A New Ant Species, Temnothorax ansei sp.n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Arid Environments of South-eastern Spain

Authors

  • Chema Catarineu Asociación de Naturalistas del Sureste (ANSE)
  • Gonzalo G Barberá Department of Soil and Water Conservation CSIC-CEBAS, Murcia
  • Joaquín L Reyes-López Área de Ecología, Universidad de Córdoba.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v64i2.1274

Keywords:

Ants, Taxonomy, Iberian peninsula, Segura river basin, colony founding.

Abstract

We describe here a new ant species in the genus Temnothorax, species group
laurae, based on morphological evidence supported by other biological
information. It has been discovered at two locations in southeast Spain:
Pulpí (Almería) and Lorca (Murcia). This species is a member of the laurae
species group based on the following characters: large eyes, long and erect
hairs on alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole, rectangular head and metanotal
groove. Other characters unique to new species are: dark brown in color,
decumbent pilosity, and smooth and shiny head and pronotum. In addition,
this new species is distinctly nocturnal in its activity patterns. Based on the
morphological measurements of the queens and the workers, as well as our
observations in the laboratory, we predict that this species has a dependent
colony founding. An identification key to the Iberian Peninsula species of
the laurae group is also provided.

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References

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Published

2017-09-21

How to Cite

Catarineu, C., Barberá, G. G., & Reyes-López, J. L. (2017). A New Ant Species, Temnothorax ansei sp.n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Arid Environments of South-eastern Spain. Sociobiology, 64(2), 138–145. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v64i2.1274

Issue

Vol. 64 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Research Article - Ants

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