Myrmica salina

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Myrmica salina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Myrmicini
Genus: Myrmica
Species group: specioides
Species: M. salina
Binomial name
Myrmica salina
Ruzsky, 1905

Myrmica salina P casent0904072.jpg

Myrmica salina D casent0904072.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

Poorly known, but most probably M. salina inhabits relatively, wet, often halophytous biotopes in steppes of West Siberia and Kazakhstan. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Identification

A member of the specioides complex of the scabrinodis species group. Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Based on the rediscovered type material, M. salina obviously belongs to the scabrinodis species group, most probably to the specioides-complex. The worker and queens have a moderately developed horizontal lobe at the base of their scape and a relatively wide frons (FI 0.36). By these features, M. salina could be confused with Myrmica scabrinodis, but the male has the specioides-complex features of a combination of a relatively short scape and short standing hairs on the scape and tibiae. On the other hand, the worker of M. salina well differs from Myrmica curvithorax, which have much narrower frons (FI ≤ 0.30).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 54.16° to 37.2°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Austria, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Czechia, Georgia, Kazakhstan (type locality), Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Türkiye.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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.
pChart

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.
pChart

Biology

Flight Period

X
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Source: antkeeping.info.

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Flight Month data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • salina. Myrmica scabrinodis var. salina Ruzsky, 1905b: 687 (w.q.m.) RUSSIA & KAZAKHSTAN. Subspecies of schencki: Weber, 1948a: 302. Junior synonym of lonae: Sadil, 1952: 249. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Arnol'di, 1970b: 1842; Arnol'di & Dlussky, 1978: 534; Seifert, 1988: 25. Junior synonym of lacustris: Radchenko, 1994f: 77. Revived from synonymy: Seifert, 1994: 13; Seifert, 2002a: 96, 99. Senior synonym of ahngeri, georgica, tobiasi: Seifert, 2011: 183. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2004: 228; Radchenko & Elmes, 2009c: 520; Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 254.
  • ahngeri. Myrmica scabrinodis var. ahngeri Karavaiev, 1926f: 66, fig. 3 (w.) RUSSIA. Subspecies of scabrinodis: Arnol'di, 1970b: 1841; Arnol'di & Dlussky, 1978: 534. Junior synonym of specioides: Seifert, 1988b: 16; of scabrinodis: Radchenko, 1994e: 79; of salina: Seifert, 2011: 183.
  • georgica. Myrmica georgica Seifert, 1987: 183, figs. 1-10 (w.m.) GEORGIA. Junior synonym of turcica: Seifert, 1988b: 18; of scabrinodis: Radchenko, 1994e: 79. Revived from synonymy: Radchenko & Elmes, 2004: 231. Junior synonym of salina: Seifert, 2011: 183. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 141.
  • tobiasi. Myrmica tobiasi Radchenko & Elmes, 2004: 224, figs. 1-17 (w.q.m.) KAZAKHSTAN. Junior synonym of salina: Seifert, 2011: 183. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 307.

Taxonomic Notes

See Radchenko & Elmes (2009) for notes on type specimens.

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

Description

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Myrmica scabrinodis var. salina was described by Ruzsky (1905: 687) based on workers, queens and males from different places in West Siberia and Kazakhstan. The taxonomic history of M. salina is extremely complicated and rather puzzling because for many decades there were no types (presumed to be lost) and the original description of this species was ambiguous. Here we outline the problem. The original text is in Russian so first we translate the description and some of Ruzsky's further comments (loc. cit., p. 700):

Description: “(workers). Frontal carinae well developed, raised at the base, lobe-like (in typical scabrinodis they are smaller). Lobe at the bend of scape transversally oblique (less oblique than in scabrinodis and less transverse than in lobicornis), and looks like transversal dent or thick scale. Middle part of frontal triangle smooth and shiny. Sides of head dorsum with large reticulation, surface between reticulation punctated but appears shiny. [Propodeal] spines long and straight. Petiolar dorsum angled. Outstanding hairs more sparse [presumably compared to scabrinodis], on the gastral tergites almost absent. Brownish-red with dark brown or blackish-brown head dorsum and first gastral segment; antennae, mandibles, legs and apex of gaster lighter. Length 4.7-5 mm.

(queens). With same features as workers. Colour somewhat darker than in workers, alitrunk with brownish-black patches. Basal half of wings brownish. Length 5-6 mm. (males). Whole head very finely punctato-striated (in typical scabrinodis head, especially on sides and rear part, with quite coarse irregular rugosity). Antennal scape thickened in the middle. Outstanding hairs on the body, legs and antennae sparser [presumably compared to scabrinodis?]. Alitrunk almost without hairs. Colour of wing as in queens. Length of scape as in typical scabrinodis.”

Additional comments: “…This variety is interesting because its queens and workers by the dark colour and by the almost transverse, scale-like lobe at the bend of antennal scape, is similar to M. lobicornis, but its males on main features are similar to M. scabrinodis males and differs only by sculpture of head and sparser pilosity. This species, indubitably, is most similar to the variety schencki Emery, and both are intermediate between scabrinodis and lobicornis . ... M. schencki together with var. salina are intermediate between M. scabrinodis and M. lobicornis, but salina is more close to the first and schencki - to the latter”.

Based on the rediscovered type material, M. salina obviously belongs to the scabrinodis species group, most probably to the specioides-complex. The worker and queens have a moderately developed horizontal lobe at the base of their scape and a relatively wide frons (FI 0.36). By these features, M. salina could be confused with M. scabrinodis, but the male has the specioides-complex features of a combination of a relatively short scape and short standing hairs on the scape and tibiae. On the other hand, the worker of M. salina well differs from M. slovaca, which have much narrower frons (FI ≤ 0.30).

Etymology

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from mediaeval Latin salina = salt pan, or salted place being derived from the Latin word salis = salt, here it describes the type habitat “salted marsh”.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Alvarado M., and L. Galle. 2000. Ant assemblages associated with lowland forests in the southern part of the great Hungarian plain. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientarum Hungaricae 46(2): 79-102.
  • AntArea. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://antarea.fr/fourmi/
  • Antonova V., and L. Penev. 2008. Classification of assemblages of ants in the green areas in Sofia City. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 60(2): 103-110.
  • Bezdecka P. 1996. The ants of Slovakia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomofauna carpathica 8: 108-114.
  • Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
  • Bracko G. 2007. Checklist of the ants of Slovenia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Natura Sloveniae 9: 15-24
  • Bracko, G. 2006. Review of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) of Croatia. Acta Entomologica Slovenica 14(2): 131-156.
  • Bracko, G. "New species for the ant fauna of Slovenia (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)." Natura Sloneniae 5 (1) (2003): 17-25.
  • Bracko, G. "Review of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Croatia." Acta Entomologica Slovenica Vol 14 st (2006): 131-156.
  • Casevitz-Weulersse J., and C. Galkowski. 2009. Liste actualisee des Fourmis de France (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Bull. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 114: 475-510.
  • Csosz S., B. Marko, K. Kiss, A. Tartally, and L. Galle. 2002. The ant fauna of the Ferto-Hansag National Park (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In: Mahunka, S. (Ed.): The fauna of the Fert?-Hanság National Park. Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, pp. 617-629.
  • Dubovikoff D. A., and Z. M. Yusupov. 2018. Family Formicidae - Ants. In Belokobylskij S. A. and A. S. Lelej: Annotated catalogue of the Hymenoptera of Russia. Proceedingss of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences 6: 197-210.
  • Ebsen J. R., J. J. Boomsma, and D. R. Nash. 2019. Phylogeography and cryptic speciation in the Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander, 1846 species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and their conservation implications. Insect Conservation and Diversity doi: 10.1111/icad.12366
  • Gallé L., B. Markó, K. Kiss, E. Kovács, H. Dürgő, K. Kőváry, and S. Csősz. 2005. Ant fauna of Tisza river basin (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). — In: Gallé, L. (szerk.): Vegetation and Fauna of Tisza River Basin I. Tiscia Monograph Series 7; Szeged, pp. 149-197.
  • Gratiashvili N., Barjadze S. 2008. Checklist of the ants (Formicidae Latreille, 1809) of Georgia. Proceedings of the Institute of Zoology (Tbilisi) 23: 130-146.
  • Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
  • Jansen G., R. Savolainen, K. Vespalainen. 2010. Phylogeny, divergence-time estimation, biogeography and social parasite–host relationships of the Holarctic ant genusMyrmica(Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 56: 294-304.
  • Kiss K., and K. Fetyko. 2008. Notes about the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Tur valley. In. Sike T., Márk-Nagy J. (eds), The flora and fauna of the Tur river natural reserve, Biharean Biologist, II, Oradea, pp.71-76.
  • Marko B. 1999. Contribution to the knowledge of the myrmecofauna of the River Somes valley. In: Sárkány-Kiss, A., Hamar, J. (szerk.): The Somes/Szamos River Valley. A study of the geography, hydrobiology and ecology of the river system and its environment. Tiscia Monograph Series 3, Szolnok-Szeged-Tîrgu Mure?, pp. 297-302.
  • Markó B., B. Sipos, S. Csősz, K. Kiss, I. Boros, and L. Gallé. 2006. A comprehensive list of the ants of Romania (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecologische Nachrichten 9: 65-76.
  • Markó B., and S. Csősz. 2002. Die europäischen Ameisenarten (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) des Hermannstädter (Sibiu, Rumänien) Naturkundemuseums I.: Unterfamilien Ponerinae, Myrmicinae und Dolichoderinae. Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici 94: 109-121.
  • Neumeyer R., and B. Seifert. 2005. Commented check list of free living ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) species of Switzerland. Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique Suisse 78: 1-17.
  • Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 2009. Important alterations in the taxonomy of the ant genus Myrmica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), based on the investigation of the M. Ruzsky’s type specimens, preserved in the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “Giacomo Doria” in Genoa. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “Giacomo Doria” 100: 501-525.
  • 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.; G. W. Elmes. 2004. Taxonomic notes on the scabrinodis-group of Myrmica species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) living in eastern Europe and western Asia, with a description of a new species from Tien Shan. Trudy Russkago Entomologicheskago Obshchestva 75(1): 222-233.
  • Reznikova Z. I. 2003. Distribution patterns of ants in different natural zones and landscapes in Kazakhstan and West Siberia along a meridian trend. Euroasian Entomological Journal 2(4): 235-342.
  • Schlick-Steiner B. C., and F. M. Steiner. 1999. Faunistisch-ökologische Untersuchungen an den freilebenden Ameisen (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Wiens. Myrmecologische Nachrichten 3: 9-53.
  • Schlick-Steiner, B.C., F.M. Steiner, K. Moder, A. Bruckner, K. Fiedler and E. Christian. 2006. Assessing ant assemblages: pitfall trapping versus nest counting (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insectes Sociaux 53:274-281
  • Schultz, R., A. G. Radchenko, and B. Seifert. "A critical checklist of the ants of Kyrgyzstan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 (2006): 201-207.
  • Seifert B. 1988. A taxonomic revision of the Myrmica species of Europe, Asia Minor, and Caucasia (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Abhandlungen und Berichte des Naturkundemuseums Görlitz 62(3): 1-75. 
  • Seifert B. 1994. Die freilebenden Ameisenarten Deutschlands (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) und Angaben zu deren Taxonomie und Verbreitung. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Naturkundemuseums Görlitz 67(3): 1-44.
  • Seifert B. 1998. Rote Liste der Ameisen. - in: M. Binot, R. Bless, P. Boye, H. Gruttke und P. Pretscher: Rote Liste gefährdeter Tiere Deutschlands. Bonn-Bad Godesberg 1998: 130-133.
  • Seifert B. 2002. The type of Myrmica bessarabica Nassonov 1889 and the identity of Myrmica salina Ruzsky 1905. Mitteilungen. Münchner Entomologische Gesellschaft 92: 93-100.
  • Seifert B. 2007. Die Ameisen Mittel- und Nordeuropas. Tauer: lutra Verlags- und Vertriebsgesellschaft, 368 pp.
  • Seifert B. 2011. A taxonomic revision of the Eurasian Myrmica salina species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Soil Organisms 83: 169-186.
  • Seifert, B. "Myrmica georgica n. sp., a new ant from Transcaucasia and North Kazakhstan (U.S.S.R.) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)." Reichenbachia 24 (1987): 183-187.
  • Steiner F. M., S. Schödl, and B. C. Schlick-Steiner. 2002. Liste der Ameisen Österreichs (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Stand Oktober 2002. Beiträge zur Entomofaunistik 3: 17-25.
  • Tartally, A., D.R. Nash, S. Lengyel and Z. Varga. 2008. Patterns of host ant use by sympatric populations of Maculinea alcon and M. rebeli in the Carpathian Basin. Insectes Sociaux 55:370-381
  • Zryanin V. A., and T. A. Zryanina. 2007. New data on the ant fauna Hymenoptera, Formicidae in the middle Volga River Basin. Uspekhi Sovremennoi Biologii 127(2): 226-240.
Retrieved from "https://antwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Myrmica_salina&oldid=720977"