Temnothorax lailae
| Temnothorax lailae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Genus: | Temnothorax |
| Species: | T. lailae |
| Binomial name | |
| Temnothorax lailae Csősz, Taheri, Schifani, Reyes-López, Alicata, Báthori & Prebus, 2025 | |
Temnothorax lailae is a species of ant in the genus Temnothorax, endemic to Morocco.
Taxonomy
Temnothorax lailae belongs to the Temnothorax anacanthusspecies complex. The species is distinguished from the closely related Temnothorax anacanthus and Temnothorax hesperius by external morphology and sculptural characters and is not considered a cryptic species.[1]
Etymology
The species is named in honor of Laila Ajouaou, an ant enthusiast and the wife of researcher Ahmed Taheri.[1]
Description
The body is usually dark brown to black and uniformly colored. A clypeal depression is absent. The central area of the clypeus has a clearly visible areolate surface texture. The mesosoma lacks a metanotal depression and propodeal spines.[1]
In its general appearance, the species resembles Temnothorax anacanthus but differs in coloration and sculpture. The first gastral tergite of Temnothorax anacanthus is imbricate, whereas in Temnothorax lailae it bears strong, longitudinal striation.[1]
Distribution
Temnothorax lailae is endemic to Morocco.[1]
References
- ^ abcdeCsősz, Sándor; Taheri, Ahmed; Schifani, Enrico; Reyes-López, Joaquin-Luis; Alicata, Antonio; Báthori, Ferenc; Prebus, Matthew M (14 November 2025). Bond, Jason (ed.). "Taxonomic revision of the Mediterranean Temnothorax rottenbergii species group via integrated morphological and molecular approaches". Insect Systematics and Diversity. 9 (6). doi:10.1093/isd/ixaf045. ISSN 2399-3421.
