Myrmica petita

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
M. petita is known only from a single holotype queen and has an uncertain taxonomic position, we can not satisfactorily place it in any species group. It most resembles the workers of Myrmica wittmeri (queen unknown) differing only by the punctated surface of its head dorsum and relatively longer propodeal spines. However, we do not think this queen is M. wittmeri because we know of no Myrmica species where the propodeal spines of the queens are relatively longer than those of their workers. M. petita very small, smaller than all known free-living queens from the Himalayan Myrmica fauna and is one of the smallest of all known free-living Myrmica species. Small size is often associated with social parasites but we think that M. petita is unlikely to be a social parasite because it lacks any of the typical “parasitic” characters, e. g. reduced pectinate spurs, ventral lobes on the petiole and postpetiole, relatively wide postpetiole and general hairiness. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution
Only known from the type locality from India (Kashmir).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Castes
Workers and males have not been collected.

Nomenclature

 *  petita. Myrmica petita Radchenko & Elmes, 1999a: 45, fig. 5 (11-15) (q.) INDIA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 215.

Type Material
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - HoIotype, q, "Kashmir, Yusmar, 2300-2400 m, 6.07.1976, leg. W. Wittmer" (BASLE).

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the French petite = little, small (or dainty when applied to females) to indicate its small size for a Myrmica queen.