casanovai group overview

This group is monotypic, with the nominal Temnothorax casanovai sp. nov. being the only member. With only a couple of collections from mid elevation southern Mexico (Fig. 106G), this species is morphologically similar to the members of the augusti group, in that it has a subquadrate petiolar node that overhangs the caudal cylinder. It can be separated from them by the overall larger size of T. casanovai sp. nov., the shorter propodeal spines, smaller metapleural gland bulla, and longer antennal scapes. Despite the morphological similarities to the augusti group, this species is more closely related to T. subditivus (Prebus, in prep.).