Myrmica tschekanovskii

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Myrmica tschekanovskii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Myrmicini
Genus: Myrmica
Species: M. tschekanovskii
Binomial name
Myrmica tschekanovskii
Radchenko, 1994

Myrmica-tschekanovskii hal.jpg

Myrmica-tschekanovskii had.jpg

Nothing is known about the biology of Myrmica tschekanovskii.

Identification

M. tschekanovskii is characterized by the 12-segmented antennae of its males. Based on this feature, Radchenko (1994a) placed it to the arnoldii species group (= former subgenus Dodecamyrmica). However, M. tschekanovskii males have a relatively long scape (SI1 > 0.70), while males of Myrmica arnoldii have short scape (SI 1 < 0.40) and under our more recent approach to the species group concept in genus Myrmica, species with such large differences in the male morphology probably do not belong to the same group. Thus the taxonomic position of M. tscheknovskii is somewhat uncertain, perhaps, it should typify its own separate species group. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

East Siberia

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 64.66666667° to 64.66666667°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Russian Federation (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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 have not been collected.

Nomenclature

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

  • tschekanovskii. Myrmica tschekanovskii Radchenko, 1994h: 215, figs. 33-39 (w.m.) RUSSIA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 310.

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

Description

Figs 33-39. Myrmica tschekanovskii: 33-36- male (holotype), 37-39- worker (paratype); 33, 37- alitrunk and pedicel in profile, 34 - head from above, 35, 38 - antennal scapes, 36, 39 - hind tibiae.; Fig. 40- M. arnoldii Dlussky: worker pedicel in profile.

Worker

Paratype, worker: AL 1.47 HL 1.05; HW 0.92; SL 0.84; FW 0.38; FLW 0.43 mm (Figs 37-39).

Head elongate (CI 1.14) with parallel sides; occipital border slightly concave. Median portion of clypeus slightly convex anteriorly. Frontal carinae feebly curved, frons wide (FI 1.15, FLI 2.44). Frontal carinae merged with rugae reaching occipital border; antennal sockets surrounded by arched rugae. Antennal scapes relatively long, weakly curved basally but angulate, with short subdecumbent hairs. Entire dorsum of head finely rugulose to reticulate-rugulose on temples.

Alitrunk with mesopropodeal impression, propodeal spines acute, thin, slightly extended at base. Petiole with well developed cylindrical part, its node triangular in profile. Subpetiolar process feebly developed. Ali trunk sparsely longitudinally rugulose. Alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole with dense standing hairs. Colour of alitrunk ochraceous, head and gaster darker.

Male

Holotype: AL 1.89; HL 1.03; HW 1.03; SL 0.73 mm (Figs 33-36).

Head subsquare (CI 1.0), with rounded occipital comers, broad and straight occipital border. Median portion of clypeus not prominent anteriorly, its anterior margin straight. Antenna} scapes relatively long (SI 1.40), weakly curved basally, not angulate, with short numerous standing hairs. Antennae with 12 segments. Entire dorsum of head finely longitudinally rugulose and punctate between rugae. Sides of alitrunk with touch-like rugulosity. Node of petiole high, rounded above. Petiole and postpetiole densely punctate and with short touch-like rugulosity. Mesonotum and pedicel with numerous standing hairs; hind tibiae and tarsi with short subdecumbent hairs.

Colour reddish-brown (apparently the specimens studied have lost their colour they are more than 100 years old).

Type Material

Holotype male: Eastern Siberia, river Nizhniaya Thnguska near river Enisei, 64°40'N, 5 VIII 1873 (Tschekanovsky) (Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University). Paratype worker: the same locality and date (ZM).

Etymology

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - this species was named for the collector, the Russian (originally Polish) geographer and naturalist Dr. Alexander Lavrentievich Czekanowski (alternative spelling Tschekanovski) (1833-1876).

References

  • Radchenko, A. G. 1994j. New Palaearctic species of the genus Myrmica Latr. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Memorabilia Zool. 48: 207-217 (page 215, figs. 33-39 worker, male described)
  • 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

  • Radchenko, A. G.; Elmes, G. W. 2010. Myrmica ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 790 pp.