Leptothorax kinomurai

Japanese Name

Kinomura-yadori-muneboso-ari

Terayama, M. & K. Onoyama (1999) The ant genus Leptothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera; Formicidae) in Japan. Memoirs of the Myrmecological Society of Japan 1: 71-97.

Total length of ergatoid queen around 3 mm. Head, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and legs yellow; gaster brown. Antennal scapes not reaching posterior margin of head in full face view. Ocelli distinct. Dorsal outline of pro- and mesosctua weakly convex. Metanotal groove not incised dorsally. Propodeal spines acute, with relatively broad bases; each spine longer than its basal width and somewhat downcurved. Petiole short and high, node in profile an inverted U-shape. Postpetiole high, with strongly convex dorsal margin in profile. Gaster with acutely angulate anterolateral corners in dorsal view.

Leptothorax kinomurai might be a social parasite of other Leptotohrax species. Four series have been collected from nests of Leptothorax makora. All consisted entirely of ergatoid queens. Therefore, it is considered likely that L. kinomurai has no worker caste.

Honshu (Gifu Pref. [Kyouichi Kinomura leg.]).