Taxonomic Revision Of The Ant Genus Linepithema Hymenoptera Formicidae PDF Download

In this study, I investigate the phylogeny, taxonomy, and biogeography of the species-rich, Holarctic ant genus Temnothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), with a special focus on the species of the salvini clade, which is established in Chapter 1. Furthermore, I analyze the evolution of behavioral traits in the genus overall, and infer species delimitations in the salvini species group, which is established in Chapter 2. Chapter 1 is a global phylogeny of Temnothorax, in which I use a combination of Sanger sequencing data, ultraconserved elements data, and morphological data to establish seven large clades within the genus. I analyze the historical biogeography of Temnothorax and find that the crown group likely arose in the Nearctic region at the Eocene-Oligocene transition, about 35 million years ago, coinciding with ancient global cooling. Moreover, I find that social parasitism arose several times independently within Temnothorax, as did arboreality. In Chapter 2 I re-estimate the phylogeny of Temnothorax using sequences from ultraconserved elements data, expand on the taxon sampling from Chapter 1, and reexamine the phylogeny in light of historical subgeneric classification systems. I find that the historical systems are inadequate and establish a two-tiered classification system based on the informal ranks “major clades” and “species groups”. Additionally, I establish species groups within the newly established salvini clade and infer species delimitations in the newly established salvini species group using a combination of model-based approaches with molecular data and morphometric analysis. Chapter 3 is a species-level taxonomic revision of the salvini clade of Temnothorax. In this part of the study, I review 61 species, 34 of which are described as new. I provide a key to all clades of Temnothorax in the New World, as well as a key to all species, and diagnosis, of the salvini clade. Finally, I redescribe all previously named species of the salvini clade and compile natural history observations of the species.