Myrmica foreliana

Queen and workers were collected under a stone during the month of May, when temperature of Chopta Valley was 23°C and humidity 75%. This region has alpine vegetation, with orchids, Rhododendron and other high-altitude vegetation (Bharti et al., 2016).

Identification
A member of the rugosa complex of the rugosa species group] that is most similar to [[Myrmica rupestris. This species was described only from a single worker, we found no more examples in any of the collections examined. The holotype specimen clearly differs from M. rupestris by its smaller size (HW 0.77, AL 1.46 mm, VS. HW> 0.78, AL > 1.80 mm), somewhat longer head (CI 1.39 us. CI < 1.35) and by the surfaces between rugae on its head and alitrunk being densely punctated and appearing more or less dull. However, additional material is required before a clearer treatment of this species can be made. Queens, males and the ecology are unknown.

Distribution
Known only from the type locality in Central Himalaya.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * carbonaria. Myrmica smythiesii subsp. carbonaria Forel, 1902c: 227 (w.) INDIA. [Junior primary homonym of carbonaria Smith, F. 1858b: 127, above.] Replacement name: foreliana Radchenko & Elmes, 2001a: 247.
 *  foreliana. Myrmica foreliana Radchenko & Elmes, 2001a: 247. Replacement name for carbonaria Forel, 1902c: 227. [Junior primary homonym of carbonaria Smith, F. 1858b: 127.] See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 135.

Type Material
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Holotype, w, "Himalaya, Pachmarhi, Shurr, 30.vii.93 (Rothney)" (GENEVA).

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - dedicated to Auguste Forel, the famous Swiss myrmecologist, to indicate this species was originally described using a homonym, by Auguste Forel. M. carbonaria: from the Latin word carbo = carbon, to describe its dark charcoal-like colour.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H., Y. P. Sharma, M. Bharti, and M. Pfeiffer. 2013. Ant species richness, endemicity and functional groups, along an elevational gradient in the Himalayas. Asian Myrmecology 5: 79-101.
 * Forel A. 1902. Myrmicinae nouveaux de l'Inde et de Ceylan. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 165-249.
 * Forel A. 1903. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part X. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 679-715.
 * Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 2001. A taxonomic revision of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from the Himalaya (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Entomologica Basiliensia 23: 237-276.
 * 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.
 * Radchenko, A. G., and G. W. Elmes. "A taxonomic revision of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from the Himalaya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Entomologica Basiliensia 23 (2001): 237-276.