Myrmica afghanica

The biology and ecology of this species is unknown.

Identification
Males of M. afghanica are unknown and without males it is impossible to determine membership of a Myrmica species group with certainty. The morphological features of the female castes suggest that M. afghanica belongs either to the dshungarica-group or to the smythiesii-group. It most resemble species of the dshungarica-group, which are distributed in Middle Asian Mountains, in which case M. afghanica, like Myrmica tenuispina, might have invaded Afghanistan from the north. On the other hand, if it belongs to the smythiesii-group it is probably a true endemic of the region. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India. Palaearctic Region: Afghanistan.

Castes
Males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  afghanica. Myrmica afghanica Radchenko & Elmes, 2003b: 3, figs. 1-12 (w.q.) AFGHANISTAN. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 81.

Type Material
Holotype, w, "Afghanistan, Pashki Nuristan, 6:vi.(Sic!) 48, leg. K. Paludan" (Copenhagen); paratypes: 2 w, 1 q (dealate, specimen without postpetiole and gaster), with the same labels as holotype (Copenhagen). We cannot find Pashki Nuristan, but the most probable locality is Nãrest~n (34°56' N, 70°22' E) located in a river valley of the Hindu Kush, about 60 km north of Jäläläbad and 120 km northeast of Kabul.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the name of the country Afghanistan with the adjective suffix for nouns ica (from the Greek ικο) = belonging to, from, it is probably endemic to that country.