Myrmica arisana

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Myrmica arisana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Myrmicini
Genus: Myrmica
Species: M. arisana
Binomial name
Myrmica arisana
Wheeler, W.M., 1930

Myrmica arisana casent0913066 p 1 high.jpg

Myrmica arisana casent0913066 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Synonyms

Wheeler gave no ecological details when he described this species as a variety of M. rugosa. We found a large population of M. arisana living under stones on a south-facing bank by a roadside at 1700 m on Yungfen, Nantou (Taiwan). The stones were close together and almost all housed part of the population. The impression was the stones were connected and that the population comprised several large polycalic nests reminiscent of how Myrmica rubra lives in some European habitats. However, no mature queens were caught (as would be expected if it was M. rubra) indicating that M. arisana is probably not an especially polygynous species. The day was hot and the workers were very aggressive and stung freely. In Chiayi near the Alishan Recreational Park (2000-2500 m), a few nests were taken under stones and in tree stumps at the forest edge and in glades in the forest, these were not particularly large and reminded us more of typical Myrmica ruginodis nests. Sexuals were observed leaving the nest (presumably to join a mating swarm - not seen) on 11th August 2002. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Identification

A member of the rubra group. M. arisana female castes have frontal carinae that curve outwards and merge with the rugae, which surround the,antennal sockets, and its males have long antennal scape. On these characters it clearly belongs to the rubra species group and is not related Myrmica rugosa. Workers and queens differ from other species of this group by the distinctly prominent anterior clypeal margin; additionally, males well differ by the much coarser sculpture of the head dorsum, especially by the rugulose clypeus. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • arisana. Myrmica rugosa var. arisana Wheeler, W.M. 1930a: 95 (w.) TAIWAN. Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 93 (q.m.). Subspecies of rugosa: Weber, 1947: 462. Raised to species and senior synonym of tipuna: Elmes & Radchenko, 1998: 221. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 92.
  • tipuna. Myrmica kurokii st. tipuna Santschi, 1937h: 367 (w.) TAIWAN. Junior synonym of arisana: Elmes & Radchenko, 1998: 222.

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

Description

Worker

Differing from the typical form of the species from the Himalayas in being slightly more robust, with more pronounced mesoepinotal impression, somewhat longer epinotal spines and a smooth dorso-median area on the postpetiole. The gaster is yellowish piceous, the legs and antennae also somewhat paler than in the typical form.

Queen

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Resembles workers by the shape of the head and scape, but differ by having relatively shorter propodeal spines and longitudinally rugose scutum and scutellum, without reticulation.

Male

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Head slightly longer than broad, with widely rounded occipital corners, lateral and occipital margins convex, anterior clypeal margin narrowly rounded and prominent, without a medial notch. Scape long and very weakly curved at the base, antennae 13-segmented; second funicular segment about 1.5 times longer than the third one. Alitrunk relatively long, scutum slightly convex, scutellum does not project dorsally above scutum when seen in profile. Propodeum with short blunt denticles. Petiole relatively short, with almost straight and steep anterior surface and widely rounded node dorsum (seen in profile); postpetiole higher than long, with convex dorsum.

Head dorsum (including clypeus) with dense but not coarse longitudinal rugulae, surface between rugae densely though very finely punctated, but appears shiny. Scutum smooth or at most finely longitudinally striated posteriorly, central part of scutellum smooth and shiny, lateral parts with rugosity. Sides of pronotum very finely longitudinally striated and punctated, and mesopleura smooth, sides of propodeum rugose. Petiole and postpetiole smooth and shiny.

Head margins and mandibles with numerous, relatively long suberect hairs. Alitrunk, waist and gaster with numerous fine short hairs. Scape, tibiae and tarsi with quite dense subdecumbent to suberect pilosity. Body colour blackish-brown, appendages brownish.

Type Material

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - "Five workers from Arisan". M. kotokui tipuna: "Formose: 4 w (K. Sato), (n° 727)".

Etymology

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - named after the Arisan region of Taiwan where the type specimens were collected.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
  • Elmes G. W., and A. G. Radchenko. 1998. Ants of the genus Myrmica from Taiwan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Chinese Journal of Entomology 18: 217-224.
  • Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
  • Huang Jian-hua, Zhou Shan-yi. 2007. A checklist of family Formicidae of China - Myrmicinae (Part II) (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Journal of Guangxi Normal University : Natural Science Edition 25(1): 91-99.
  • Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
  • Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 2010. Myrmica ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 790 pp.
  • Santschi F. 1937. Fourmis du Japon et de Formose. Bulletin et Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique. 77: 361-388.
  • Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
  • Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
  • Terayama. M. and Y. Watanabe. 1994. Ant fauna of the Zhongyang Mountains in Taiwan. Abstracts of papers presented at 33th Annual Meeting of the Myrmecological Society of Japan held on September 1st and 2nd, 1990, at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 18: 32
  • Weber N. A. 1947. A revision of the North American ants of the genus Myrmica Latreille with a synopsis of the Palearctic species. I. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 40: 437-474.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1930. Formosan ants collected by Dr. R. Takahashi. Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club 11: 93-106.
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