Temnothorax orchidus

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Temnothorax orchidus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Temnothorax
Species: T. orchidus
Binomial name
Temnothorax orchidus
Zhou, Huang, Yu & Liu, 2010

Nested in the trunk or branch of Schima wallichii, feed on nectar of the orchid.

Identification

Zhou et al. (2010) - This species is very similar to Temnothorax angulohumerus, but differs from the latter by antennal scape shorter, pronotum nor strongly convex, whole mesosoma with coarse sculpture, and with different color.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 24.88333333° to 24.88333333°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: China (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Biology

Castes

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

  • orchidus. Temnothorax orchidus Zhou, et al. 2010: 14, figs. 4-6 (w.) CHINA.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. HL 0.68, HW 0.60, SL 0.54, PW 0.40, ML 0.94, PL 0.20, PH 0.20, ESL 0.12. Paratype workers. HL 0.66-0.70, HW 0.58-0.62, SL 0.53-0.55, PW 0.38-0.42, ML 0.90-0.94, PL 0.19-0.20, PH 0.19-0.20, ESL 0.10-0.12 (4 specimens measured).

Head longer than broad (CI 1.13), with slightly convex sides and almost straight occipital margin. Anterior clypeal margin broadly rounded. Antennae 12-segmented, antennal scape relatively long, almost reaching occipital margin (SI1 = 0.78-0.80, SI2 = 0.88-0.93).

Mesosoma in profile with gently convex pronotum, flat mesonotum and posteriorly inclined propodeum. Metanotal groove indistinct. Propodeum with short, basally widened, sharp spines (ESLI = 0.17-0.20). Humeri in dorsal view distinctly angulate. Petiole as long as high (PI = 1.00), with long anterior peduncle; petiolar node in profile with distinct concave anterior face and broadly rounded dorsum. Postpetiole as high as petiole, subglobular.

Dorsum of head with fine striations, which are very feeble in the central area of the frons. Area between frons and eyes finely reticulate. Anterior margin of pronotum marginate, pronotum with concentrated fine striations, mesonotum and propodeum with short, transverse striations. Sides of pronotum with longitudinal rugosities, mesopleura and propodeum coarsely punctuate. Whole mesosoma appears dull. Petiole finely punctuate, postpetiole and gaster smooth and shining.

Occipital margin and dorsum of mesosoma with sparse, moderately long, slightly curved standing hairs. Antennae, mesosoma, petiole, postperiole and legs brownish-yellow, head and gaster dark brown.

Type Material

Holotypc worker, China: Tengchong County, Yunnan Province, 1655m., N 24°53', E 98°43', 21 March, 2008 (Zhongjian Liu). Paratypes, 4 workers, data as holotype.

Etymology

This species is named after its host plant, an orchid.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Fontanilla A. M., A. Nakamura, Z. Xu, M. Cao, R. L. Kitching, Y. Tang, and C. J. Burwell. 2019. Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along tropical, subtropical, and subalpine elevational transects in southwest China. Insects 10, 128; doi:10.3390/insects10050128
  • Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
  • Zhou S., J.; Huang, D. Yu, and Z. Liu. 2010. Eight new species and three newly recorded species of the ant genus Temnothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Chinese mainland, with a key. Sociobiology 56:(1): 7-26