Myrmica alperti
Myrmica alperti | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
Tribe: | Myrmicini |
Genus: | Myrmica |
Species: | M. alperti |
Binomial name | |
Myrmica alperti Elmes & Radchenko, 2009 |
Nothing is known of its ecology except that it is found at elevations between 2200 and 3200 meters. Known only from the Thodung region of Nepal.
Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the ritae complex of the ritae species group. It closely resembles Myrmica indica, but differs by its more stocky body and shorter appendages, by the longer propodeal spines, by the shape of petiole, and especially by its bluntly rounded propodeal lobes.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Nepal (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. |
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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
Queens and males are unknown.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- alperti. Myrmica alperti Elmes & Radchenko, 2009: 117, fig. 7 (w.) NEPAL. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 86.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Head longer than broad, with convex sides, nearly straight occipital margin and rounded occipital corners, its upper latero-ventral corners pointed; anterior clypeal margin feebly convex, notched medially. Mandibles with 8–9 teeth. Frontal carinae usually curved outwards to merge with the rugae, which surround antennal sockets (but this character is somewhat variable between specimens). Frons wide, frontal lobes not extended, somewhat raised vertically (i. e. perpendicular to the head surface). Scape of moderate length, equal or only slightly longer than head length, gradually and weakly curved at the base.
Alitrunk relatively short (here and below — compare to correspondent features of related species, discussed in this paper), with feebly convex promesonotal dorsum (seen in profile), promesonotal suture indistinct (seen from above); metanotal groove distinct, but not very deep; metapleural lobes do not projecting apically, rounded or at most slightly angulated, do not form sharp teeth. Propodeal spines relatively short, widened at the base, straight or slightly curved down and pointed.
Petiole relatively short and wide, its anterior surface strongly concave, node dorsum feebly convex; postpetiole fig-shaped (seen from above), somewhat shorter than high.
Frons with coarse longitudinal sinuous rugae, at least six between frontal carinae level with the eyes, posterior and lateral parts of head dorsum with coarse reticulation. Clypeus with coarse longitudinal rugae, mandibles rugulose. Alitrunk dorsum with coarse reticulation, sides of alitrunk with coarse sinuous longitudinal rugae. Petiole with coarse, short, sinuous longitudinal rugae and reticulation, postpetiole with less coarse longitudinal, slightly sinuous rugosity. Surface on body between rugae smooth and shiny.
Occipital margin with not abundant, quite long suberect hairs, sides of head above eyes without or at most with 1–2 such hairs; alitrunk and waist with sparse long hairs. Scape and tibiae with subdecumbent hairs.
Body reddish-brown to dark brown, appendages somewhat lighter, but not contrasting with the colour of body.
Type Material
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Holotype, w, Nepal, 3200 m, Thodung, 2-9.iv.1973 (leg. J. Martens), Coniferenwald, "M. indica Weber det Radchenko and Elmes", [6] (BASLE); paratypes: 14 w with the same labels; 9 w, Nepal, Jiri-Thodung, 2S.v.1976 (leg. W. Wittmer and C. Baroni Urbani), "M. indica Weber det Radchenko and Elmes"; 1 w, Nepal, Shiralaybis, Jiri-grat, 2200 m, S.vi.1973 (leg. J. Martens), "M. indica Weber det Radchenko and Elmes" (BASLE, KIEV, ELMES).
Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - this species was dedicated to our friend and colleague, the American Dr. Gary Alpert of Harvard University, USA, who gave us Myrmica samples that he collected in Nepal and elsewhere.
References
- Bharti, H., Sasi, S., Radchenko, A. 2016. Biogeography and ecology of Myrmica species (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Himalayan regions. Sociobiology 63, 956-975 (DOI 10.13102/sociobiology.v63i3.1145).
- Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
- Elmes, W. & Radchenko, A.G. 2009. Two New Himalayan Ant Species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Related to Myrmica indica. Vestnik zoologii, 43: 107-119 [printed version]; 43(2): e-9–e-21 (DOI 10.2478/v10058-009-0006-x) [PDF version].
- Radchenko, A.G. & Elmes, G.W. 2010. Myrmica ants of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3: 1-789.
- Subedi, I.P., Budha, P.B. 2019. Status of ant research and species first described from Nepal with new distribution records. Journal of Natural History Museum. 31:57-78.
- Subedi, I.P., Budha, P.B., Bharti, H., Alonso, L. 2020. An updated checklist of Nepalese ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 1006, 99–136 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.1006.58808).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bharti H., S. Sasi, and A. Radchenko. 2016. Biogeography and ecology of Myrmica species (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Himalayan regions. Sociobiology 63(3): 956-975.
- Elmes G. W.; A. G. Radchenko. 2009. Two new Himalayan ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) related to Myrmica indica. Vestnik Zoologii 43(2): 107-119.
- Mo F., Z. Xu, Y. Song, C. Li, and Q. He. 2015. Ant communities in Yadong section of Mt. Himalaya. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University 39(3): 85-90.
- 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.