Temnothorax nylanderi is a species ofant in the genusTemnothorax.[2] The species is found in western Europe. It was first described by Förster (1850) based on a male from Germany.[3]
Temnothorax nylanderi lives in the litter, and nests can be found in small cavities in twigs and acorns for example. Nests usually contain less than 400 individuals, among them a single queen.[4] Study shows that if these ants live socially isolated, their interaction with their colony members decreases and their stress response changes.[5]
Temnothorax nylanderi is widely distributed across Western Europe, and aparapatric species (Temnothorax crassispinus) is found in Eastern Europe.[6] Hybridization can occur between the two species.[7]
Temnothorax nylanderi workers are known to have important size variations that do not seem to result from adaptations to their environment, but rather from a lack of canalization during larval development, likely to occur as these ants live in an environment where humidity and temperature can vary greatly.[8]Intercaste individuals that share morphological traits of queens and workers are known to occur frequently.[9]The morphology of these ants can be changed by a parasite,Anomotaenia brevis, that increases the amount of intercaste individuals and induces a change of colors (individuals infected by the cestod are more pale than other individuals).[10]
^Radchenko AG (2000). "What is "Leptothorax nylanderi" (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Russian and former Soviet literature?".Annales Zoologici.50 (1):43–45.
^Pusch K, Heinze J, Foitzik S (December 2006). "The influence of hybridization on colony structure in the ant species Temnothorax nylanderi and T. crassispinus".Insectes Sociaux.53 (4):439–445.doi:10.1007/s00040-005-0891-8.S2CID13576455.
^Okada Y, Plateaux L, Peeters C (August 2013). "Morphological variability of intercastes in the ant Temnothorax nylanderi: pattern of trait expression and modularity".Insectes Sociaux.60 (3):319–328.doi:10.1007/s00040-013-0296-4.S2CID6670560.
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