Myrmica fortior

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Poorly known. It has been found at altitudes between 2000 and 2700 m, where it nested in the soil and under stones, in open pine wood and open rocky pasture, at the edge of spruce-fir groves (Phil Ward, pers. comm.).

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the smythiesii group. It is probably a Kashmir endemic very close to Myrmica smythiesii, from which it differs by a suite of minor characters including the shape and sculpture of the petiole and postpetiole, slightly longer propodeal spines and somewhat larger body size (about 5% larger). M. fortior workers differ from those of rubra-group species by having a distinctly more prominent and anteriorly pointed clypeus. However, by other characters they are superficially similar to those of several oriental species, related to M. ruginodis. Also, despite having quite long antennae, the male scape is relatively shorter than that of males of oriental rubra-group species (SI2 0.S3- 1.0 versus 1.23-1.36).

Distribution
Known only from Kashmir State in India.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  fortior. Myrmica smythiesii var. fortior Forel, 1904c: 22 (w.) INDIA. Radchenko & Elmes, 2002: 39 (q.m.). Raised to species: Radchenko & Elmes, 2001a: 254. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 136.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the Latin word fortior = stronger, to describe its greater robustness compared to M. smythiesii.