crazycow's Identifications

Its logispinosus group, but there are some discrepancies with the ID of Temnothorax for it to be rugulatus. 1) rugulatus is described as slow moving, this species was fairly fast; 2) rugulatus is described as only inhabiting areas near pinon trees, this colony was found under a pine tree [put into an acorn later]; 3) rugulatus is not polygynous with macrogynes, only microgynes who are often related, these two macro gynes are not micro gynes for sure; 4) the queens of rugulatus are usually red or orange, these queens are definately black. For all of these reasons I believe this is either a new species or subspecies related to rugulatus, or a locally distinct population.