Temnothorax species groups

The following is based on Csösz, S., Heinze, J. and Mikó, I. 2015. Taxonomic synopsis of the Ponto-Mediterranean ants of Temnothorax nylanderi species-group. PLoS ONE. 10(11):62pp. e0140000 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140000).

Temnothorax angulinodis species-complex

Workers of the Temnothorax angulinodis species-complex can be distinguished from those of other complexes treated in this revision by the combination of the following salient features: brown to black color; longer than broad head (CL/CWb [1.171, 1.222]), sculpture of head dorsum shiny: with inconspicuously areolate ground sculpture combined with parallel costulate main sculpture; petiolar node in lateral view with a straight or weakly concave frontal profile meeting dorso-caudal plate in an acute angle (72–82°) with a sharp ridge, in dorsal view appearing as conspicuous semicircular anterior-lateral rim; long propodeal spines (SPST/CS [0.332, 0.369]), deviating from longitudinal axis of mesosoma by 32–38°.

Temnothorax angulinodis

This peculiar species-complex consists of a single species and is only known from the Peloponnese peninsula.

Temnothorax angustifrons species-complex

Workers of the Temnothorax angustifrons species-complex can be distinguished from those of other complexes by the combination of the following salient features: light yellow to light brown color; moderately longer than broad head (CL/CWb [1.135, 1.254]), sculpture of head dorsum shiny, with inconspicuously areolate ground sculpture combined with feeble costulate main sculpture; short to moderately long propodeal spines (SPST/CS [0.159, 0.267]), deviating from longitudinal axis of mesosoma by 47–52°; petiolar node in lateral view with a weakly concave frontal profile meeting dorso-caudal plate in an obtuse angle (95–105°) with a moderately sharp ridge, in dorsal view appearing as a visible (occasionally inconspicuous) anterior-lateral rim.

Members of this species-complex are known to occur in Turkey and Crete. The occurrence of two samples found in Greece may be ascribed to, dispersal by human activities.

Temnothorax graecus species-complex

Based on Salata et al. 2023.

Key to Temnothorax graecus species-group from Greece

Temnothorax flavicornis species-complex

Workers of the Temnothorax flavicornis species-complex can be distinguished from those of other complexes treated in this revision by the combination of the following salient features: antennae 11-segmented, yellow to light brown color, head rectangular, significantly longer than broad head (CL/CWb [1.226, 1.299]), sculpture of head dorsum dull: with smooth, or inconspicuously areolate ground sculpture combined with longitudinally rugulose or reticulate main sculpture; long to very long propodeal spines (SPST/CS [0.303, 0.420]), deviating from longitudinal axis of mesosoma by 40–45°; petiolar node in lateral view with a concave frontal profile meeting conspicuously developed truncate dorsum in an obtuse angle (105–115°) with a narrowly rounded transition, without a conspicuous sharp fronto-dorsal ridge on the petiolar node.

Temnothorax flavicornis

This peculiar species-complex consists of a single species.

Temnothorax lichtensteini species-complex

Workers of the Temnothorax lichtensteini species-complex can be distinguished from those of other complexes treated in this revision by the combination of the following salient features: dirty yellow to brown color; longer than broad head (CL/CWb [1.181, 1.267]), sculpture of head dorsum dull: with areolate ground sculpture combined with longitudinally rugulose or ruguloso-reticulate (occasionally less conspicuous) main sculpture; long to very long propodeal spines (SPST/CS [0.324, 0.429]), deviating from longitudinal axis of mesosoma by 20–25°; petiolar node in lateral view with a concave frontal profile meeting truncate dorsum in a right angle to an obtuse angle (110–120°) with a narrowly rounded transition, without a conspicuous sharp fronto-dorsal ridge on the petiolar node.

Colonies of this species-complex occur in Southern Europe from Spain to Bulgaria and in Turkey.

Temnothorax nylanderi species-complex

Workers of the Temnothorax nylanderi species-complex can be distinguished from workers of other complexes treated in this revision by the combination of the following salient features: yellow to light brown color (Peloponnese populations occasionally dark brown to black); slightly longer than broad head (CL/CWb [1.100, 1.196]), sculpture of head dorsum dull: with areolate ground sculpture combined with parallel costulate main sculpture; moderately long to long propodeal spines (SPST/CS [0.253, 0.356]), deviating from longitudinal axis of mesosoma by 32–42°; petiolar node in lateral view with a concave frontal profile meeting truncate dorsum in a right angle to an obtuse angle (88–115°) with a narrowly rounded transition, without a conspicuous sharp fronto-dorsal ridge on the petiolar node.

This species-complex is widely distributed in Europe and Turkey.

Temnothorax parvulus species-complex

Workers of the Temnothorax parvulus species-complex can be distinguished from those of other complexes treated in this revision by the combination of the following salient features: dirty yellowish to brownish color; slightly longer than broad head (CL/CWb [1.147, 1.242]), sculpture of head dorsum dull: with uniformly areolate ground sculpture combined with inconspicuous (or the lack of) main sculpture; short to long propodeal spines (SPST/CS [0.205, 0.331]), deviating from longitudinal axis of mesosoma by 38–42°; petiolar node in lateral view with a concave frontal profile meeting truncate dorsum in a right angle to an obtuse angle (100–110°) with a narrowly rounded transition, without a conspicuous sharp fronto-dorsal ridge on the petiolar node.

Members of this species-complex are known to occur in Europe, the Caucasus, and Turkey.

Temnothorax sordidulus species-complex

Workers of the Temnothorax sordidulus species-complex can be distinguished from those of other complexes treated in this revision by the combination of the following salient features: brown to black color; slightly longer than broad head (CL/CWb [1.143, 1.278)], sculpture of head dorsum dull: with areolate ground sculpture combined with conspicuous parallel costulate or irregular reticulate main sculpture; moderately long to long propodeal spines (SPST/CS [0.220, 0.335]), deviating from longitudinal axis of mesosoma by 40–50°; petiolar node in lateral view with a concave frontal profile meeting occasionally indistinct truncate dorsum in an obtuse angle (110–120°) with a narrowly rounded transition, without a conspicuous sharp fronto-dorsal ridge on the petiolar node.

Members of this species-complex are known to occur in Turkey and Crete. The sporadic occurrence of two samples in Greece may be ascribed to anthropochory.

The following from Gonzalez 2021 needs to be edited and incorporated into what is given above for this group/complex.

Progress has been made establishing species groups and species complexes among the Palearctic Temnothorax.

One of these is the Temnothorax sordidulus species-complex, which was originally conceived by Seifert (2006) and included species characterized by the presence of a distinct mesonotal depression; petiolar shape showing a high node with a small dorsal plane; head, scape and mesosoma more elongated than in the T. nylanderi group (CL/CW 1.08–1.22, SL 0.75–0.81, ML/CS 1.180–1.27 [metrics of Seifert]); sculpture on vertex without the densely arranged, regular and linear carinulae of the T. nylanderi group; spines usually shorter and more erect than the T. nylanderi and the T. parvulus / lichtensteini group; spine axis in lateral view deviating by 40–55 ° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma; coloration of head and gaster always rather dark, varying from medium orange brown to blackish brown, never light yellowish as frequently found in the T. parvulus / lichtensteini group; and mesosoma varying from distinctly lighter or as dark as head and mesosoma. Seifert originally recognized five species in the sordidulus species-complex: T. artvinensis Seifert, 2006, T. melas (Espadaler et al., 1984), T. schoedli Seifert, 2006, T. sordidulus (Müller, 1923) and T. saxonicus (Seifert, 1995). In a revision of the Ponto-Mediterranean T. nylanderi species-group, Csősz et al. (2015) gave a definition of the T. sordidulus species-complex that helped separate it from other complexes in the T. nylanderi species-group: “workers of the Temnothorax sordidulus species-complex can be distinguished from those other complexes treated in this revision by the combination of the following salient features: brown to black color; slightly longer than broad head (CL/CWb [1.143, 1.278)], sculpture of head dorsum dull: with areolate ground sculpture combined with conspicuous parallel costulate or irregular reticulate main sculpture; moderately long to long propodeal spines (SPST/CS [0.220, 0.335]), deviating from longitudinal axis of mesosoma by 40–50°; petiolar node in lateral view with a concave frontal profile meeting occasionally indistinct truncate dorsum in an obtuse angle (110–120°) with a narrowly rounded transition, without a conspicuous sharp fronto-dorsal ridge on the petiolar node” (metrics of Csősz et al., 2015). Csősz et al. (2015) included four species in the T. sordidulus species-complex: T. artvinensis, T. schoedli, T. sordidulus and T. tergestinus (Finzi, 1928) (=T. saxonicus according to the authors). In the present study, the T. sordidulus species-complex is characterized by having an elongated head (HL/HWb typically >1.20; metrics defined below), dull surface due to reticulated ground sculpture, distinct metanotal groove, medium to long propodeal spines and high petiole with an anterior concave face and short posterior face.

Beyond Iberia, members of the complex include T. artvinensis and T. schoedli endemic to the Black Sea coast, T. melas endemic to Corsica and the more widespread T. sordidulus and T. tergestinus (Finzi, 1928) (Seifert, 1995;Seifert, 2006; Csősz et al. 2015). Temnothorax sordidulus occurs from Turkey to SE France, and T. tergestinus occurs from Bulgaria to SE France (Csősz 2001; Borowiec 2014). In the present paper, four Iberian species match the concept of this complex based on morphometric data; three are previously described endemic species (T. conatensis Galkowski & Lebas, 2016, T. ibericus [Menozzi, 1922] and T. platycephalus [Espadaler, 1997]) and a fourth is a new species from South Iberia described here (T. estel sp. nov.). The taxonomy of the four species is reviewed and an identification key is provided.

References