Temnothorax texanus
(Wheeler, 1903)
Texas Acorn Ant
Temnothorax texanus is a of acorn in the Temnothorax, described by Wheeler in 1903. The species is to Texas and surrounding regions, where it inhabits small cavities such as hollow nuts, twigs, and other pre-existing shelters. Like other members of its genus, it is a small, cavity-nesting ant with a specialized lifestyle dependent on finding and occupying suitable microhabitats. The species has been documented in entomological collections and is recognized as part of the diverse North Temnothorax fauna.



Pronunciation
How to pronounce Temnothorax texanus: /ˌtɛm.noʊˈθɔː.ræks tɛkˈseɪnəs/
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Images
Habitat
Small pre-existing cavities including hollow nuts, twigs, and other wooden shelters; typical of acorn nesting .
Distribution
Texas, USA; possibly adjacent regions.
Similar Taxa
- Temnothorax curvispinosusBoth are small cavity-nesting acorn with similar and ; distinguished by specific morphological characters in the original description.
- Temnothorax longispinosusAnother co-occurring acorn with similar nesting habits in twigs and nuts; requires examination of morphological traits for separation.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- iNaturalist taxon
- Catalogue of Life
- Bembicid Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
- Tracking Tetraopes texanus with Terry | Beetles In The Bush
- Pensoft Editorial Team | Blog - Part 131
- Uncategorized | Blog - Part 27
- Novel Genes Determine Different Castes in Ant Colonies
- How One Entomologist is Exploring the Insect Diversity of Prairies