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Myrmica varisculpta
| Myrmica varisculpta | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Myrmicini |
| Genus: | Myrmica |
| Species group: | pachei |
| Species: | M. varisculpta |
| Binomial name | |
| Myrmica varisculpta Radchenko & Rigato, 2009
| |
Nothing is known about the biology of Myrmica varisculpta (Bharti et al., 2016).
Identification
M. varisculpta was described from a unique holotype worker, it belongs to the pachei group. Recently this group was considerably enlarged with the discovery of a number of new species from China (Radchenko and Elmes 2009a). It is the third such species discovered on the Indian side of the Himalaya and the mixture of sculpture on its alitrunk dorsum clearly separates it from the others, Myrmica pachei and Myrmica villosa, which have only transverse striations. It is most similar to the Chinese species Myrmica phalacra and Myrmica hlavaci but has a distinctly longer head than these two. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)
Zhong et al. (2024), Fig. 5. Diagnostic characters of Myrmica inermis and clustering based on Ward’s method from the M. pachei-group. Values indicate the presence (1) or absence (0) of a character. Abbreviations: A, head extensively punctated; B, dense rugae between frontal carinae; C, posterior cephalic margin distinctly rounded; D, lateral margins of head without long suberect hairs; E, head slightly longer than broad, not elongated; F, pronotal dorsum reticulate sculpture; G, metanotal groove weak depression; H, mesopleuron with monotonous regular horizontal rugae; I, propodeal spines strongly shortened; J, petiole distinctly longer than high; K, first gastral tergite smooth.
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Keys including this Species
Distribution
Known only from the type locality Kashmir, India.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 32.812778° to 32.48611°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
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. |
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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
Known only from the worker caste.
Phylogeny
- Zhong et al. (2024), Fig. 5. Diagnostic characters of Myrmica inermis and clustering based on Ward’s method from the M. pachei-group. Values indicate the presence (1) or absence (0) of a character. Abbreviations: A, head extensively punctated; B, dense rugae between frontal carinae; C, posterior cephalic margin distinctly rounded; D, lateral margins of head without long suberect hairs; E, head slightly longer than broad, not elongated; F, pronotal dorsum reticulate sculpture; G, metanotal groove weak depression; H, mesopleuron with monotonous regular horizontal rugae; I, propodeal spines strongly shortened; J, petiole distinctly longer than high; K, first gastral tergite smooth.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- varisculpta. Myrmica varisculpta Radchenko & Rigato, in Radchenko & Elmes, 2009a: 76, figs. 31-35 (w.) INDIA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 317.
Type Material
- Holotype, worker, Kashmir, Leh, China, viii.1986, C. Canepari, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milano.
Description
Etymology
From the Latin words varius = different and sculptus = sculptured, that describes the various combinations of sculpture of the alitrunk.
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).
- Radchenko, A.G. & Elmes, G.W. 2009. Taxonomic revision of the pachei species-group of the genus Myrmica Latreille. Annales Zoologici (Warszawa) 59: 67-92.
- 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.
- 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. 2009. Taxonomic revision of the pachei species-group of the genus Myrmica Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 59: 67-92.