Myrmica huaii

Found foraging on the ground in coniferous forest at an altitude of 1927 m. Nesting site unknown.

Identification
Chen et al. (2016) - This species belongs to the pachei group. This species is very similar to Myrmica schulzi and Myrmica phalacra, but differs from the latter two by basal third of first gastral tergite with fine superficial hexagonal sculpture; posterior margin without any erect to suberect long hairs; dorsum of petiolar node with a distinct broad dorsal plate. Main discriminative morphological characters with other species of the pachei-group is shown in the pachei-group species key.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  huaii. Myrmica huaii Chen, Zhue & Huang, 2016: 101, figs. 17-19 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. HL 1.50, HW 1.25, FW 0.55, FLW 0.58, SL 1.25, PW 0.85, ML 1.90, PL 0.55, PH 0.43, ESL 0.45, CI 1.20, FI 0.44, FLI 1.05, SI1 0.83, SI2 1.00, ESLI 0.36. Paratype workers (n = 3). HL 1.48−1.55, HW 1.21−1.29, FI 0.50−0.55, FLW 0.50−0.57, SL 1.20−1.31, PW 0.80−0.83, ML 1.86−1.91, PL 0.50−1.57, PH 0.41−0.44, ESL 0.41−0.45, CI 1.20−1.23, FI 0.41−0.44, FLI 1.00−1.09, SI1 0.80−0.83, SI2 0.97−1.02, ESLI 0.35−0.37.

Holotype. Head longer than broad, with weakly convex sides and posterior margin, and narrowly rounded posterior corners; anterior clypeal margin relatively narrowly rounded, but not prominent and not notched medially. Frontal carinae very feebly curved, merging with the rugae that surround antennal sockets. Frons wide, frontal lobes not extended. Antennal scape relatively long (SI2 = 1.00), equal to head width, gradually curved at the base, without any trace of lobe or carina.

Mesosoma robust, promesonotum in profile view distinctly convex, promesonotal suture in dorsal view indistinct. Metanotal groove distinct, deep and abrupt. Propodeal lobes rounded. Propodeal spines straight, thin, acute, directly backward at an angle of approximately 30º. Petiole with distinct peduncle, anterior surface slightly concave, and dorsum of node broadly rounded, with a distinct dorsal plate. Postpetiole subglobular, with anterior and dorsal surfaces forming a regular arch. Spurs of middle and hind tibiae well-developed and pectinate. Frons with dense, fine, slightly sinuous longitudinal rugae, number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes > 25, posterior part and lateral sides of the head with fine reticulation, space between rugae dull, densely and coarsely punctate. Clypeus with longitudinal rugae, spaces between them shiny, frontal triangle smooth and shiny.

Pronotal dorsum reticulate, lateral sides reticulate-punctate. Mesonotal and propodeal dorsum each with more than ten moderately coarse sinuous transverse rugae. Lower parts of mesopleura and sides of propedeum with longitudinal rugae. Space between rugae on mesosoma with fine punctures, though appearing quite shiny. Petiole and postpetiole dull, densely punctate and reticulated. Anterior third of first gastral tergite with fine superficial hexagonal sculpture, the rest of the tergite smooth and shiny.

Head with short subdecumbent hairs at lateral margins above the eyes, posterior part of the head without additional long hairs, genae with a few long hairs; dorsum of mesosoma with long hairs; petiole with 4−6 long and a few short hairs. Antennal scape and tibiae with decumbent hairs. Gaster with short suberect hairs. Head and gaster blackish-brown, mesosoma yellowish-brown, appendages somewhat lighter.

Paratypes. As holotype, but gaster with less short suberect hairs; petiole and postpetiole middle densely punctuate and the longitudinal rugae of frons more rough than holotype.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Huangbaiyuan, Shaanxi Prov., China, 33°59'48"N, 107°17'42"E, 1927m. 8. vi. 2012, No. G120347, leg. Chaotai Wei, Paratypes. 1 worker, 2. vi. 2012, No. G1200339; 1 worker, 27. vi. 2012, No. G090467. Locality and collector the same as holotype. Deposited in the Insect Collection of.

Etymology
The specific epithet is the Chinese name Su Huai, who was a famous Chinese calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty.

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.