Myrmica foreliana

Myrmica foreliana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Myrmicini
Genus:	Myrmica
Species:	M. foreliana
Binomial name
	Myrmica foreliana; Radchenko & Elmes, 2001 Specimen Label
Synonyms
	Myrmica smythiesii carbonaria Forel, 1902;

Queen and workers were collected under a stone during the month of May, when temperature of Chopta Valley was 23°C and humidity 75%. This region has alpine vegetation, with orchids, Rhododendron and other high-altitude vegetation (Bharti et al., 2016).

Identification

A member of the [[Myrmica_Species_Groups#rugosa-complex|rugosa complex of the rugosa species group] that is most similar to Myrmica rupestris. This species was described only from a single worker, we found no more examples in any of the collections examined. The holotype specimen clearly differs from M. rupestris by its smaller size (HW 0.77, AL 1.46 mm, VS. HW> 0.78, AL > 1.80 mm), somewhat longer head (CI 1.39 us. CI < 1.35) and by the surfaces between rugae on its head and alitrunk being densely punctated and appearing more or less dull. However, additional material is required before a clearer treatment of this species can be made. Queens, males and the ecology are unknown.

Keys including this Species

Key to Myrmica of the Himalaya and Afghanistan

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Central Himalaya.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 32.812778° to 22.466667°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: India (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

Nomenclature

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

carbonaria. Myrmica smythiesii subsp. carbonaria Forel, 1902c: 227 (w.) INDIA. [Junior primary homonym of carbonaria Smith, F. 1858b: 127, above.] Replacement name: foreliana Radchenko & Elmes, 2001a: 247.
foreliana. Myrmica foreliana Radchenko & Elmes, 2001a: 247. Replacement name for carbonaria Forel, 1902c: 227. [Junior primary homonym of carbonaria Smith, F. 1858b: 127.] See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 135.

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

Description

Type Material

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Holotype, w, "Himalaya, Pachmarhi, Shurr, 30.vii.93 (Rothney)" (GENEVA).

Etymology

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - dedicated to Auguste Forel, the famous Swiss myrmecologist, to indicate this species was originally described using a homonym, by Auguste Forel. M. carbonaria: from the Latin word carbo = carbon, to describe its dark charcoal-like colour.

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).
Forel, A. 1902c. Myrmicinae nouveaux de l'Inde et de Ceylan. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 165-249 (page 227, Replacement name for carbonaria)
Radchenko, A. G.; Elmes, G.W. 2001b. A taxonomic revision of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from the Himalaya (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Entomol. Basil. 23: 237-276 (page 247, Replacement name for carbonaria)
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

Bharti H., Y. P. Sharma, M. Bharti, and M. Pfeiffer. 2013. Ant species richness, endemicity and functional groups, along an elevational gradient in the Himalayas. Asian Myrmecology 5: 79-101.
Forel A. 1902. Myrmicinae nouveaux de l'Inde et de Ceylan. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 165-249.
Forel A. 1903. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part X. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 679-715.
Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 2001. A taxonomic revision of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from the Himalaya (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Entomologica Basiliensia 23: 237-276.
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.
Radchenko, A. G., and G. W. Elmes. "A taxonomic revision of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from the Himalaya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Entomologica Basiliensia 23 (2001): 237-276.