Formica glabridorsis

Available habitat information: found in a city park in Beijing and on river banks of Wei Hei and Mekong River. (Seifert and Schultz 2009)

Identification
Seifert and Schultz (2009) - A member of the Formica rufibarbis group. The character combination of F. glabridorsis is unmistakable at least within the East Asian ant fauna. A full separation from the next similar sympatric species Formica tianshanica is given alone by the non-overlapping SL / CS1.4 and RipD1.4 data (Tab. 1). The most similar Palaearctic species is the disjunct Formica persica which is separated by 4200 kilometres. A two-class Discriminant Analysis considering the characters CS, CL / CW1.4, SL / CS1.4, OceD / CS1.4, EYE / CS1.4, PEW / CS1.4, RipD1.4, and sqPDG1.4 separated each of the 26 nest samples of these two species with p = 1.000 and the error prediction by a LOOCV-DA was 0%.

Distribution
Seifert and Schultz (2009) - The known distribution is coincident with the southwest, central and northeast Chinese floristic provinces of Meusel & Jager (1992) and ranges from 27° to 40° N, 99° to 116° E and from 50 metres (in the north) to 1700 metres (in the south).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  glabridorsis. Formica (Serviformica) rufibarbis var. glabridorsis Santschi, 1925f: 95 (w.) CHINA. Junior synonym of glauca: Dlussky, 1967a: 74; of cunicularia: Wu, 1990: 4. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Seifert & Schultz, 2009: 269.

Worker
Seifert and Schultz (2009) - Large Serviformica species (CS 1.425 mm), head very much elongated (CL / CW1.4 1.164), has the longest scape of the Formica rufibarbis group (SL / CS1.4 1.184), distance between ocelli rather low (OceD / CS1.4 0.152), eye relatively large (EYE / CS1.4 0.301). Petiole relatively narrow (PEW / CS1.4 0.430). Clypeus with sharp median keel and fine longitudinal microcarinulae. Frontal triangle finely transversely rippled and with 55 - 75 short pubescence hairs. Eyes with microsetae of 6 - 9 μm maximum length. Pronotum, mesonotum, petiole, flexor profile of hind tibia, posterior margin of head, propodeum and dorsolateral metapleuron normally without setae. Ventral coxae and gaster tergites with long setae. Dorsal mesonotum in lateral aspect flatly convex. Metanotal depression moderately deep. Propodeal dome relatively flat. Dorsal crest of petiole in frontal view convex, sometimes (especially in larger specimens) trapezoidal. Petiole scale in lateral aspect slender, with convex anterior and more straight posterior profile. Gaster with transverse microripples of small distance (RipD 4.2 μm) and covered by very dense silvery pubescence (sqPDG 2.9). Pubescence on head, mesosoma and petiole dense, producing a rather matt surface appearance. Posterior vertex, often dorsal promesonotum, coxae and all appendages brown, gaster always dark brown. Other body parts reddish brown.

Type Material
Seifert and Schultz (2009) - One syntype worker labelled “Type”, “Pechino S.Folchini 1905”, “B.Finzi Coll purch. 1950”, “Formia (Servif.) rufibarbis Nyl.glabribarbis Sah Santschi det. 1951”, “M.C.Z. CoType 28817”; a second syntype worker without scapes labelled “Pechino S.Folchini 1905”, “B.Finzi Coll purch.1950”, “M.C.Z. CoType 28817”, “Jan.-Jun. 2001 MCZ Image Database”; both syntypes.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Ran H., and S. Y. Zhou. 2012. Checklist of chinese ants: formicomorph subfamilies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) II. Journal of Guangxi Normal University: Natural Science Edition 30(4): 81-91.
 * Seifert B., and R. Schultz. 2009. A taxonomic revision of the Formica rufibarbis Fabricius, 1793 group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 12:255-272.