Temnothorax caryaluteus Prebus & Nguyen & Doering & Booher 2024, sp. nov.

Temnothorax caryaluteus sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 71800550-6BD3-475F-B7BC-D5C0BBF15686 Fig. 4 Diagnosis Among the species of the eastern United States, the worker of Temnothorax caryaluteus sp. nov. is distinguishable by the following combination of characters: antennae 11-segmented; antennal scrobe absent; mandible with five masticatory teeth; antennal scape long: when fully retracted, failing to reach the posterior margin of the head by <2 times the width of the antennal scape; subpetiolar process absent or weakly developed; propodeal spines shorter than, or as long as, the propodeal declivity in profile view, varying from as long as broad to twice as long as broad at the base; dorsum of mesosoma sculptured; workers> 3 mm in length; head, mesosoma, and gaster integument light colored (often yellowish-orange), with the posterior half of the first gastral tergite infuscated; propodeal spines closely approximated, their bases separated by roughly the length of the propodeal spine in dorsal view, their union forming a U-shape; apex of petiolar node acute to narrowly rounded in profile view, about as half as wide as the petiole in dorsal view; mesosoma slightly arched in profile view. Free-living (nonparasitic) species; nests under bark and in dead branches and twigs of live trees. Etymology The name caryaluteus is a portmanteau of ancient Greek carya (“walnut”, the genus name for hickory) and the Latin luteus (“yellow”). This name was proposed by Brodie Gaudie as the result of an outreach project conducted by the authors in coordination with the United States Forest Service, in which several elementary school classes partook in a workshop focused on the practice of taxonomy and its underlying philosophy. Names for the new species were proposed by classrooms and individuals and were subsequently voted on in a social media campaign. Type material examined Holotype USA – Kentucky • ☿; Whitley County, Williamsburg; 36.739° N, 84.168° W ± minute; 320 m a.s.l.; 27 Jul. 2015; M. Deyrup #ANTC43885; in fallen branch of Carya illinoiensis; USNM, CASENT4011115. Paratypes USA – Kentucky • 1 dealate ♀; same data as for holotype; USNM, CASENT4011128 • 3 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; USNM, CASENT4011123 to CASENT4011125 • 3 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; USNM, CASENT4011141 to CASENT4011143 • 2 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; ABS, CASENT0759059 to CASENT0759060 • 2 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; ASUHIC, CASENT4011121 to CASENT4011122 • 2 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; CASC, CASENT0759057 to CASENT0759058 • 6 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; MCZC, CASENT4011106 to CASENT4011111 • 2 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; MEM, CASENT0759052 to CASENT0759053 • 3 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; UGCA, CASENT4011112 to CASENT4011114 • 5 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; UGCA, CASENT4011116 to CASENT4011120 • 2 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; UTIC, CASENT0759054 to CASENT0759055 • 2 ☿☿; same data as for holotype; VMNH, CASENT4011104 to CASENT4011105. Non-type material examined USA – Alabama • 1 dealate ♀; Madison County, 2.3 miles SE of Gurley; 34.0158° N, 86.33611° W; 295 m a.s.l.; 10 Jun. 2018; S.Y. Wang #ANTC46095; by pasture; UV-light/sheet; MEM, MEM238160. – Arkansas • 1 ☿; Newton County, Buffalo National River, Steel Creek; 36.038853° N, 93.33729° W; 300 m a.s.l.; 9 Oct. 2009; M. Skvarla and R. Fisher #ANTC46096; MEM, MEM241251. – Georgia • 1 ☿; Clarke County, Sandy Creek Nature Center; 33.98683° N, 83.38283° W ± minute; 205 m a.s.l.; 30 Apr. 2012; D. Booher #DBB234W; UGCA, CASENT0750495 • 2 ☿☿; Whitfield County, near Pinhoti trail crossing on access road; 34.739° N, 85.0167° W ± 50 m; 432 m a.s.l.; 30 Mar. 2012; D. Booher #DBBC5000; hardwood forest, chestnut oak: fork of dead branch on live tree; UGCA, CASENT0749972 to CASENT0749973 • 3 ☿☿; same data as for preceding; D. Booher #DBBC5000b; UGCA, CASENT0749974 to CASENT0749976 • 6 ☿☿; same data as for preceding; UGCA, CASENT0749978 to CASENT0749983. – Indiana • 1 dealate ♀; Dubois County, Jasper; 38.391442° N, 86.931109° W ± 5 km; 150 m a.s.l.; 28 Feb. 2021; J. Ruhe #ANTC46158; lab colony, reared from queen collected at blacklight; MMPC, CASENT4010186 • 1 ☿; same data as for preceding; MMPC, CASENT4010185 • 1 ☿; same data as for preceding; 18 Mar. 2021; J. Ruhe #ANTC46159; MMPC, CASENT4010187 • 2 ♂♂; Monroe County, Bloomington, Griffey Lake Nature Preserve; 39.205833° N, 86.525278° W; 230 m a.s.l.; 10 Jun. 2024; G. Doering #GLTca1; oak-hickory forest, under bark of downed tree; MMPC, CASENT4012894, CASENT4012904 • 2 ☿☿; same data as for preceding; MMPC, CASENT4012895, CASENT4012897 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; USNM, CASENT4012896 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; ABS, CASENT4012898 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; UGCA, CASENT4012899 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; ASUHIC, CASENT4012900 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CASC, CASENT4012901 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; MCZC, CASENT4012902 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; MEM, CASENT4012903. – Kentucky • 1 ☿; Whitley County, Williamsburg; 36.743418° N, 84.159654° W ± minute; 300 m a.s.l.; 25 Jun. 2017; M. Deyrup #ANTC43836; emerged from dead branch Carya illinoiensis; ABS, CASENT0758863 • 2 ☿☿; same data as for preceding; ABS, CASENT4011101 to CASENT4011102 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; ABS, CASENT4011100 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; ABS, CASENT4011103 • 1 ☿; same data as for preceding; 36.739° N, 84.168° W ± minute; 320 m a.s.l.; 27 Jul. 2015; M. Deyrup #ANTC43883; branch of Carya illinoiensis; ABS, CASENT0759047 • 4 ☿☿; same data as for preceding; 16 Mar. 2015; M. Deyrup #ANTC43884; in dead branch of Carya illinoiensis; ABS, CASENT0759048 to CASENT0759051 • 9 ☿☿; same data as for preceding; ABS, CASENT4011129 to CASENT4011137 • 23 ☿☿; same data as for preceding; 27 Jul. 2015; M. Deyrup #ANTC43887; branch of Carya illinoiensis; ABS, CASENT0759061-5, CASENT4011138-55. – Mississippi • 1 ☿; DeSoto County, 1 mile north of Handy Corner; 34.978889° N, 89.742222° W; 120 m a.s.l.; 18 Aug. 2005; A.B. Edwards #ANTC46097; Lindgren funnel trap baited with Typosan and alpha-pinene; MEM, MEM 241880 • 1 ☿; Lee County, Natchez Trace, mile 273; 34.406111° N, 88.6375° W; 125 m a.s.l.; 27 May 2003; T.L. Schiefer and J.A. MacGown #ANTC46098; deciduous forest, Lindgren funnel trap; MEM, MEM 241875 • 1 ☿; Madison County, Natchez Trace Parkway; 32.654167° N, 89.778056° W; 115 m a.s.l.; 10 Jul. 2002; M. Allred and K. Lewis #ANTC46099; Lindgren funnel trap; MEM, MEM 241881 • 1 ☿; Marshall County, Wall Doxey State Park; 34.661389° N, 89.465556° W; 110 m a.s.l.; 15 May 2006; A.B. Edwards #ANTC46100; Lindgren funnel trap baited with Typosan; MEM, MEM 241878. – Missouri • 1 ☿; Barry County, Roaring River State Park; 36.58559° N, 93.836411° W ± 1 km; 315 m a.s.l.; 27 Jun. 1995; A.L. Wild #ANTC46161; man-modified “lawn” near parking lot; UTIC, UTIC219525 • 1 ☿; same data as for preceding; UTIC, UTIC204575. – Virginia • 1 ☿; Shenandoah County, near Elizabeth Furnace Campground; 38.94978102° N, 78.299409° W ± 3 m; 210 m a.s.l.; 24 May 2015; M.M. Prebus #MMP1896; riparian mixed hardwood forest, nest in dead standing wood; MMPC, CASENT0755055 • 1 ☿; same data as for preceding; M.M. Prebus #MMP1897; MMPC, CASENT0755056 • 1 ☿; same data as for preceding; 38.94893202° N, 78.29862496° W ± 3 m; 215 m a.s.l.; 24 May 2015; M.M. Prebus #MMP1899; riparian mixed hardwood forest, single worker in dead branch on live tree; MMPC, CASENT0755063. Description Worker Measurements and indices (n = 38): SL = 0.345 –0.476 (0.428); FRS = 0.153–0.25 (0.205); CW = 0.484 – 0.616 (0.572); CWb = 0.442 –0.586 (0.532); PoOC = 0.201 –0.267 (0.240); CL = 0.515 –0.642 (0.598); EL = 0.104 –0.156 (0.133); EW = 0.079 –0.113 (0.097); MD = 0.104 –0.186 (0.142); WL = 0.567 –0.757 (0.690); SPST = 0.115 –0.181 (0.153); MPST = 0.17–0.241 (0.212); PEL = 0.217 –0.288 (0.263); NOL = 0.11–0.172 (0.146); NOH = 0.039–0.11 (0.086); PEH = 0.149 –0.216 (0.191); PPL = 0.129 –0.202 (0.163); PPH = 0.134 –0.185 (0.164); PW = 0.288 –0.387 (0.349); SBPA = 0.067–0.13 (0.101); SPTI = 0.103 –0.174 (0.152); PEW = 0.123 –0.166 (0.140); PNW = 0.052 –0.085 (0.070); PPW = 0.156 –0.214 (0.194); HFL = 0.361 –0.514 (0.460); HFWmax = 0.093 –0.132 (0.118); HFWmin = 0.037 –0.056 (0.046); CS = 0.489 –0.612 (0.565); ES = 0.093 –0.132 (0.115); SI = 73.7–89 (80.6); EI = 21.5–28.5 (24.9); CI = 82.6–100.2 (88.9); WLI = 120–142 (130); SBI = 14.3–22.7 (19.0); PSI = 18.6–26.1 (22.3); PWI = 122–152 (138); PLI = 123–192 (163); NI = 138–290 (177); PNWI = 41.6–58.6 (49.9); NLI = 42.6–64.2 (55.7); FI = 222–300 (258); FRSI = 30.8–46.7 (38.6); SPTII = 21.9–31.8 (28.5). In full face view, head subquadrate, often longer than broad (CI 82.6–100.2). Mandibles weakly, finely striate but shining and armed with five teeth: the apical-most well developed and acute, followed by a less developed preapical tooth and three equally developed smaller teeth. Anterior clypeal margin convex. Antennal scapes short: when fully retracted, failing to reach the posterior margin of the head capsule by about the two times the maximum width of the scape (SI 73.7–89). Antennae 11-segmented; antennal club of composed of three segments, with the apical-most segment about the same length as the preceding two in combination. Frontal carinae short, extending past the antennal toruli by about two times the maximum width of the antennal scape. Compound eyes weakly protruding past the lateral margins of the head capsule. Lateral margin of head very weakly convex above the compound eyes to the posterior margin of the head, slightly constricted below the compound eyes to the mandibular insertions. Posterior head margin weakly concave medially, rounding evenly into the lateral margins. In profile view, compound eyes elongate-ovular and small (EI 21.5–28.5), with 10 ommatidia in longest row. Pronotal declivity indistinct, neck and anterior face of pronotum forming a ~120° angle. Mesosoma arched: evenly convex from where it joins the pronotal neck to propodea