Myrmica schulzi

Myrmica schulzi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Myrmicini
Genus:	Myrmica
Species:	M. schulzi
Binomial name
	Myrmica schulzi; Radchenko & Elmes, 2009

Four workers were found on mountain meadows at the altitudes between 2300 and 2600 m.

Identification

A member of the pachei group which is now known to comprise a considerable number of rather similar species in China that are mainly distinguished by variations in body sculpture. This species is characterized by the following combination of features: lateral margins of head posterior to the eyes with abundant short decumbent hairs; the frontal carinae curving outwards to merge with the rugae that surround the antennal sockets; the frons with quite dense, fine, slightly sinuous longitudinal rugosity, numbering ca. 20 between the frontal carinae level with the eyes, occiput and temples with fine reticulation, surface between the rugae densely punctated, appears dull; the pronotal dorsum with irregular sinuous rugulosity and reticulation, while the mesonotal and propodeal dorsum with not coarse transversal sinuous rugosity, numbering> 25. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Shaanxi Province, China.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 33.85° to 33.85°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: China (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Castes

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

schulzi. Myrmica schulzi Radchenko & Elmes, 2009a: 72, figs. 16-20 (w.) CHINA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 273.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Radchenko and Elmes (2009) - Head distinctly longer than broad, with somewhat convex sides and occipital margin, and rounded occipital corners; anterior clypeal margin rounded, not prominent and not-notched medially. Upper latero-ventral corners of head rounded, not pointed (seen in profile). Mandibles with 7-8 teeth. Prontal carinae curved outwards to merge with rugae that surround antennal sockets. Frons wide, frontal lobes not extended. Scape relatively long, subequal to head width, gradually but distinctly curved at the base, without any trace of lobe or carina. Alitrunk robust, promesonotum slightly convex (seen in profile), promesonotum suture indistinct (seen from above). Metanotal groove distinct, deep. Propodeal lobes rounded apically. Propodeal spines quite long, straight, sharp, directed backward at an angle of about 30°. Petiole with relatively short but distinct peduncle, its anterior surface concave dorsum of node quite narrowly rounded. Postpetiole subglobuar, its anterior and dorsal surfaces forming regular arch. Spurs on muddle and hind tibiae well developed and pectinate.

Frons with quite dense, fine, slightly sinuous longitudinal rugosity (numbering ca. 20 between frontal carinae level with the eyes), occiput and temples with fine reticulation, surface between rugae densely punctated, appearing dull; clypeus with longitudinal rugae, its surface shiny; frontal triangle smooth and shiny; mandibles longitudinally rugose.

Pronotal dorsum with irregular sinuous rugulosity and reticulation, its sides; punctato-striated. Mesonotal and propodeal dorsum with > 25 moderately thin (not coarse) transverse sinuous rugae. Lower parts of rugosity. Surface between rugae on alitrunk smooth and shiny, only sides of pronotum finely punctated. Petiole and postpetiole densely, though not coarsely, punctated, appearing dull. Gaster smooth and shiny.

Head margins above the eyes with short subdecumbent hairs, only occiput with a few additional long hairs, genae with a few long hairs; alitrunk dorsum with longer hairs: petiole with 6-8 long hairs. Scape with suberect hairs, tibiae with subdecumbent ones. Body colour dark reddish-brown, appendages somewhat lighter.

Type Material

Holotype, w, China, Shaanxi Prov., Qin Ling Shan, Mt. W Pass, 47 km S Xian, Autorote km 70, 108°47'E, 33°51'N, 2300-2600 m, No. 963, 26-29.viii.1995, leg. Wrase Institute of Zoology of the Ukranian National Academy of Sciences; paratypes: 3 w with the same label as the holotype (IZK, Graham W. Elmes, Schulz).

Etymology

Dedicated to the German myrmecologist Andreas Schulz, who generously provided us with this and other material for our study.

References

Radchenko, A.G. & Elmes, G.W. 2009. Taxonomic revision of the pachei species-group of the genus Myrmica Latreille. Annales Zoologici (Warszawa) 59: 67-92.
Radchenko, A.G. & Elmes, G.W. 2010. Myrmica ants of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3: 1-789.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Chen Z. L., S. Y. Zhou, and J. H. Huang. 2016. Seven species new to science and one newly recorded species of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from China, with proposal of a new synonym (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ZooKeys 551: 85–128.
Radchenko A. G.; and G. W. Elmes. 2009. Taxonomic revision of the pachei species-group of the genus Myrmica Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 59: 67-92.