Temnothorax pisarskii

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Temnothorax pisarskii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Temnothorax
Species: T. pisarskii
Binomial name
Temnothorax pisarskii
Radchenko, 2004

Temnothorax pisarskii 8.jpg

Temnothorax pisarskii 9.jpg

In Myohyang Mts this species was found at two sites: shrubby young forest on the dry mountain slope, and shady places with rich grass layer, nesting under stones in dry forest on the rocky slope. In Taesong this ant inhabits Pinus–Quercus forests, with trees 5–7 m tall and Juniperus shrubs, at 150 m a.s.l., nesting under stones. (Radchenko 2004)

Identification

Radchenko (2004) - T. pisarskii most resembles Temnothorax mongolicus by the shape of the petiole, yet well differs by this feature from all other East Palaearctic bicoloured Temnothorax species with short propodeal spines. It differs from T. mongolicus by longer antennal scape (SI1 = 0.73–0.78, mean = 0.75, vs. 0.71–0.75, mean = 0.72, SI2 = 0.88–0.94, mean = 0.92 vs. 0.82–0.88, mean = 0.85); longer propodeal spines (ESLI = 0.18–0.25, mean 0.22 vs. 0.09–0.22, mean = 0.15); a somewhat different colour. In T. pisarskii head, alitrunk and waist are from ochreous-yellow to brownish-yellow; the gaster is brown, with basal 1/4 of the first tergite yellow. In T. mongolicus the head dorsum is brownish, distinctly darker than the ochreous-yellow or brownish-yellow alitrunk, and the gaster is entirely brown.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: China, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

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

Nomenclature

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

  • pisarskii. Temnothorax pisarskii Radchenko, 2004: 115, figs. 7-15 (w.q.m.) NORTH KOREA.

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

Description

Worker

Head subrectangular (CI = 1.17–1.25), with subparallel sides, weakly convex occipital margin and narrowly rounded occipital corners. Anterior clypeal margin broadly rounded. Antennae 12-segmented, antennal scape relatively long, reaching occipital margin (SI1 = 0.73–0.78, SI2 = 0.88–0.94).

Alitrunk with slightly flattened dorsum, without metanotal groove. Propodeum in profile with short, basally wide, sharp spines (ESLI = 0.18–0.25). Humeri in dorsal view broadly rounded. Petiole only slightly longer than high (PI = 1.10–1.21), with a very short anterior peduncle; petiolar node in profile subtriangular, with an almost straight anterior face and very narrowly rounded dorsum. Postpetiole as high as the petiole or very slightly lower, subglobular.

Head dorsum densely punctate, appears dull, fine striations present near the eyes only. Alitrunk and waist densely punctate, appears dull, only dorsolateral parts of the alitrunk additionally with fine longitudinal striation.

Occipital margin and dorsum of the alitrunk with moderately long, slightly curved standing hairs. Head dorsum, alitrunk and waist ochreous-yellow to brownish-yellow, gaster brown, with basal 1/4 of its first tergite yellow.

Queen

Head about as in the workers, but wider (CI = 1.09); antennal scape relatively shorter (SI1 = 0.71, SI2 = 0.78). Alitrunk relatively long and low (AI = 1.84, SCI = 1.33), propodeal spines relatively short (ESLI = 0.16). Petiole about as in the workers.

Frons densely longitudinally rugulose, head dorsum laterally reticulate–punctate and sinuously rugulose. Pronotum finely longitudinally ruguloso-striated, mesopleura with fine striations, propodeum striato-rugulose and punctate; scutum finely longitudinally rugulose, scutellum smooth, only laterally striate; petiole and postpetiole punctate and dorsally finely striate. The body surface appears shiny.

Alitrunk and waist yellow, appendages somewhat lighter, head dorsum reddish-yellow, gaster as in the workers.

Male

Head a little longer than broad (CI = 1.03–1.07), broadly rounded behind the eyes, without distinct occipital corners. Anterior clypeal margin widely rounded. Antennae 13-segmented, antennal scape short (SI1 = 0.31–0.34, SI2 = 0.32–0.37).

Alitrunk relatively short, scutum convex (AI = 1.58–1.64), scutellum in profile not projecting above the scutum. Propodeum with very short blunt denticles. Petiole low, distinctly lower than long (PI = 1.36–1.45), with a rounded node, its anterior and posterior faces almost straight, moderately sloping. Postpetiole as long as the petiole, subglobular.

Head dorsum finely rugulose and striate, its sides also punctate; clypeus anteriorly transversally striate. Sides of propodeum, lower part of mesopleura and sides of petiole and postpetiole finely punctate, remaining parts of alitrunk and dorsum of petiolar and postpetiolar nodes smooth and shiny.

Head margins and dorsum of the alitrunk with scattered standing hairs.

Alitrunk ochreous-yellow, head dorsum and gaster brownish-yellow, appendages light yellow.

Type Material

Worker (holotype), North Korea, Myohyang Mts, 6.viii.1959, No. 2291, leg. B. Pisarski & J. Proszynski. Museum of the Zoological Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences; paratypes: 9 workers from the holotype nest.

Etymology

This species is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Bogdan Pisarski, famous Polish myrmecologist, who collected the first specimens.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
  • Radchenko A. 2004. A review of the ant genera Leptothorax Mayr and Temnothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the eastern Palaearctic. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 50:109-137.
  • Radchenko, A. 2005. Monographic revision of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of North Korea. Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 55: 127-221.
  • Radchenko, A. 2005. Monographic revision of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of North Korea. Annales Zoologici 55(2): 127-221.
  • 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