Myrmica commarginata

Inhabits steppes and dry meadows, often with sandy soil.

Identification
A member of the kasczenkoi complex of the lobicornis species group. Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - The mesonotum and propodeum of M. commarginata specimens are strongly constricted laterally, so that their dorsal surface is narrow and delineated laterally by sharp ridges, which merge with the outer bases of propodeal spines. This feature is not seen in any other known Myrmica species. We cannot exclude the possibility that such deformed individuals or perhaps naturally aberrant workers (even from several different species) have been included in the name M. commarginata. This will only be resolved when good consistent, colony samples containing queens and males are found. Except for the most unusual morphological feature after which it was named (see below) it is similar to sympatric lobicornis-group species, such as Myrmica kasczenkoi, Myrmica displicentia, or even Myrmica divergens. Furthermore, it appears to be unusually rare for a Siberian Myrmica species, having been found in only seven localities since its first description: Krasnoyarski Krai, Chitinskaya and Amurskaya Provo of Russia, and in Mongolia (Ruzsky 1925, 1936; Radchenko 1994f; Pfeiffer et al. 2007).

Key to Myrmica of species of East Siberia, Russian Far East, Mongolia, Korean Peninsula, northern China, and Japan

Distribution
South Siberia, Mongolia.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Mongolia, Russian Federation.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  commarginata. Myrmica commarginata Ruzsky, 1905b: 708 (w.) RUSSIA. See also: Radchenko, 1994c: 138; Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 112.

Type Material
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Locality: Transbaikal Prov., sandy steppe by the road from Kyakhta to Troitskosavsk (23 km from the town), ww 27.vii.1901, leg. Molleson.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the Latin word (F.) marginata = enclosed with edges or borders, with the prefix com = together with, to give "with margins" describing the unusual shape of the alitrunk.