Myrmica wesmaeli

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Myrmica wesmaeli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Myrmicini
Genus: Myrmica
Species: M. wesmaeli
Binomial name
Myrmica wesmaeli
Bondroit, 1918

Myrmica wesmaeli casent0913086 p 1 high.jpg

Myrmica wesmaeli casent0913086 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

There have been no detailed studies of the ecology of M. wesmaeli. It usually is found in the south-eastern part of the Pyrenean mountains where it is most common at altitudes of 1500-1800 m in subalpine pastures. It often nests under stones. Sexuals are present in the nests in July and August so nuptial flights probably occur from August to September. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Identification

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) – A member of the lobicornis complex of the lobicornis species group (this was stressed by Bondroit 1920a). It differs from the sympatric Myrmica lobicornis and Myrmica lobulicornis by its wider frons and especially by the shape of petiole, which has developed peduncle and concave, not steep anterior surface that meets the dorsal one to form a rounded blunt angle (seen in profile). It well differs from the sympatric Myrmica xavieri by its notched medially anterior clypeal margin and by the its wider frons and less extended frontal lobes.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Iberian Peninsula, France (Pyrenees)

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 42.68333333° to 37.933889°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Andorra, China, France (type locality), Iberian Peninsula, Portugal, Spain.

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

Flight Period

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

Source: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010.

Castes

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

  • wesmaeli. Myrmica wesmaeli Bondroit, 1918: 106, fig. 54 (w.) FRANCE. Finzi, 1926: 97 (q.m.); Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 324 (m.). Subspecies of sulcinodis: Emery, 1921f: 42; Santschi, 1931b: 340; of scabrinodis: Weber, 1950b: 211. Status as species: Finzi, 1926: 97; Novak & Sadil, 1941: 78. Junior synonym of lobicornis: Bernard, 1967: 122. Revived from synonymy and revived status as species: Seifert, 1988b: 39. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 323.

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

Description

Male

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Head longer than broad, with convex sides and occipital margin, and rounded occipital corners; anterior clypeal margin widely rounded and notched medially. Scape long (SI) 0.80, SI2 0.85), quite strongly but not angularly curved at the base, antennae 13-segmented; second funicular segment only slightly longer than the third one. Alitrunk relatively long, scutum slightly convex, scutellum does not project dorsally above scutum when seen in profile. Propodeum with short blunt denticles. Petiole relatively long, with slightly concave and not steep anterior surface and rounded node dorsum; postpetiole higher than long, with convex dorsum.

Head dorsum finely longitudinally striato-rugulose, surface between rugulae densely punctated, appears dull, while clypeus smooth and shiny. Scutum smooth, only with very fine superficial striation posteriorly, scutellum with semiconcentric rugulosity. Sides of pronotum and mesopleura smooth, only catepistern posteriorly with short rugulae, sides of propodeum rugulose. Petiole and postpetiole smooth and shiny.

Head margins and mandibles with numerous, relatively long suberect hairs. Alitrunk, waist and gaster with numerous fine hairs. Scape, tibiae and tarsi with quite dense subdecumbent to suberect pilosity. Body colour blackish-brown, appendages brownish.

Etymology

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - named for the Belgian entomologist Constantin Wesmael (1798-1872).

References

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)
  • Arnan X., M. Gracia, L. Comas, and J. Retana. 2009. Forest management conditioning ground ant community structure and composition in temperate conifer forests in the Pyrenees Mountains. Forest Ecology and Management 258(2): 51–59.
  • Asociacion Iberica de Mirmecologia. 2011. List of species collected during the Taxomara Lisboa 2011. Iberomyrmex 3: 30-31.
  • Bernadou A., G. Latil, V. Fourcassié, and X. Espadaler. 2006. Etude des communautés de fourmis d'une vallée andorrane. Union International pour l'Etude des Insectes Sociaux, Colloque annuel de la section francaise, 4pp.
  • Bernadou A., X. Espadaler, A. Le Goff, and V. Fourcassie. 2015. Ant community organization along elevational gradients in a temperate ecosystem. Insect. Soc. 62:59–71
  • Bernadou, A., G. Latil, V. Fourcassié, and X. Espadaler. "Les formigues de la Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror : diversitat i distribució." Hàbitats, 13 (2006): 10-21.
  • 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., and C. Galkowski. 2009. Liste actualisee des Fourmis de France (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Bull. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 114: 475-510.
  • 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., X. Roig, K. Gómez, and F. García. 2011. Formigues de les Planes de Son i mata de València (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Treballs de la Institució Catalana d'Història Natural 16: 609-627.
  • Espadaler, X., and X. Roig. "Hormigas del Vall de Aneu." (2007).
  • Finzi B. 1926. Le forme europee del genere Myrmica Latr. Primo contributo. Bollettino della Società Adriatica di Scienze Naturali in Trieste. 29: 71-119.
  • 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.
  • Huang Jian-hua, Zhou Shan-yi. 2007. A checklist of family Formicidae of China - Myrmicinae (Part II) (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Journal of Guangxi Normal University : Natural Science Edition 25(1): 91-99.
  • 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.
  • Salgueiro, J. "Variaçao anual em três comunidades de formicídeos da Serra da Estrela. Adiçao de um género novo e de duas espécies novas para portugal." Boletín de la Asociación Española de Entomología 26 (3-4) (2002): 121-131.
  • 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. "A taxonomic revision of the Myrmica species of Europe, Asia Minor, and Caucasia." Abhandlungen und Berichte des Naturkundemuseums Goerlitz 62(3) (1988): 1-75.
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