Taxonomic Studies on the Ant Genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with the Description of Three New Species from India

The Northeastern Himalaya forms the most significant part of the Indo-Burma hotspot, with many imperative landscapes designed for the region. The region presents an amalgam of Indomalayan, Palearctic, and Sino-Japanese elements, characterized by diverse ecological and altitudinal gradients. The rich faunal and floral diversity can be attributed to tropical rainforests, sub-tropical forests, temperate and alpine forests, which cover more than 60% of the total geographical area. Due to the geographical and cultural proximity of the Southeast Asian countries, the region is of enormous economic importance. The Eastern Himalayas meet the prerequisite criterion of biological commonalities and are designated as a vital eco-region of India. The uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the rise of the Himalayas as an insurmountable barrier have led to a high degree of endemism in the region. Ant specimens were collected manually. The present study describes three new species, Temnothorax arunachalensis sp. nov., Temnothorax boltoni sp. nov., and Temnothorax pangchenensis sp. nov. from India. An Identification key supplemented with digital images of the known species of this genus, based on the worker caste from India, is also provided.