Myrmica mirabilis

The type collection was made from a nest found in decaying wood on a forest margin.

Identification
A member of the luteola group. Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - M. mirabilis is a most unusual Myrmica species because superficially, by general shape it resembles many Pogonomyrmex species. Furthermore, it is a very large and robust Myrmica species (HW 1.62-1.83, AL 2.56-2.92 mm), second in size only to Myrmica titanica, which appears smaller because it is much more slender than M. mirabilis.

The most similar species is Myrmica luteola and even though M. mirabilis has no “socially-parasitic” features (e.g. its tibial spurs are not reduced, its petiole and postpetiole lack ventral process, etc.) we provisionally place M. mirabilis to the luteola species group.

Distribution
Known only from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Nomenclature

 *  mirabilis. Myrmica mirabile Elmes & Radchenko, 1998: 218, figs. 1-5 (w.) TAIWAN. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 201.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the Latin mirabilis = strange, wonderful or extraordinary, to emphasise its unusual features for a Myrmica species.