the head, antennae and legs, sparse on the thorax and abdomen.

Head red, clypeus and mandibles more yellowish, teeth of latter black; antennae brown; neck brownish red; thorax metallic blue-green, epinotal spines reddish brown; peduncle of petiole, tips of coxae, trochanters, extreme bases of femora and sting yellow, remaining parts of legs brown, except the terminal tarsal joints which are paler and more reddish.

Type Material

Described from a single specimen from the coast below the Pico Turquino, Sierra Maestra, June 26, 1936.

References

• Baroni Urbani, C. 1978b. Materiali per una revisione dei Leptothorax neotropicali appartenenti al sottogenere Macromischa Roger, n. comb. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomol. Basil. 3: 395-618 (page 476, Combination in Leptothorax)
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 272, Combination in Temnothorax)
• Prebus, M. 2017. Insights into the evolution, biogeography and natural history of the acorn ants, genus Temnothorax Mayr (hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bmc Evolutionary Biology. 17:250. doi:10.1186/s12862-017-1095-8 (The doi link to the publication's journal webpage provides access to the 24 files that accompany this article).
• Wheeler, W. M. 1937b. Ants mostly from the mountains of Cuba. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 81: 439-465 (page 452, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Alayo D. P. 1974. Introduccion al estudio de los Himenopteros de Cuba. Superfamilia Formicoidea. Academia de Ciencias de Cuba. Instituto de Zoologia. Serie Biologica no.53: 58 pp. La Habana.
• Baroni Urbani C. 1978. Materiali per una revisione dei Leptothorax neotropicali appartenenti al sottogenere Macromischa Roger, n. comb. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomol. Basil. 3: 395-618.
• Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
• Fontanla Rizo J.L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba. Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
• 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. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
• Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
• Kusnezov N. 1963. Zoogeografia de las hormigas en sudamerica. Acta Zoologica Lilloana 19: 25-186
• Portuondo E. F., and J. L. Reyes. 2002. Mirmecofauna de los macizos montañosos de Sierra Maestra y Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa. Cocuyo 12: 10-13
• Portuondo Ferrer, E. and J. Fernandez Triana. Biodiversidad del orden Hymenoptera en Los Macizos Montanosos de Cuba Oriental. Boletin S.E.A. 35:121-136.
• Wheeler W. M. 1937. Ants mostly from the mountains of Cuba. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 81: 439-465.