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

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: Pulpi (Almeria) 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.