Myrmica stangeana

Although M. stangeana is a widely distributed species, its poor representation in collections suggests that it is quite rare throughout its range. Consequently not much is known about its ecology. Despite M. stangeana appearing to be a species of the Steppe Zone, it inhabits only intrazonal, wet, usually halophytous habitats. Nests are built in soil, sometimes with small mounds, but very often without any visible constructions. Colonies are quite small, up to several hundred of workers, mono- or oligogynous. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) – A member of the specioides complex of the scabrinodis species group (Radchenko and Elmes 2004). It is characterized by a combination of features that distinguish it from Myrmica specioides: the antennal scape at its base only has a narrow horizontal ridge or at most a very small carina; the propodeal spines are rather short, thin and not widened at the base; the alitrunk with relatively coarse, regular, almost straight longitudinal rugae; the body a rather dark, brownish-red. Additionally, the males of M. stangeana have a very short scape (SI1 < 0.33).

Distribution
Steppes from the lower reaches of the Dnepr to the eastern Kazakhstan, to the north - until Samara Province of Russia.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Armenia, China, Czech Republic, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Ukraine.

Nomenclature

 *  stangeana. Myrmica stangeana Ruzsky, 1902a: 234 (w.) RUSSIA, KAZAKHSTAN. Seifert, 1988b: 23 (q.m.). [Also described as new by Ruzsky, 1902b: 474.] Subspecies of bergi: Ruzsky, 1903b: 314; Ruzsky, 1905b: 678; of scabrinodis: Emery, 1908a: 178. Revived status as species: Arnol'di, 1970b: 1841; Arnol'di & Dlussky, 1978: 533. Senior synonym of medvedevi: Seifert, 1988b: 23; Radchenko, 1994e: 78; of lacustris: Radchenko & Elmes, 2009c: 509. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 291.
 * lacustris. Myrmica scabrinodis var. lacustris Ruzsky, 1905b: 686 (w.) RUSSIA, KAZAKHSTAN.
 * Raised to species: Radchenko, 1994a: 44; Radchenko, 1994c: 140 (in key).
 * Material of the unavailable name grandis and of the nomen nudum lulakeranica referred here by Radchenko, 1994f: 77.
 * Junior synonym of stangeana: Radchenko & Elmes, 2009: 509; Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 291.
 * See also: Seifert, 2003b: 150; Radchenko, Elmes & Alicata, 2006: 516.
 * medvedevi. Myrmica stangeana subsp. medvedevi Arnol'di, 1970b: 1841 (w.) UKRAINE. Junior synonym of stangeana: Seifert, 1988b: 23.

Taxonomic Notes
See Radchenko & Elmes (2009) for notes on type specimens.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - named for the collector, the Russian naturalist G. V. Stange (Shtange), who provided material for M. D. Ruzsky from different places in European Russia and West Siberia.