Species groups and identification key to Chinese Temnothorax ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with descriptions of four new species from Shennongjia National Park

Fangchao Deng; Jingyuan Yang; Zhenghui Xu

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1292.180703

. 2026 Sep 18;1292:293–325. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1292.180703

Species groups and identification key to Chinese Temnothorax ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with descriptions of four new species from Shennongjia National Park

Fangchao Deng ¹, Jingyuan Yang ², Zhenghui Xu ^1,^✉

PMCID: PMC13615394 PMID: 42800989

Abstract

The myrmicine ant genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 is highly diverse in China; however, its fauna remained inadequately studied until recently. During the 2023 Background Resources Survey Project in Shennongjia National Park, four new species of this genus were discovered and are herein described as Temnothorax shennongisp. nov., T. hubeiensissp. nov., T. zhaojunaesp. nov., and T. wangweiisp. nov. To date, a total of 66 species of Temnothorax have been documented in China. To facilitate precise identification and differentiation of these species, a checklist of all known Chinese species of the genus was compiled, sorted into 20 species groups, and a diagnosis for each group is provided. Additionally, a revised identification key for the worker caste of the 66 species based on the species groups is presented. This study not only increases the number of known Temnothorax species in China but also systematizes the taxonomic knowledge of the genus.

Key words: Checklist, key, Myrmicinae , new species, species groups, Temnothorax

Introduction

The myrmicine genus Temnothorax was established by Mayr (1861). Subsequently, it was regarded by various authors as a sub-genus of Leptothorax Mayr, 1855 (Forel 1892; Ruzsky 1905; Wheeler 1910, 1922; Emery 1915, 1924; Bondroit 1918; Donisthorpe 1943) or as a junior synonym of Leptothorax (Forel 1890; Baroni Urbani 1971; Brown Jr 1973; Bolton 1994; Terayama and Onoyama 1999). More recently, Temnothorax has been re-established and is widely recognized as a valid genus (Bolton 2003; Radchenko 2004). In addition to morphological evidence, molecular phylogenetic studies have provided further support for the separation of Temnothorax from Leptothorax (Ward et al. 2015; Prebus 2017).

Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 is a genus of substantial size and wide distribution, spanning the Palearctic, Oriental, Afrotropical, Nearctic, and Neotropical regions (Janicki et al. 2016). To date, 505 species and 29 subspecies of the genus are known worldwide, with the majority recorded from Europe, North Africa, and North America (Bolton 2025). Although numerous myrmecologists have contributed to the study of Temnothorax, comprehensive systematic revisions of the Chinese fauna remain relatively scarce. Previous works by Radchenko (2004), Terayama (2009), and Zhou et al. (2010) revised the eastern Palearctic and Oriental representatives of the genus; however, more extensive and in-depth investigations on the Chinese fauna are still needed. More recently, Hamer et al. (2023) described two new species from Hong Kong, China, namely T. barrettoi Hamer & Guénard and T. haveni Lee et al. In the subsequent year, Qian and Xu (2024) synonymized Temnothorax opaciabdomin (Chang & He, 2001) with T. mongolicus (Pisarski, 1969) and described 28 new species from China. These findings indicate that the diversity of Temnothorax in China remains insufficiently understood and that the taxonomy of the genus in this region requires further clarification.

In the present study, we document four new species of Temnothorax discovered during the 2023 Background Resources Survey Project in Shennongjia National Park, Hubei Province, which lasted 26 days. The new species inhabit semi-evergreen broadleaf forest and conifer-broadleaf mixed forests at altitudes of 550–1700 m. They are notably rare: among the 3537 ant individuals collected, representing four subfamilies, 26 genera, and 68 species, only nine individuals belonged to the four new species (T. hubeiensis sp. nov., four individuals; T. shennongi sp. nov., two; T. wangweii sp. nov., one; and T. zhaojunae sp. nov., two). Similar rarity patterns were observed in the work of Qian and Xu (2024). Based on our surveys of ant communities and diversity in western China during the past three decades, we found that species of the Temnothorax are characterized by a small body size and small populations. Therefore, its individuals are inconspicuous and rarely captured. Among all the species we collected, only a few were common, while the majority were rare. Given China’s vast territory, it is urgent to investigate and record different ant species in today’s rapidly changing environment. Under the conditions of limited funding for taxonomic research, it is difficult to conduct repeated surveys on the ant fauna of a region. Therefore, relying on limited individual advancement for classification description has become an inevitable choice at present. The four new species are described as part of a broader revision of the Chinese Temnothorax fauna, addressing rare taxa. Shennongjia National Park, located at the border mountains of Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Hubei, is one of China’s 11 key terrestrial biodiversity conservation regions. Despite its ecological importance, the park is in central China, surrounded by dense human populations and subject to anthropogenic disturbances. This study increases the known Chinese Temnothorax fauna from 62 to 66. To facilitate precise identification and distinction among these complex taxa, we prepared a checklist of all 66 species, divided them into 20 species groups, and provided diagnostic characteristics for each group. In addition, a revised identification key for all known Chinese species of the genus is constructed based on the species grouping.

Materials and methods

Chinese Temnothorax species were studied based on specimens collected from China as well as type and non-type specimen images accessible on the AntWeb (http://www.antweb.org) and AntWiki (http://www.antwiki.org). The foreign type specimens were not personally inspected but taxonomic conclusions were founded on high-resolution photographs of type material. For four species, T. argentipes (Wheeler, 1928), T. eburneipes (Wheeler, 1927), T. taivanensis (Wheeler, 1929a), and T. wui (Wheeler, 1929b), color images were unavailable; thus, the original descriptions and line drawing illustrations provided by Radchenko (2004) were utilized for comparison and species identification. Ant specimens from Shennongjia National Park, Hubei Province, China, were collected through searching method described by Xu et al. (2011). Temnothorax species were examined under a SDPTOP SZ stereo-microscope with a micrometer (Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Co. Ltd, Zhejiang, China). Digital images were obtained using a Liyang Super Resolution System LY-WN-YH (Chengdu Liyang Precision Machinery Co., Ltd, China), and image stacking was performed with Zerene Stacker software (Zerene Systems LLC, USA). Morphological terminology and integument sculpture characters conformed to the glossary provided in Hölldobler and Wilson (1990) and Bolton (1994). Unique Specimen Identities (USIs) of specimens housed in the Ant Collection of Southwest Forestry University (SWFU) are incorporated in the “Type Material” section of each new species description to facilitate repeatability enabling future researchers to reference the material. The ant collection catalog follows the format “SWFU A23-1”, where SWFU is the institution abbreviation, A (or B, C) denotes the person responsible for the specimens, 23 corresponds to the last two digits of the collection year (2023), and 1 is the starting sequential number of the ant specimens collected in the year 2023. Multiple individuals from the same nest were assigned a single specimen number to indicate their nest origin. All the type specimens of the four new species are deposited in the Ant Collection of Southwest Forestry University (SWFU), Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, except one paratype worker (SWFU A23-906) which will be donated to the Insect Collection, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.

Standard measurements and indices adhere to the methodology proposed by Bolton (1983), with the inclusion of ED, PL, PH, and DPW as delineated hereinafter. All measurements are expressed in millimeters (mm).

TL Total Length: total outstretched length of the individual, from the mandibular apex to the gastral apex.

HL Head Length: straight-line length of head in full-face view, measured from the mid-point of the anterior clypeal margin to the midpoint of the posterior margin. For species with concave margins, the measurement is taken from the mid-point of a transverse line connecting the apices of the projecting portions.

HW Head Width: maximum width of head in full-face view, excluding the eyes.

SL Scape Length: straight-line length of the antennal scape, excluding the basal constriction or neck.

ED Eye Diameter: maximum diameter of the eye.

PW Pronotal Width: maximum width of pronotum in dorsal view.

WL Weber’s length: diagonal length of the mesosoma in profile from the point where pronotum meets the cervical shield to the posterior base of the metapleuron.

PL Petiole Length: length of petiole measured in lateral view, from the anterior to posterior articulation.

PH Petiole Height: height of petiole in lateral view from the apex of the ventral (subpetiolar) process vertically to a line intersecting the dorsal most point of the node.

DPW Dorsal Petiole Width: maximum width of petiole in dorsal view.

CI Cephalic Index = HW × 100 / HL.

SI Scape Index = SL × 100 / HW.

Acronyms of specimen repositories

CAF Organism Specimen Collection, Institute of Forest Ecological Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.

GXNU Insect Collection, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.

MCZC Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

SWFU Ant Collection, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.

Taxonomic account

List of known Chinese Temnothorax species with geographical distribution

To date, 66 species of Temnothorax are recognized from China, including the four new species described in this study. The currently known Chinese species are listed below along with their recorded distributions.

T. angulohumerus Zhou et al., 2010, Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Xizang, Yunnan.
T. argentipes (Wheeler, 1928), Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Beijing, Fujian, Guangxi, Hebei, Henan, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan.
T. bailu Qian & Xu, 2024, Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
T. barrettoi Hamer & Guénard, 2023, Oriental Region: China: Hong Kong.
T. brevispinus (Chang & He, 2001), Palearctic Region: China: Ningxia, Qinghai.
T. chun Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. chunfen Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. chushu Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan.
T. confucii (Forel, 1912), Oriental Region: China: Taiwan.
T. congruus (Smith, 1874), Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Beijing, Guangxi, Yunnan; Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Russia.
T. dahan Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. dashu Qian & Xu, 2024, Palearctic and Oriental Region: China: Xizang, Yunnan.
T. daxue Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. desioi (Menozzi, 1939), Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Xizang; India (type locality), Pakistan.
T. dong Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. dongzhi Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Sichuan.
T. eburneipes (Wheeler, 1927), Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Jiangxi; North Korea.
T. guyu Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Sichuan and Yunnan.
T. hanlu Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. haveni Lee et al., 2023, Oriental Region: China: Hong Kong.
T. hengshanensis (Huang et al., 2004), Oriental Region: China: Hunan, Yunnan.
T. huatuo Terayama, 2009, Oriental Region: China: Taiwan.
T. hubeiensis sp. nov., Oriental Region: China: Hubei.
T. jingzhe Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. koreanus (Teranishi, 1940), Palearctic Region: China: Hubei; North Korea, Japan, South Korea.
T. kuixing Terayama, 2009, Oriental Region: China: Taiwan.
T. leigong Terayama, 2009, Oriental Region: China: Taiwan.
T. leimu Terayama, 2009, Oriental Region: China: Taiwan.
T. leyeensis Zhou et al., 2010, Oriental Region: China: Guangxi.
T. lichun Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. lidong Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan.
T. liqiu Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan.
T. lixia Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Sichuan.
T. mangzhong Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. maoerensis Zhou et al., 2010, Oriental Region: China: Guangxi.
T. mongolicus (Pisarski, 1969), Palearctic Region: China: Hebei, Inner Mongolia; North Korea, Mongolia, Russia.
T. orchidus Zhou et al., 2010, Oriental Region: China: Guangxi, Sichuan and Yunnan.
T. pisarskii Radchenko, 2004, Palearctic Region: China: Hebei, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Shaanxi; North Korea.
T. qingming Qian & Xu, 2024, Palearctic Region: China: Xizang.
T. qiu Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan.
T. qiufen Qian & Xu, 2024, Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Sichuan, Qinghai.
T. reduncus (Wang & Wu, 1988), Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Fujian, Gansu, Hubei, Sichuan.
T. reticulatus (Chang & He, 2001), Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Beijing, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Yunnan.
T. ruginosus Zhou et al., 2010, Oriental Region: China: Guizhou, Hunan, Zhejiang.
T. shannxiensis Zhou et al., 2010, Palearctic Region: China: Shaanxi.
T. shennongi sp. nov., Oriental Region: China: Hubei.
T. shuangjiang Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. spinosior (Forel, 1901), Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Anhui, Beijing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; Japan, South Korea.
T. striatus Zhou et al., 2010, Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Henan, Hubei, Ningxia, Sichuan, Yunnan.
T. susamyri (Dlussky, 1965), Palearctic Region: China: Xizang; Kyrgyzstan.
T. taivanensis (Wheeler, 1929), Oriental Region: China: Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Taiwan, Yunnan.
T. tianpeng Terayama, 2009, Oriental Region: China: Taiwan.
T. volgensis (Ruzsky, 1905), Palearctic Region: China: Qinghai; Russia.
T. wangweii sp. nov., Oriental Region: China: Hubei.
T. wui (Wheeler, 1929), Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Beijing, Hebei, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan.
T. xanthos Radchenko, 2004, Palearctic Region: China: Jiangsu; North Korea.
T. xia Qian & Xu, 2024, Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Xizang, Yunnan.
T. xiaohan Qian & Xu, 2024, Palearctic Region: China: Xizang.
T. xiaoman Qian & Xu, 2024, Palearctic Region: China: Shaanxi.
T. xiaoshu Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. xiaoxue Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. xiazhi Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Yunnan.
T. yanwan Terayama, 2009, Oriental Region: China: Taiwan.
T. yushui Qian & Xu, 2024, Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan.
T. zhaojunae sp. nov., Oriental Region: China: Hubei.
T. zhejiangensis Zhou et al., 2010, Oriental Region: China: Guangxi, Henan, Zhejiang.

Groups of Chinese Temnothorax species

To facilitate identification of the 66 known Chinese Temnothorax species, we divided them into 20 species groups. Diagnostic characters for each group with the related species are provided below.

1 koreanus group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 11-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum bluntly angled in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex; posterodorsal corner of propodeum spined in lateral view, with spines approximately as long as declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node trapezoidal with a broadly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole coarsely reticulate except head dorsum mainly rugose; body dorsum with sparse apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae without standing hairs. Included one species: T. koreanus (Teranishi, 1940).

2 angulohumerus group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum bluntly to right-angled in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum nearly straight; posterodorsal corner of propodeum spined in lateral view, with spines shorter than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, approx. as long as petiolar node; petiolar node trapezoidal with a broadly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head dorsum loosely rugose with central area nearly smooth; mesosoma and petiole mainly reticulate except pronotal sides rugose; body dorsum with sparse or very sparse apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae with or without decumbent hairs. Included three species: T. angulohumerus Zhou et al., 2010, T. bailu Qian & Xu, 2024 and T. orchidus Zhou et al., 2010.

3 hengshanensis group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum narrowly to broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex; posterodorsal corner of propodeum rounded in lateral view, without spines; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node nearly triangular or trapezoidal, with a bluntly angled or broadly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head, mesosoma and petiole reticulate and punctate; body dorsum with sparse or very sparse apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae without standing hairs. Included two species: T. hengshanensis (Huang et al., 2004) and T. leimu Terayama, 2009.

4 maoerensis group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove present; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum nearly straight; posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly angled to triangularly toothed in lateral view, the teeth shorter than their basal width; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. conical or trapezoidal, with a narrowly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely or loosely reticulate; body dorsum with sparse apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae with decumbent to subdecumbent standing hairs. Included four species: T. chushu Qian & Xu, 2024, T. dashu Qian & Xu, 2024, T. maoerensis Zhou et al., 2010 and T. yushui Qian & Xu, 2024.

5 congruus group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex or nearly straight; posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly angled to triangularly toothed in lateral view, the teeth shorter than their basal width; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. triangular or semicircular, with a bluntly angled or narrowly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head, mesosoma and petiole densely reticulate except head dorsum mainly rugose; body dorsum with sparse apically blunt or acute hairs, scapes and tibiae with or without decumbent to subdecumbent standing hairs. Included three species: T. congruus (Smith, 1874), T. jingzhe Qian & Xu, 2024 and T. mangzhong Qian & Xu, 2024.

6 chunfen group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex or nearly straight; posterodorsal corner of propodeum triangularly toothed in lateral view, the teeth shorter than their basal width; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. conical, with a narrowly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head wholly or mostly smooth; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely reticulate; body dorsum with sparse apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae without decumbent standing hairs. Included two species: T. chunfen Qian & Xu, 2024 and T. guyu Qian & Xu, 2024.

7 desioi group

8 liqiu group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove present; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex or nearly straight; posterodorsal corner of propodeum shortly toothed or spined in lateral view, the teeth or spines longer than their basal width but shorter than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than or as long as petiolar node; petiolar node approx. conical or trapezoidal, with a narrowly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely reticulate or rugose; body dorsum with sparse apically acute hairs, scapes and tibiae with or without decumbent standing hairs. Included three species: T. liqiu Qian & Xu, 2024, T. shennongi sp. nov. and T. xiaoshu Qian & Xu, 2024.

9 wui group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex or nearly straight; posterodorsal corner of propodeum shortly toothed or spined in lateral view, the teeth or spines longer than their basal width but shorter than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. conical or triangular, with a narrowly rounded or right-angled dorsum in lateral view; head wholly or mostly smooth on the central area; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely reticulate or rugose; body dorsum with sparse apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae without subdecumbent standing hairs. Included three species: T. qingming Qian & Xu, 2024, T. susamyri (Dlussky, 1965) and T. wui (Wheeler, 1929).

10 mongolicus group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex; posterodorsal corner of propodeum shortly spined in lateral view, the spines longer than their basal width but shorter than declivity; petiole without anterior peduncle; petiolar node approx. triangular, with a bluntly angled dorsum in lateral view; head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely reticulate; body dorsum with sparse apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae without subdecumbent standing hairs. Included two species: T. brevispinus (Chang & He, 2001) and T. mongolicus (Pisarski, 1969).

11 leyeensis group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex or nearly straight; posterodorsal corner of propodeum shortly spined in lateral view, the spines longer than their basal width but shorter than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. trapezoidal, with a narrowly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head sides, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely reticulate, head dorsum rugose or reticulate; body dorsum with sparse or very sparse apically blunt or acute hairs, scapes and tibiae with or without subdecumbent standing hairs. Included five species: T. chun Qian & Xu, 2024, T. dongzhi Qian & Xu, 2024, T. leyeensis Zhou et al., 2010, T. xia Qian & Xu, 2024 and T. xiaoxue Qian & Xu, 2024.

12 spinosior group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex; posterodorsal corner of propodeum shortly spined in lateral view, the spines longer than their basal width but shorter than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node symmetrical, approx. conical or triangular, with a bluntly or right-angled dorsum in lateral view; head sides, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely reticulate, head dorsum rugose or reticulate; body dorsum with sparse or very sparse apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae without subdecumbent standing hairs. Included seven species: T. dahan Qian & Xu, 2024, T. dong Qian & Xu, 2024, T. huatuo Terayama, 2009, T. pisarskii Radchenko, 2004, T. qiu Qian & Xu, 2024, T. shuangjiang Qian & Xu, 2024 and T. spinosior (Forel, 1901).

13 striatus group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex or nearly straight; posterodorsal corner of propodeum shortly spined in lateral view, the spines longer than their basal width but shorter than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than or as long as petiolar node; petiolar node asymmetric with more convex posterior margin, approx. triangular, with a bluntly or right-angled dorsum in lateral view; head sides, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely reticulate, head dorsum rugose; body dorsum with sparse apically blunt or acute hairs, scapes and tibiae with or without decumbent standing hairs. Included seven species: T. lixia Qian & Xu, 2024, T. qiufen Qian & Xu, 2024, T. shannxiensis Zhou et al., 2010, T. striatus Zhou et al., 2010, T. xiaohan Qian & Xu, 2024, T. xiaoman Qian & Xu, 2024 and T. xiazhi Qian & Xu, 2024.

14 confucii group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove present; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum concave at metanotal groove; posterodorsal corner of propodeum with long spines in lateral view, the spines approx. as long as or longer than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, longer than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. triangular, with a right-or bluntly angled dorsum in lateral view; head and mesosoma loosely rugose or densely reticulate, head sides reticulate, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate; body dorsum with sparse to abundant apically blunt or acute hairs, scapes and tibiae without subdecumbent standing hairs. Included three species: T. argentipes (Wheeler, 1928), T. confucii (Forel, 1912) and T. haveni Lee et al., 2023.

15 kuixing group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove present; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum concave at metanotal groove; posterodorsal corner of propodeum with long spines in lateral view, the spines approx. as long as or longer than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, as long as or shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. conical or triangular, with a narrowly rounded or bluntly angled dorsum in lateral view; head reticulate or rugose, mesosoma reticulate, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate; body dorsum with sparse apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae with or without decumbent standing hairs. Included three species: T. kuixing Terayama, 2009, T. leigong Terayama, 2009 and T. zhaojunae sp. nov.

16 lichun group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum narrowly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove present; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum concave at metanotal groove; posterodorsal corner of propodeum with long spines in lateral view, the spines longer than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. trapezoidal, with a narrowly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole densely or loosely reticulate; body dorsum with abundant apically blunt hairs, scapes and tibiae without subdecumbent standing hairs. Included two species: T. lichun Qian & Xu, 2024 and T. wangweii sp. nov.

17 taivanensis group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum narrowly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex; posterodorsal corner of propodeum with long spines in lateral view, the spines approx. as long as declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, longer than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. conical, with a narrowly rounded dorsum in lateral view; head and mesosoma rogose, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate; body dorsum with abundant apically acute hairs, scapes and tibiae without subdecumbent standing hairs. Included one species: T. taivanensis (Wheeler, 1929).

18 reduncus group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum narrowly to broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum nearly straight; posterodorsal corner of propodeum with long spines in lateral view, the spines approx. as long as declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than or as long as petiolar node; petiolar node approx. conical or triangular, with a narrowly rounded or bluntly angled dorsum in lateral view; head reticulate or rugose, mesosoma reticulate, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate; body dorsum with sparse or abundant apically blunt or acute hairs, scapes and tibiae without subdecumbent standing hairs. Included five species: T. barrettoi Hamer & Guénard, 2023, T. lidong Qian & Xu, 2024, T. reduncus (Wang & Wu, 1988), T. tianpeng Terayama, 2009 and T. yanwan Terayama, 2009.

19 volgensis group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum narrowly to broadly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex; posterodorsal corner of propodeum with long spines in lateral view, the spines approx. as long as declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. conical or triangular, with a narrowly rounded or bluntly angled dorsum in lateral view; head sides, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole reticulate, head dorsum reticulate or rugose; body dorsum with sparse or very sparse apically blunt or acute hairs, scapes and tibiae with or without decumbent standing hairs. Included six species: T. daxue Qian & Xu, 2024, T. reticulatus (Chang & He, 2001), T. ruginosus Zhou et al., 2010, T. volgensis (Ruzsky, 1905), T. xanthos Radchenko, 2004 and T. zhejiangensis Zhou et al., 2010.

20 eburneipes group

Diagnosis. Species of this group are characterized by the following combination of characters: antennae 12-segmented; humeral corners of pronotum narrowly rounded in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex; posterodorsal corner of propodeum with long spines in lateral view, the spines longer than declivity; petiole with a distinct anterior peduncle, shorter than petiolar node; petiolar node approx. triangular or trapezoidal, with a narrowly rounded or bluntly angled dorsum in lateral view; head sides and mesosoma reticulate, head dorsum rugose or reticulate, petiole and postpetiole punctate; body dorsum with sparse or abundant apically blunt or acute hairs, scapes and tibiae without subdecumbent standing hairs. Included three species: T. eburneipes (Wheeler, 1927), T. hanlu Qian & Xu, 2024 and T. hubeiensis sp. nov.

Key to the known Chinese Temnothorax species (worker caste)

This key to the 66 known Chinese species of Temnothorax is revised from that of Qian and Xu (2024) based on the species grouping to incorporate the four new species described in the present study. In the original key of Qian and Xu (2024), Temnothorax taivanensis (Wheeler, 1929) was incorrectly placed due to the misinterpretation of the absence of the metanotal groove. In the revised key presented here, this species is positioned correctly based on that diagnostic character.

1	Antennae 11-segmented [Palearctic Region: China: Hubei; North Korea, Japan, South Korea (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 48)	*T. koreanus* (Teranishi, 1940)**
–	Antennae 12-segmented	2
2	Humeral corners of pronotum protruding, right-to bluntly angled in dorsal view	3
–	Humeral corners of pronotum narrowly to broadly rounded in dorsal view	5
3	Humeral corners of pronotum bluntly angled in dorsal view. Dorsum of petiolar node sloping down posteriorly. Body color blackish brown, head and gaster black [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 3)	*T. bailu* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Humeral corners of pronotum right-angled in dorsal view. Dorsum of petiolar node almost horizontal. Body color yellowish brown, head and gaster blackish brown	4
4	In full-face view antennal scapes surpassing posterior head margin. Pronotum strongly convex in lateral view. Propodeal spines ~ 2× as long as their basal width in lateral view, tips slightly curved posterodorsally [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Xizang, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 4)	*T. angulohumerus* Zhou et al., 2010**
–	In full-face view antennal scapes fail to reach posterior head margin. Pronotum weakly convex in lateral view. Propodeal spines ~ 1.2× as long as their basal width in lateral view, tips strongly curved posteriorly [Oriental Region: China: Guangxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 51)	*T. orchidus* Zhou et al., 2010**
5	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum rounded in lateral view (see Qian and Xu 2024: figs 49, 50)	6
–	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly to right-angled (see Qian and Xu 2024: figs 19B, 20B), toothed (see Qian and Xu 2024: figs 27, 38) or spined (see Qian and Xu 2024: figs 23, 24) in lateral view	7
6	Posterior head margin moderately convex. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum narrowly rounded in lateral view. Petiolar node approx. triangular and without obvious dorsal margin [Oriental Region: China: Hunan, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 49)	*T. hengshanensis* (Huang et al., 2004)**
–	Posterior head margin slightly convex. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum broadly rounded in lateral view. Petiolar node approx. trapezoidal and with obvious dorsal margin [Oriental Region: China: Taiwan (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 50)	*T. leimu* Terayama, 2009**
7	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly angled or triangularly toothed, if toothed than the teeth not longer than their basal width in lateral view	8
–	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum as short- to long-spined, the spines longer than their basal width in lateral view	17
8	Metanotal groove obviously impressed	9
–	Metanotal groove absent	12
9	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum bluntly angled [Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 43)	*T. yushui* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum triangularly toothed	10
10	Anterior margin of petiolar node nearly straight [Palearctic and Oriental Region: China: Xizang, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 12)	*T. dashu* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Anterior margin of petiolar node obviously concave	11
11	Head dorsum weakly reticulate and relatively smooth. Body color blackish brown [Oriental Region: China: Guangxi (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 9)	*T. maoerensis* Zhou et al., 2010**
–	Head dorsum strongly reticulate and dull. Body color brownish yellow [Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 8)	*T. chushu* Qian & Xu, 2024**
12	Petiole without anterior peduncle [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Xizang; India (type locality), Pakistan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 20)	*T. desioi* (Menozzi, 1939)**
–	Petiole with distinct anterior peduncle	13
13	Head dorsum wholly smooth or at least smooth on the longitudinal central strip	14
–	Head dorsum rugose or reticulate	15
14	Head dorsum wholly smooth. Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum nearly straight in lateral view [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 6)	*T. chunfen* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Head dorsum smooth on the longitudinal central strip, rugose and reticulate laterally. Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex in lateral view [Oriental Region: China: Sichuan and Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 19)	*T. guyu* Qian & Xu, 2024**
15	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum right--angled. Petiolar node nearly semicircular in lateral view [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 29)	*T. mangzhong* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum triangularly toothed. Petiolar node approx. triangular or conical in lateral view [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 29)	16
16	Petiolar node approx. triangular and weakly inclined anteriorly, with summit bluntly angled. Head dorsum coarsely longitudinally rugose. Body color reddish brown [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Beijing, Guangxi, Yunnan; North Korea, Japan (type locality), South Korea, Russia] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 7)	*T. congruus* (Smith, 1874)**
–	Petiolar node approx. conical and erect, with summit narrowly rounded. Head dorsum finely longitudinally rugose. Body color brownish black [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 22)	*T. jingzhe* Qian & Xu, 2024**
17	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum shortly spined, the spines shorter than declivity	18
–	Posterodorsal corner of propodeum long-spined, the spines as long as or longer than declivity	44
18	Metanotal groove obviously impressed	19
–	Metanotal groove absent	21
19	Petiolar node approx. conical, with narrowly rounded summit. Head dorsum coarse reticulate [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (fig. 3)	*T. xiaoshu* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Petiolar node approx. trapezoidal, with obvious dorsal margin. Head dorsum finely reticulate or longitudinally rugose	20
20	Propodeal spines very short, ~ 1.5× as long as their basal width. Head dorsum longitudinally rugose anteriorly and reticulate posteriorly, mesosoma densely reticulate. Body color yellowish brown, head brownish black [Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan] (fig. 2)	*T. liqiu* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Propodeal spines relatively longer, ~ 3× as long as their basal width. Head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose, mesosoma mainly longitudinally rugose. Body black, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole brownish black [Oriental Region: China: Hubei] (fig. 1)	*T. shennongi* sp. nov**.
21	Head dorsum wholly smooth or at least smooth on the longitudinal central strip	22
–	Head dorsum wholly sculptured	24
22	Head dorsum wholly smooth. Petiolar node approx. conical with narrowly rounded summit [Palearctic Region: China: Xizang] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 30)	*T. qingming* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Head dorsum smooth on the longitudinal central strip, rugose or reticulate laterally. Petiolar node approx. triangular with right-angled summit	23
23	Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum nearly straight in lateral view [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Beijing, Hebei, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 31)	*T. wui* (Wheeler, 1929)**
–	Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex in lateral view [Palearctic Region: China: Xizang; Kyrgyzstan (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 65)	*T. susamyri* (Dlussky, 1965)**
24	Petiole without anterior peduncle	25
–	Petiole with distinct anterior peduncle	26
25	Head dorsum longitudinally rugose on the central area. Propodeal spines thin in lateral view. Body color yellow, head and gaster blackish brown [Palearctic Region: China: Hebei, Inner Mongolia; North Korea, Mongolia (type locality), Russia] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 1)	*T. mongolicus* (Pisarski, 1969)**
–	Head dorsum finely reticulate on the central area. Propodeal spines thick in lateral view. Body color reddish brown, head and gaster brownish black [Palearctic Region: China: Ningxia, Qinghai] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 66)	*T. brevispinus* (Chang & He, 2001)**
26	Petiolar node approx. trapezoidal, with obvious dorsal margin	27
–	Petiolar node approx. triangular or conical, without obvious dorsal margin	31
27	Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex	28
–	Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum nearly straight	29
28	Head dorsum densely reticulate. Propodeal spines posterodorsally pointed, formed a blunt angle with propodeal dorsum. Body color black, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole brownish yellow [Oriental Region: China: Guangxi (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 18)	*T. leyeensis* Zhou et al., 2010**
–	Head dorsum longitudinally rugose. Propodeal spines suberect, formed a right angle with propodeal dorsum. Body color black, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole blackish brown [Oriental Region: China: Sichuan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 17)	*T. dongzhi* Qian & Xu, 2024**
29	Scapes with subdecumbent hairs. Sides of pronotum reticulate [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 39)	*T. xiaoxue* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Scapes without subdecumbent hairs. Sides of pronotum longitudinally rugose	30
30	Head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose. Petiolar node smooth. Body color black [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 5)	*T. chun* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Head dorsum densely longitudinally rugose. Petiolar node densely reticulate. Body color blackish brown [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Xizang, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 35)	*T. xia* Qian & Xu, 2024**
31	Petiolar node nearly symmetrical in lateral view, posterior margin approx. as convex as anterior margin	32
–	Petiolar node asymmetrical in lateral view, posterior margin more convex than anterior margin	38
32	Anterior margin of petiolar node nearly straight	33
–	Anterior margin of petiolar node obviously concave	35
33	Petiolar node approx. conical, with narrowly rounded summit. Body color blackish brown [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Anhui, Beijing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; Japan (type locality), South Korea] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 11)	*T. spinosior* (Forel, 1901)**
–	Petiolar node approx. triangular, with right-angled summit. Body color blackish or yellow	34
34	Head dorsum densely longitudinally rugose. Body color yellow [Palearctic Region: China: Hebei, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Shaanxi; North Korea] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 67)	*T. pisarskii* Radchenko, 2004**
–	Head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose. Body color black [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 10)	*T. dahan* Qian & Xu, 2024**
35	Petiolar node approx. conical, with narrowly rounded summit	36
–	Petiolar node approx. triangular, with right- angled summit	37
36	Head dorsum parallelly rugose. Mesosoma finely reticulate [Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 32)	*T. qiu* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Head dorsum irregularly rugose. Mesosoma coarsely reticulate [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 34)	*T. shuangjiang* Qian & Xu, 2024**
37	Head dorsum longitudinally rugose on the central area. Body color brownish black [Oriental Region: China: Taiwan (type locality)] (See Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 16)	*T. huatuo* Terayama, 2009**
–	Head dorsum densely reticulate on the central area. Body color black [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 15)	*T. dong* Qian & Xu, 2024**
38	Anterior margin of petiolar node near straight in lateral view	39
–	Anterior margin of petiolar node obviously concave in lateral view	40
39	Head dorsum mainly longitudinally rugose, the rugae almost reaching to posterior head margin. Sides of pronotum coarsely reticulate [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Henan, Hubei, Ningxia, Sichuan, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 40)	*T. striatus* Zhou et al., 2010**
–	Head dorsum longitudinally rugose in the anterior half and reticulate in the posterior half. Sides of pronotum longitudinally rugose [Palearctic Region: China: Shaanxi] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 64)	*T. shannxiensis* Zhou et al., 2010**
40	Pronotal sides finely reticulate	41
–	Pronotal sides coarsely reticulate	42
41	Head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Sichuan, Qinghai] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 33)	*T. qiufen* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Head dorsum densely longitudinally rugose [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 41)	*T. xiazhi* Qian & Xu, 2024**
42	Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly convex [Oriental Region China: Sichuan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 28)	*T. lixia* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum nearly straight	43
43	Head dorsum reticulate. Propodeal spines nearly suberect. Petiolar node with right-angled summit [Palearctic Region: China: Shaanxi] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 37)	*T. xiaoman* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Head dorsum longitudinally rugose. Propodeal spines posterodorsally pointed. Petiolar node with narrowly rounded summit [Palearctic Region: China: Xizang] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 36)	*T. xiaohan* Qian & Xu, 2024**
44	Metanotal groove obviously impressed	45
–	Metanotal groove absent	52
45	Anterior peduncle longer than petiolar node	46
–	Anterior peduncle as long as or shorter than petiolar node	48
46	Petiolar node asymmetrical, posterior margin much convex than anterior margin [Oriental Region: China: Taiwan (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 55)	*T. confucii* (Forel, 1912)**
–	Petiolar node symmetrical, posterior margin as convex as anterior margin	47
47	Propodeal spines slender and slightly down-curved, longer than declivity [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Beijing, Fujian, Guangxi, Hebei, Henan, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 42)	*T. argentipes* (Wheeler, 1928)**
–	Propodeal spines stout and strongly down-curved, as long as declivity [Oriental Region: China: Hong Kong (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 52)	*T. haveni* Lee et al., 2023**
48	Petiolar node approx. trapezoidal, with distinct dorsal margin	49
–	Petiolar node approx. conical or triangular, with narrowly rounded or right-angled summit	50
49	Head dorsum coarsely reticulate. Anterior margin of clypeus concave in the center. Promesonotum weakly convex. Anterior peduncle ~ 2/5 length of petiolar node. Head and gaster black, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole reddish brown [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (fig. 5)	*T. lichun* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Head dorsum loosely longitudinally rugose. Anterior margin of clypeus convex in the center. Promesonotum strongly convex. Anterior peduncle ~ 1/3 length of petiolar node. Body color black [Oriental Region: China: Hubei] (fig. 4)	*T. wangweii* sp. nov**.
50	Petiolar node approx. triangular, anterior margin nearly straight, with right-angled summit. Head dorsum longitudinally rugose [Oriental Region: China: Hubei] (fig. 10)	*T. zhaojunae* sp. nov**.
–	Petiolar node approx. conical, anterior margin obviously concave, with narrowly rounded summit. Head dorsum densely reticulate	51
51	Anterior peduncle approx. as long as petiolar node in lateral view. Head dorsum densely punctate with loose longitudinal rugae. Body color brownish yellow, head blackish brown, gaster black [Oriental Region: China: Taiwan (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 53)	*T. leigong* Terayama, 2009**
–	Anterior peduncle shorter than petiolar node in lateral view. Head dorsum finely reticulate. Body color blackish brown, gaster black [Oriental Region: China: Taiwan (type locality)] (fig. 6)	*T. kuixing* Terayama, 2009**
52	Anterior peduncle obviously longer than petiolar node [Oriental Region: China: Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Taiwan, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 24)	*T. taivanensis* (Wheeler, 1929)**
–	Anterior peduncle as long as or shorter than petiolar node	53
53	Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum nearly straight in lateral view	54
–	Dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum weakly to moderately convex in lateral view	58
54	Anterior margin of petiolar node obviously concave	55
–	Anterior margin of petiolar node nearly straight	56
55	Head dorsum loosely reticulate. Promesonotum weakly convex [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Fujian, Gansu, Hubei, Sichuan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 62)	*T. reduncus* (Wang & Wu, 1988)**
–	Head dorsum mainly longitudinally rugose with interface densely punctate. Promesonotum moderately convex [Oriental Region: China: Taiwan (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 63)	*T. tianpeng* Terayama, 2009**
56	Propodeal spines obviously longer than declivity. Head dorsum reticulate. Body color yellow [Oriental Region: China: Hong Kong (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 61)	*T. barrettoi* Hamer & Guénard, 2023**
–	Propodeal spines approx. as long as declivity. Head dorsum longitudinally rugose. Body color black or brownish black	57
57	Head dorsum mainly longitudinally rugose. Body color brownish black [Oriental Region: China: Taiwan (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 26)	*T. yanwan* Terayama, 2009**
–	Head dorsum longitudinally rugose, smooth on the longitudinal central strip. Body color black [Oriental Region: China: Sichuan, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 25)	*T. lidong* Qian & Xu, 2024**
58	Propodeal spines approx. as long as declivity	59
–	Propodeal spines obviously longer than declivity	64
59	Head dorsum mainly longitudinally rugose	60
–	Head dorsum reticulate	62
60	Petiolar node approx. conical with narrowly rounded summit. Body color black [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 13)	*T. daxue* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Petiolar node approx. triangular with bluntly angled summit. Body color yellowish brown	61
61	Head dorsum coarsely longitudinally rugose. Mesosomal dorsum weakly convex in lateral view [Palearctic Region: China: Qinghai; Russia (type locality)] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 59)	*T. volgensis* (Ruzsky, 1905)**
–	Head dorsum finely longitudinally rugose. Mesosomal dorsum moderately convex in lateral view [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Beijing, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Yunnan] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 60)	*T. reticulatus* (Chang & He, 2001)**
62	Posterior margin of head weakly convex. Mesosomal dorsum weakly convex [Palearctic Region: China: Jiangsu; North Korea] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 57)	*T. xanthos* Radchenko, 2004**
–	Posterior margin of head nearly straight. Mesosomal dorsum moderately convex	63
63	Head dorsum and mesosoma densely reticulate [Oriental Region: China: Guangxi, Henan, Zhejiang] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 56)	*T. zhejiangensis* Zhou et al., 2010**
–	Head dorsum and mesosoma loosely reticulate [Oriental Region: China: Guizhou, Hunan, Zhejiang] (see Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 58)	*T. ruginosus* Zhou et al., 2010**
64	Head dorsum reticulate. Petiolar node approx. trapezoidal, with distinct dorsal margin [Oriental Region: China: Yunnan] (fig. 9)	*T. hanlu* Qian & Xu, 2024**
–	Head dorsum longitudinally rugose. Petiolar node approx. conical or triangular, with narrowly rounded or bluntly angled summit	65
65	Head dorsum longitudinally rugose, smooth on the longitudinal central strip. Propodeal spines weakly up-curved. Petiolar node approx. conical, with narrowly rounded summit [Palearctic and Oriental Regions: China: Jiangxi (type locality); North Korea] (fig. 8)	*T. eburneipes* (Wheeler, 1927)**
–	Head dorsum wholly longitudinally rugose. Propodeal spines weakly down-curved. Petiolar node approx. triangular, with bluntly angled summit [Oriental Region: China: Hubei] (fig. 7)	*T. hubeiensis* sp. nov**.

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Descriptions of new species

Temnothorax shennongi sp. nov.

A3FA4693-D96F-5196-B41C-7399350F1EA8

https://zoobank.org/A8FF95AC-54BE-450F-B902-08A27DC3021E

Fig. 1

Figure 1. — *Temnothorax* *shennongi* sp. nov. holotype worker (photographer: Zhenghui Xu). A. Head in full-face view; B. Body in lateral view; C. Body in dorsal view.

Type material.

Holotype: • worker, China: Hubei Province, Badong County, Yanhedu Town, Xiaoshennongjia Village, 30°18'24"N, 110°21'34"E, 1150 m, foraging on the ground in semi-evergreen broadleaf forest, 20 June 2023, Fangchao Deng leg., SWFU A23-986. Paratype: • 1 worker, China: Hubei Province, Shiyan City, Zhushan County, Mochi Village, 31°57'29"N, 110°04'40"E, 920 m, foraging on plant in semi-evergreen broadleaf forest, 9 June 2023, Fangchao Deng leg., SWFU A23-475.

Description.

Holotype worker (Fig. 1): TL 3.2, HL 0.78, HW 0.68, CI 87, SL 0.58, SI 85, ED 0.18, PW 0.48, WL 0.98, PL 0.40, PH 0.25, DPW 0.20.

In full-face view head subrectangular, longer than broad, posterior margin slightly concave, posterior corners narrowly rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with five teeth. Clypeal dorsum weakly convex, with median carina, anterior margin moderately convex. Frontal lobes broad, concealing antennal sockets. Frontal carinae short, reaching to the level of midpoint of eyes. Antennae 12-segmented, scape failed to reach posterior head margin by 1/10 of its length, club 3-segmented. Eyes located at midline of head, occupying 1/4 of lateral margin.

In lateral view promesonotum strongly convex, promesonotal suture absent. Pronotum slightly convex, mesonotum almost straight and sloping down posteriorly, metanotal groove very shallowly impressed. Propodeal dorsum straight; propodeal spines moderately long and acute, posteriorly curved, ~ 2/3 length of declivity; declivity slightly concave, ~ 1/2 length of dorsum; propodeal lobes small and rounded apically. Petiole with relatively shorter anterior peduncle, ~ 0.7× as long as petiolar node; petiolar node approx. trapezoidal, anterior margin weakly concave, dorsal and posterior margins weakly convex, anterodorsal and posterodorsal corners narrowly rounded; ventral margin almost straight anteriorly and weakly concave posteriorly, anteroventral corner acutely toothed. Postpetiole approx. as high as petiole, dorsum roundly convex; ventral margin short, shallowly notched anteriorly and straight posteriorly.

In dorsal view pronotum broadest, anterior margin moderately convex, humeral corners broadly rounded, lateral margins strongly convex, promesonotal suture absent. Mesothorax moderately constricted, lateral margins moderately concave, metanotal groove very shallowly impressed. Propodeum approx. rectangular, lateral margins weakly convex; spines moderately long and pointed posterolaterally. Anterior peduncle of petiole constricted anteriorly, gradually widening posteriorly; petiolar node nearly square, slightly broader than long, anterior margin moderately convex, lateral and posterior margins slightly convex. Postpetiole approx. trapezoidal and narrowing posteriorly, ~ 1.4× as broad as petiole, anterolateral corners bluntly angled, lateral margins nearly straight. Gaster elongate oval, sting extruding.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Head dorsum longitudinally rugose, rugae partially interwoven laterally. Clypeus loosely longitudinally rugose. Promesonotum loosely, coarsely and longitudinally rugose; mesopleura, metapleura and propodeum longitudinally undulate and rugose, rugae partially interwoven. Petiole and postpetiole finely densely punctate, petiole sides very loosely finely rugose, anterior face of petiolar node and anterior face of postpetiole smooth. Gaster smooth and shiny. Body dorsum with abundant erect to suberect apically blunt short hairs and abundant decumbent pubescence, hairs on mesosoma sparse. Scapes with dense subdecumbent pubescence, tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body color dark reddish brown; femora, tibiae, and gaster black; mandibles and tarsi brownish yellow.

Paratype worker: TL 2.8, HL 0.65, HW 0.58, CI 88, SL 0.50, SI 87, ED 0.15, PW 0.43, WL 0.85, PL 0.33, PH 0.23, DPW 0.15 (n = 1). Resembling the holotype worker, but body relatively smaller, dorsum of petiolar node gently sloping down posteriorly, hairs on gaster sparse, dorsum of postpetiole smooth, body color yellowish brown, head blackish brown.

Queen and male. Unknown.

Ecological notes.

This new species inhabits semi-evergreen broadleaf forest with altitude 920–1150 m and forages on the ground and plants.

Distribution.

China: Hubei.

Comparative notes.

According to the species grouping and identification key, the new species is most similar to Temnothorax liqiu Qian & Xu, 2024 (Fig. 2), but differs in several characters. In the new species, promesonotum is strongly convex in lateral view; propodeal spines are relatively longer, ~ 1/2 the length of declivity; petiolar node is erect, with posterodorsal corner as high as anterodorsal corner; head dorsum and mesosoma are mainly longitudinally rugose. In contrast, in T. liqiu, promesonotum is weakly convex; propodeal spines are relatively shorter, ~ 1/4 length of declivity; petiolar node is weakly inclined posteriorly, with posterodorsal corner lower than anterodorsal corner; head dorsum and mesosoma are finely reticulate.

Figure 2. — *Temnothorax* *liqiu* holotype worker (SWFU, images cited from Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 27). A. Head in full-face view; B. Body in lateral view; C. Body in dorsal view.

The new species is also similar to Temnothorax xiaoshu Qian & Xu, 2024 (Fig. 3), but can be distinguished as follows. In the new species, promesonotum is strongly convex in lateral view; propodeal spines are relatively longer, ~ 1/2 the length of declivity; petiolar node is approx. trapezoidal with broadly rounded summit; head dorsum and promesonotum are mainly longitudinally rugose. In T. xiaoshu, promesonotum is weakly convex; propodeal spines are relatively shorter, ~ 1/3 the length of declivity; petiolar node is approx. conical with narrowly rounded summit; head dorsum and promesonotum are coarsely reticulate.

Figure 3. — *Temnothorax* *xiaoshu* holotype worker (SWFU, images cited from Qian and Xu 2024: fig. 38). A. Head in full-face view; B. Body in lateral view; C. Body in dorsal view.

Etymology.

The new species is named after “Shennong”, a legendary Emperor Yan, the Chinese god of agriculture and medicine. The type locality “Shennongjia” was also named after him.

Temnothorax wangweii sp. nov.

EFB76FC1-80E7-5421-AC75-8D5746A47127

https://zoobank.org/791B6B4C-AA06-46BC-AC73-C2DF43BF92D8

Fig. 4

Figure 4. — *Temnothorax* *wangweii* sp. nov. holotype worker (photographer: Zhenghui Xu). A. Head in full-face view; B. Body in lateral view; C. Body in dorsal view.