Myrmica spinosior

Myrmica spinosior
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Myrmicini
Genus:	Myrmica
Species group:	sabuleti
Species:	M. spinosior
Binomial name
Myrmica spinosior Santschi, 1931 Specimen Label

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - From our observations to date the ecology and biology of M. spinosior is very similar to that of Myrmica sabuleti. It usually builds nests under stones or in the soil, in mountain grassland pastures at about 1000-2000 m. Colonies can vary from a few hundred to a thousand or more workers with several functional queens. Sexuals are in the nest in August and nuptial flights probably take place at the same time as those as M. sabuleti. In our experience there is no reason to think that M. spinosior is an ecological variant of M. sabuleti (e.g. Myrmica lonae) that is more thermophilic than M. sabuleti, we are more inclined to the opinion that it is derived from a separate lineage isolated during one of the more recent glaciations with a considerable overlap of range and possible hybridisation (see notes to M. lobicornis and M. obscura).

Note that the ‘‘West-Mediterranean” form of Myrmica sabuleti (Seifert, 1988) is now known as Myrmica spinosior (Seifert 2005).

Identification

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the sabuleti complex of the scabrinodis species group that most resembles [[Myrmica sabuleti from which it well differs by its distinctly wider frons (similar to or even wider than in Myrmica scabrinodis (mean FI 0.37 vs. 0.33 in M. sabuleti). However, M. spinosior differs from M. scabrinodis by the less extended frontal lobes (mean FLI l.33 VS. l.42 respectively).

Keys including this Species

• Key to Myrmica of West Europe and North Africa
• Key to European parasitic Myrmica queens

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 44.9° to 38.65°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Andorra, France (type locality), Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Spain, Türkiye.

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

Association with Other Organisms

 Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

• This species is a host for the ant Myrmica bibikoffi (a temporary parasite) in Germany (de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010).
• This species is a host for the ant Myrmica laurae (a workerless inquiline) (de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010).
• This species is a host for the ant Myrmica lemasnei (a workerless inquiline) in Pyrenees (de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010).

Fungi

• This species is a host for the fungus Rickia wasmanniii (a pathogen) (Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012).

Nomenclature

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

• spinosior. Myrmica sabuleti var. spinosior Santschi, 1931a: 3 (w.q.m.) FRANCE. [Also described as new by Santschi, 1931b: 346.] Junior synonym of sabuleti: Seifert, 1988b: 31; Casevitz-Weulersse, 1990a: 137. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Seifert, 2005: 7. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 289.

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

Etymology

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the Latin word spinosus (thorn) with the adjectival comparative suffix ior giving spinosior = thornier, to describe the relatively longer propodeal spines of this species.

References

• Báthori, F., Rádai, Z., Tartally, A. 2017. The effect of Rickia wasmanniii (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) on the aggression and boldness of Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 58:41–52. (doi:10.3897/jhr.58.13253)
• Bernadou, A., Fourcassié, V., Espadaler, X. 2013. A preliminary checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Andorra. ZooKeys 277, 13–23 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.277.4684).
• Blatrix, R., Aubert, C., Decaëns, T., Berquier, C., Andrei-Ruiz, M.-C., Galkowski, C. 2020. Contribution of a DNA barcode to an assessment of the specificity of ant taxa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Corsica. European Journal of Entomology 117: 420-429 (doi:10.14411/eje.2020.046).
• Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• 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).
• Ebsen, J.R., Boomsma, J.J. & Nash, D.R. 2019. Phylogeography and cryptic speciation in the Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander, 1846 species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and their conservation implications. Insect Conservation and Diversity 12: 467-480 (doi:10.1111/icad.12366).
• Espadaler, X., Santamaria, S. 2012. Ecto- and Endoparasitic Fungi on Ants from the Holarctic Region. Psyche Article ID 168478, 10 pages (doi:10.1155/2012/168478).
• García, F., Arnal, J.M., Espadaler, X. 2008. Primeros registros de Myrmica bibikoffi Kutter, 1963 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en la Península Ibérica. Heteropterus Rev. Entomol. 8, 211–215.
• García, F., Cuesta-Segura, A.D., Espadaler, X. 2024. Myrmica babiensis sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a new social parasite from the NW Iberian Peninsula. Annales Zoologici 74(1), 113-127 (doi:10.3161/00034541anz2024.74.1.006).
• Glaser, F. 2016. Artenspektrum, Habitatbindung und naturschutzfachliche Bedeutung von Ameisen (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) am Stutzberg (Vorarlberg, Österreich). inatura – Forschung 34: 26 S.
• Haelewaters, D., Boer, P., Noordijk, J. 2015. Studies of Laboulbeniales (Fungi, Ascomycota) on Myrmica ants: Rickia wasmanniii in the Netherlands. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 44, 39–47 (doi:10.3897/jhr.44.4951).
• Jansen, G., Savolainen, R., Vepsäläinen, K. 2010. Phylogeny, divergence-time estimation, biogeography and social parasite–host relationships of the Holarctic ant genus Myrmica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 561, 294–304 (doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.01.029).
• Kiran, K., Karaman, C. 2020. Additions to the ant fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zoosystema 42(18), 285-329 (doi:10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a18).
• Radchenko, A.G. & Elmes, G.W. 2010. Myrmica ants of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3: 1-789.
• Santschi, F. 1931a. Inventa entomologica itineris Hispanici et Maroccani, quod a. 1926 fecerunt Harald et Håkan Lindberg. Fourmis du Bassin Méditerranéen occidental et du Maroc récoltées par MM. Lindberg. Comment. Biol. 3(1 14: 1-13 (page 3, worker, queen, male described)
• Schifani, E. (2022). The new checklist of the Italian fauna: Formicidae. Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 37, ucl006 (doi:10.21426/b637155803).
• Schifani, E., Csősz, S., Viviano, R., Alicata, A. 2021. Ant diversity on the largest Mediterranean islands: on the presence or absence of 28 species in Sicily (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Natural History Sciences 8, 55–70 (doi:10.4081/nhs.2021.532).
• Schifani, E., Nalini, E., Gentile, V., Alamanni, F., Ancona, C., Caria, M., Cillo, D., Bazzato, E. 2021. Ants of Sardinia: An updated checklist based on new faunistic, morphological and biogeographical notes. Redia 104, 21–35 (doi:10.19263/redia-104.21.03).
• Seifert, B. 1988b. A taxonomic revision of the Myrmica species of Europe, Asia Minor, and Caucasia (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Abh. Ber. Naturkundemus. Görlitz 62(3): 1-75 (page 31, Junior synonym of sabuleti)
• Seifert, B. 2005. Rank elevation in two European ant species: Myrmica lobulicornis Nylander, 1857, stat. n. and Myrmica spinosior Santschi, 1931, stat. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecol. Nachr. 7: 1-7 (page 7, Raised to species)
• Seifert, B., Yazdi, A. B. & Schultz, R. 2014. Myrmica martini sp.n. – a cryptic species of the Myrmica scabrinodis species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) revealed by geometric morphometrics and nest-centroid clustering. Myrmecological News 19, 171-183.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• AntArea. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://antarea.fr/fourmi/
• Antarea (at www.antarea.fr on June 11th 2017)
• Asociacion Iberica de Mirmecologia. 2012. List of species collected during the Taxomara Tres Cantos 2012. Iberomyrmex 4: 17-18.
• Bernadou A., V. Fourcassié, and X. Espadaler. 2013. A preliminary checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Andorra. Zookeys 277: 13-23.
• Blatrix R., C. Lebas, C. Galkowski, P. Wegnez, P. Pimenta, and D. Morichon. 2016. Vegetation cover and elevation drive diversity and composition of ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a Mediterranean ecosystem. – Myrmecological News 22: 119-127.
• Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Casevitz-Weulersse J. 1990. Etude Systematique de la Myrmecofaune Corse (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), deuxieme partie. Bull. Mus. Natn. Hist. Nat. Paris. 4eme serie 12, section A(2): 415-442.
• Casevitz-Weulersse J. 1990. Étude systématique de la myrmécofaune corse (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) (Première partie). Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. Sect. A Zool. Biol. Écol. Anim. (4) 12: 135-163.
• Casevitz-Weulersse J., and C. Galkowski. 2009. Liste actualisee des Fourmis de France (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Bull. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 114: 475-510.
• 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
• Espadaler X. F. Garcia, K. Gomez, S. Serrano, and R. Vila. 2009. Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Mont-Rebei gorge (Pallars Jussà). Boletín Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa 44: 393–399.
• Espadaler X., F. Garcia, X. Roig, and R. Vila. 2013. Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Castell de Montesquiu park (Osona, north-east of the Iberian Peninsula). Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S.E.A.) 53: 223-227.
• Espadaler, X., J. Pujade-Villar, and A. Bernadou. "Contribució al coneixement de la taxonomia i la fenologia de les formigues (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) d'Andorra." Butlletí de l' Institució Catalana d'Història Natural 74 (2006): 81-90.
• GRETIA. 2017. Bilan annuel de l'enquete sur la repartition des fourmis armoricaines. 23 pages.
• Galkowski C. 2011. Une liste des fourmis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) récoltées dans la région de Grasse, avec la mention d’une nouvelle espèce de la faune de France. Bulletin de la Société linnéenne de Provence, 62 : 41-44.
• Galkowski C., and C. Lebas. 2016. Temnothorax conatensis nov. sp., décrite des Pyrenees-Orientales (France) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Revue de l’Association Roussillonnaise d’Entomologie 25(2): 80-87.
• Garcia F, Arnal J, Espadaler X. 2008. Primeros registros de Myrmica bibikoffi Kutter, 1963 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en la Península Ibérica. Heteropterus Revista de Entomologia 8: 211-215.
• Garcia F., X. Espadaler, and K. Gomez. 2009. First record of Amblyopone impressifrons (Emery, 1869) from the Iberian Peninsula and of Proceratium melinum (Roger, 1860) from Catalonia (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Boletín Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa 45: 357-360.
• Garcia Garcia F. 2015. First record for Catalonia of Myrmica lemasnei Bernard, 1967 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Iberomyrmex 7: 24-25.
• Garcia Garcia F., and A. D. Cuesta-Esgura. 2017. First catalogue of the ants of Burgos province, Spain (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa 60: 245–258.
• García F., X. Espadaler, P. Echave, and R. Vila. 2011. Hormigas (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) de los acantilados de l'Avenc de Tavertet (Osona) Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa 47: 363-367.
• Gouraud C. 2015. Bilan de l’année 2014 : Atlas des fourmis de Loire-Atlantique (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Atlas des Formicidae de Loire-Atlantique, compte rendu de la première année d’étude (2014)
• 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.
• Lebas C., C. Galkowski, P. Wegnez, X. Espadaler, and R. Blatrix. 2015. The exceptional diversity of ants on mount Coronat (Pyrénées-Orientales), and Temnothorax gredosi(Hymenoptera, Formicidae) new to France. R.A.R.E., T. XXIV (1): 24 – 33
• 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. 1931. Notes sur le genre Myrmica (Latreille). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 38: 335-355.
• Santschi, F. "Inventa entomologica itineris Hispanici et Maroccani, quod a. 1926 fecerunt Harald et Håkan Lindberg. Fourmis du Bassin Méditerranéen occidental et du Maroc récoltées par MM. Lindberg." Societas Scientiarum Fennica (Helsingfors) 3 (14) (1931): 1-13.
• Seifert B., A. Bagherian Yazdi, and R. Schultz. 2014. Myrmica martini sp. n. - a cryptic species of the Myrmica scabrinodis species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) revealed by geometric morphometrics and nest-centroid clustering. Myrmecological News 19: 171-183.
• Seifert, B. "Rank elevation in two European ant species: Myrmica lobulicornis NYLANDER, 1857, stat.n. and Myrmica spinosior SANTSCHI, 1931, stat.n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 7 (2005): 1-7.
• Wagner H. C., B. Seifert, R. Borovsky, and W. Paill. 2018. First insight into the ant diversity of the Vjosa valley, Albania (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Acta ZooBot Austria 155: 315–321.
• Weber N. A. 1948. A revision of the North American ants of the genus Myrmica Latreille with a synopsis of the Palearctic species. II. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 41: 267-308.
• Weber, N. A. "A revision of the North American ants of the genus Myrmica Latreille with a synopsis of the Palearctic species. II." Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 41 (1948): 267-308.