Myrmica pararitae

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the ritae complex of the ritae species group that is similar to Myrmica ritae, but well differs from any other species of the ritae-complex by the sculpture of head, with only longitudinal rugae and without any reticulation. It also differs from M. ritae by the broadly subovale head, shorter scape, presence of long hairs on the temples and genae, and by its brownish-red head that does not-strongly contrast with the darker alitrunk.

Distribution
The species is known from the type series from Sichuan Province of China.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Males have not been collected.

Nomenclature

 *  pararitae. Myrmica pararitae Radchenko & Elmes, in Radchenko, Zhou, et al. 2008: 773, figs. 16-25 (w.q.) CHINA. Misspelled as parasitae: Radchenko, Zhou, et al. 2008: 776 (in table). See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 213.

Worker
Head longer than wide, broadly suboval, with distinctly convex sides, feeble convex occipital margin, and quite broadly rounded occipital corners. Upper lateroventral corners of head not strongly pointed. Anterior clypeal margin very feebly convex and notched medially. Mandibles with 8-10 teeth Frontal carinae feebly curved, frons wide, frontal lobes somewhat raised vertically. Antennal sockets not surrounded by rugulae, or almost with a single fine one. Scape relatively short (compared to most species of the ritae-complex), gradually but quite strongly curved at the base, without any trace of lobe or carina.

Alitrunk long and low, with very feebly convex promesonotal dorsum, promesonotal suture dorsally indistinct. Metanotal groove distinct, varying from shallow to moderately deep. Propodeal lobes projecting apically to form sharp teeth. Propodeal spines very long, broad at the base, sharp, straight, inclined at about 45° in profile and divergent (seen from above). Peliole long, but relatively high (in comparison to other species of the ritae-complex); its anterior surface concave, node dorsum distinctly convex; postpetiole fig-shaped in dorsal view, higher than long. Spurs on middle and hind tibiae well developed and pectinate.

Whole head dorsum with moderately course, slightly sinuous longitudinal rugae and completely without reticulation. Frons between frontal carinae level with the eyes with more than 8 rugae. Clypeus finely longitudinally rugose, mandibles longitudinally rugulose. Surface of head dorsum between rugae very finely superficially micropunctate (seen at magnification 100x), but appears shiny.

Pronotum, mesonotum and propodeal dorsum with coarse reticulation, mesopleura and sides of propodeum with coarse sinuous longitudinal rugae, surface betwccn rugae smooth and shiny, without micropunctation. Petiolar node with longitudinal rugae and reticulate (especially dorsally), postpetiole with longitudinally-concentric rugosity, surface of waist appears shiny but may be very finely, superficially micropunctate. Gaster smooth and shiny.

Head margins, alitrunk dorsum and waist with long standing hairs. Scape and tibiae with subdecumbenr pilosity. Head, antennae and gaster brownish-red, alitrunk and waist dark brown to blackish-brown, legs yellowish-red.

Measurements (mm) and indices or workers (n = 20) in order minimum - maximum, ranges with means and SD in parentheses, data of the holotype in square brackets: HL 1.32-1.50 (1.399 ± 0.050) [1.48], HW 1.12-1.32 (1.212 ± 0.050) [1.28], FW 0.44-0.54 (0.478 ± 0.024) [0.49], FLW 0.46-0.55 (0.505 ± 0.025) [0.52], SL 1.42-1.60 (1.514 ± 0.050) [1.58], AL 2.06-2.30 (2.183 ± 0.070) [2.26], HTL 1.22-1.40 (1.318 ± 0.047) [1.36], PNW 0.84-0.96 (0.893 ± 0.033) [0.94], PL 0.60-0.76 (0,665 ± 0.041) [0.66], PW 0.29-0.35 (0.316 ± 0.017) [0.31], PH 0.37-0.44 (0.403 ± 0.021) [0.42], PPL 0.38-0.53 (0.450 ± 0.035) [0.43], PPW 0.45-0.56 (0.501 ± 0.029) [0.51], PPH 0.52-0.62 (0.579 ± 0.030) [0.59], ESL 0.66-0.82 (0.745 ± 0.047) [0.77], ESD 0.55-0.72 (0.637 ± 0.055) [0.65]; CI 1.10-1.21 (1.155 ± 0.026) [1.16], FI 0.36-0.41 (0.395 ± 0.013) [0.38]. FLI 1.02-1.11 (1.056 ± 0.020) [1.06], SI1 1.04 - 1.11 (1.082 ± 0.019) [1.07], SI2 1.21-1.30 (1.250 ± 0.027) [1.23]. PI1 1.40-1.89 (1.653 ± 0. 107) [1 .57], PI2 0.49-0.60 (0.549 ± 0.037) [0.52], PI3 0.24-0.28 (0.261 ± 0.011) [0.24], PPI1 062-0.90 (0.794 ± 0.067) [0.73], PPI2 1.07-1.25 (1.157 ±  0.039) [1.16], PPI3 1.47-1.69 (1.584 ± 0.048) [1.65], PPI4 0.30-0.44 (0.413 ±, 0.017) [0.40], ESLI 0.57-0.66 (0.615 ± 0.026) [0.60], ESDI 0.72-1.03 (0.856 ± 0.071) [0.84].

Queen
Generally similar to workers by the shape and sculpture of head, frontal lobes, propodeal spines (which are relatively shorter and more robust) and waist. Alitrunk long and low, pronotum with coarse reticulation, the rest of alitrunk with coarse longitudinal rugosity.

Measurements (mm) and indices of queens (n = 10) in order minimum – maximum, rangers with means and SD in parentheses:

HL 1.48-1.56 (1.514 ± 0.028), HW 1.28-1.38 (1.324 ± 0.031). FW 0.53-0.57 (0.545 ± 0.014), FLW 0.54-0.60 (0.566 ± 0.016), SL 1.42-1.56 (1.520 ± 0.042), AL 2.60-2.78 (2.688 ± 0.053), AH 1.16-l.30 (1.252 ± 0.013), SCW 1.10-1.28 (1.188 ± 0.050), SCL 1.66-1.80 (1.746 ± 0.044). HTL 1.30-1.50 (1.436 ± 0.056). PL 0.75-0.85 (0.812 ± 0.028), PW 0.40-0.45 (0.421 ± 0.015); PH 0.48-0.52 (0.498 ± 0.013), PPL 0.53-0.63 (0.581 ± 0.035), PPW 0.64-0.72 (0.684 ± 0.024), PPH 0.71-0.76 (0.728 ± 0.013), ESL 0.55-0.83 (0.6117 ± 0.078), ESD 0.60-0.77 (0.718 ± 0.055); CI 1.10-1.20 (1.144 ± 0.034), FI 0.39-0.43 (0.412 ± 0.0 14), FLI 1.00-1.07 (1.039 ± 0.022). SI1 0.05-1.03 (1.004 ± 0.023), SI2 1.09-1.20 (1.149 ± 0.040), PI1 1.50-1.71 (1.631 ± 0.060), PI2 0.59-0.65 (0.613 ± 0.022), PI3 0.30-0.35 (0.318 ± 0.014), PPI1 0.74-0.86 (0.798 ± 0.046), PPI2 1.01-1.11 (1.065 ± 0.027). PPI3 1.55-1.71 (1.6'26 ± 0.055), PPI4 0.49-0.55 (0.517 ± 0.01 8), ESLI 0.42-0.63 (0.526 ± 0.058), ESDI 0.92-1.09 (1.035 ± 0.055), AI 2.03-2.32 (2.149 ± 0.085), SCI 1.41-1.56 ( 1.471 ± 0.049).

Type Material
Holotype worker, China, Sichuan Prov., Maoxian, 40 km N Winchuan, 1800 m, 23.viii.2002, leg. S. Murzin & I. Sokhin (ZISP): paratypes: > 100 workers, 17 queens with the same label as the holotype (ZISP,, , GNU).

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - M. pararitae: from the Greek para = near, next to, close to, and "ritae" to indicate its similarity to M. ritae.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chen Z. L., S. Y. Zhou, and J. H. Huang. 2016. Seven species new to science and one newly recorded species of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from China, with proposal of a new synonym (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ZooKeys 551: 85–128.
 * Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 2010. Myrmica ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 790 pp.