Myrmica angulata

In southern China M. angulata nests were found in rotten wood in forests at altitudes 500-1000 m. In northern Vietnam it also lives in mixed forests between 1700 and 2200 m, nests being found in rotten wood, in soil under logs and pieces of bark, or under stones. The altitude difference between the China and Vietnam populations most probably relates to regional climatic differences. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Identification
M. angulata belongs to the ritae-complex of ritae species group, and well differs from all other known species in this complex by the combination of coarse rugosity and dense punctation on the petiole and postpetiole. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution
Southern China and northern Vietnam.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Vietnam. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  angulata. Myrmica angulata Radchenko, Zhou & Elmes, 2001: 213, figs. 6-10 (w.) CHINA. Radchenko, Elmes & Bui, 2006: 43 (q.). See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 88.

Type Material
Holotype, w, S China, Guangxi Province, Xing An, 500 ill, 7.vii.1994, No.2 (leg. S. Zhou) (LONDON); paratypes: 4 W from the same nest; 1 w, S China, NE Guangxi Province, Hua Ping, 840 ill, 16.viii.l998, HP-25 (leg. J. Fellowes); 2 w, S China, Guangxi Province, Da Yao Shan, 1020 m, 19.ix.1998, DYS-108 (leg. J. Fellowes) (KIEV, GUILIN, ELMES)

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the Latin word angulata = angular, with angles, to reflect the more strongly angled base of the scape, compared to most other ritae-group species.