Myrmica tamarae

Myrmica tamarae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Myrmicini
Genus:	Myrmica
Species:	M. tamarae
Binomial name
	Myrmica tamarae; Elmes, Radchenko & Aktaç, 2002

M. tamarae is probably quite localised in its distribution having being found only on high mountain meadows (2250 and 2800 m) in East Anatolia.

Identification

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the excelsa complex of the lobicornis species group, and most resembles Myrmica transsibirica differing from it by its somewhat coarser rugosity on the frons, having not more than 10 sinuous rugae between the frontal carinae level with the eyes vs. > 13 in M. transsibirica.

Keys including this Species

Key to Myrmica of East Europe, West Siberia, northern Kazakhstan, Caucasus, Asia Minor, Turkmenistan and Iran

Distribution

Erzurum Province, Turkey (East Anatolia).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Türkiye (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

Males have yet to be collected.

Nomenclature

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

tamarae. Myrmica tamarae Elmes, Radchenko & Aktaç, 2002: 165, figs. 34-43 (w.q.) TURKEY. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 302.

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

Description

Worker

Head slightly longer than broad, with convex sides, straight occipital margin, and rounded occipital corners. Anterior clypeal margin prominent, rounded medially. Frontal carinae feebly curved, frons quite wide. Lateral portion of clypeus raised into sharp ridge in front of antennal insertions (like in Tetramorium Mayr - this very uncommon feature for genus Myrmica was previously recorded only from two Far Eastern species). Antennal scape relatively long, sharply curved at its base, upper surface of bend usually angulate, but sometimes only sharply rounded, with no vertical lobe or dent. Mandibles with 7-9 teeth.

Alitrunk with weakly convex promesonotal dorsum; promesonotal suture indistinct from above; metanotal groove very shallow or totally absent. Propodeal spines relatively short, acute, straight, not curving downwards, wide at base, projecting backwards at an angle not less than 45°, divergent (seen from above). In profile, petiole short and high, its anterior surface concave, node with short, very feebly convex dorsum. Postpetiole somewhat higher than long, with convex dorsum. Spurs on middle and hind tibiae well developed and distinctly pectinate.

Head dorsum with quite coarse sculpture; frons between the frontal carinae level with the eyes with not more than 10 sinuouse rugae; rear (upper) half of head dorsum with reticulation; frontal triangle longitudinally rugose; clypeus with coarse longitudinal rugae. Antennal sockets surrounded by distinct rugae. Alitrunk with longitudinal, partly sinuous rugae. Petiolar and postpetiolar nodes with longitudinally-concentric rugae. Surfaces between rugae on the body smooth and shiny.

Hear margins and alitrunk dorsum with abundant, slightly curved, erect to suberect hairs; antennal scape and tibiae with short suberect hairs. The overall colour dark brownish-red, appendages somewhat lighter.

Type Material

Holotype, w, Turkey, Erzurum Region, Palandoken dag, alt. 2250 m, No. 2140, 25.ix.1979, leg. N. Aktac; (Edirne); paratypes: 15 w, 1 q from the nest of holotype; 16 w, the same locality, date and collector, alt. 2800 m, No. 2142 (Edirne, Warsaw, Kiev, Elmes).

Etymology

Dedicated to Tamara Radchenko, wife of Alexander Radchenko.

References

Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
Elmes, G.W., Radchenko, A.G. & Aktaç, 2002. Four new Myrmica species from Turkey. Annales Zoologici (Warszawa) 52: 157-171. (page 165, figs. 34-43 worker, queen described)
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.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
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.