Myrmica transsibirica

As its name implies, this species is widespread species in Siberia, living at a wide range of altitudes from sea level to 2000 m. Usually it lives in various kinds of forests, but prefers light, sparse and warm ones; it also can be found among shrubs and in steppe-like habitats. Nests are usually built in the soil, often under stones. Nuptial flights occur August-September. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the excelsa complex of the lobicornis species group. It has a feature characteristic for genus Tetramorium but very rare in genus Myrmica: the lateral portion of clypeus is raised into a sharp ridge in front of the antennal insertions, so that antennal sockets are distinctly separated from the clypeal surface. Only two other Myrmica species have this feature, Myrmica excelsa and Myrmica tamarae. The shape of scape of M. transsibirica is quite different from that of M. excels a being distinctly narrower at the bend than on its midlength (seen in profile), and the vertical (shorter) part has no longitudinal groove and lateral ridges (seen in front). It is most similar to M. tamarae by the shape of its head, frontal lobes and antennal scape, but differs from it by less coarser rugosity on the frons, having > 13 rugae level with the eyes vs. not more 10 sinuous rugae in M. tamarae.

Distribution
South Siberia (to the west until Kuznetsky Alatau), Russian Far East, north-east of China, Korean Peninsula, Japan (Hokkaido).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation.

Nomenclature

 * carinata. Myrmica carinata Kupyanskaya, 1990: 114, figs. 16, 19, 20 (w.q.m.) RUSSIA. [Junior primary homonym of carinata Smith, F. 1859a: 148, above.] Replacement name: taediosa Bolton, 1995b: 284.
 *  transsibirica. Myrmica transsibirica Radchenko, 1994h: 212, figs. 23-32 (w.q.m.) RUSSIA. Senior synonym of taediosa: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 308.
 * taediosa. Myrmica taediosa Bolton, 1995b: 284. Replacement name for carinata Kupyanskaya, 1990: 114. [Junior primary homonym of carinata Smith, F. 1859a: 148.] Junior synonym of transsibirica: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 308.

Worker
Holotype, worker: AL 1.53; HL 1.04; HW 0.90; SL 0.84; FW 0.38; FLW 0.42 mm.

Paratypes, workers: AL 1.48-1.54; HL 1.01-1.13; HW 0.85-1.02; SL 0.80-0.90; FW 0.35-0.45; FLW 0.38-0.50 mm (Figs 23-26).

Head slightly elongate (CI 1.10-1.18), with nearly parallel sides, rounded occipital comers and straight occipital border. Clypeus with straight or feebly convex anterior margin. Frontal carinae feebly curved, frons broad (FI 1.07-1.15, FLI 2.28-2.59). Antennal scapes relatively short (SI 1.21-1.36), abruptly curved basally, not possessing lobes, sometimes with a faint angle only. Antennal sockets surrounded by arched rugae. Dorsum of head mostly densely longitudinally rugulose, lateral parts of head with wavy rugae.

Alitrunk with distinct mesopropodeal impression. Propodeal spines moderately long, straight or slightly curved downwards, acute, extended at base. Petiole with cylindrical part, anterior face of petiolar node concave, dorsum of node in side view not angulate, widely rounded or with indistinct area. Sides of alitrunk with numerous straight or somewhat wavy rugae. Petiolar node with short wavy rugae and puncture; postpetiolar node with more coarse straight rugulosity.

Body with numerous standing hairs; hairs on antennal scapes rather long, their lenght equal or slightly longer than maximum thickness of scapes; hind tibia with suberect hairs. Colour fuscous, sides of alitrunk, petiolar and postpetiolar nodes and appendages ochraceous-brown.

Queen
Paratypes, females: Al1.69-1.93; H1 1.04-1.18; HW 0.91-1.04; S1 0.84-{).91 mm (Figs 27, 28).

Shape of head and form of frontal carinae and frontal lobes as in workers. Antennal scapes abruptly curved at base, not angulate and without lobes. Frons and vertex with divergent fine numerous rugae, lateral parts of head with wavy rugulosity and dense granular sculpture.

Mesopleurae finely densely rugulose, propleurae, propodeum, scutum and scutellum coarsely rugulose. Shape of propodeal spines, shape and sculpture of petiolar and postpetiolar nodes and colour as in workers.

Male
Paratypes, males: AL 1.65-1.93; H1 0.83-0.97; HW 0. 78-0.85; 81 0.66-0.77 mm (Figs 29-32).

Head slightly elongate (CI 1.00-1.08), widely rounded behind eyes, occipital border feebly convex. Antennal scapes rather long (SI 1.16-1.44), finely curved basally, not angulate. Dorsum of head densely punctate, very fine touch-like rugulosity on central part of frons only. Head with sparse, straight, coarse, standing hairs, their length obviously shorter than maximum thickness of antennal scapes. Propodeum without teeth, with triangular tubercles. Propleurae and upper parts of mesopleurae finely punctate; lower parts of mesopleurae, sides of propodeum and scutum longitudinally rugulose; scutellum coarsely rugulose.

Alitrunk, nodes of petiole and postpetiole and gaster with numerous short straight standing hairs; hind tibia with suberect hairs. Colour dark-brown, appendages reddish-brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Russia, vicinity ofKrasnoyarsk, Pogorelsky bor, No. 29, 1964 (V. Dmitrenko). Paratypes: 11 workers from the same nest; 65 workers, 1 female, Altai, Nos. 4, 14, 119, 125, 130, 131, 237, 415, 506, 1988 (L. Omelchenko); 13 workers, Altai, 1968 (Z. Zhigulskaya); 2 females, 2 males, Altai, Kuraiskaya kotlovina, No. 441, 10 VIII 1963 (Z. Zhigulskaya); 6 workers, Altai, Chuiskaya kotlovina, Nos. 537, 549, 18 and 27 VI 1964 (Z. Zhigulskaya); 1 worker, Altai, Unzezia on river Katun', 15 VIII 1909 (Gorchakovsky); 1 worker, Chakassia, V 1974; 2 workers, Minusinsk, No. 1286, V 1974; 6 workers, E. Siberia, river Bogdashka, near river Angara, 21 VI 1873 (Gortung); 4 workers, 1 female, 1 male, Ulan-Ude, Nos. 1118, 1124, 1 VIII 1972; 3 workers, Irkutskij distr., village of Zun-Murino, No. 295, 10 VIII 1965 (A. Pleshanov); 10 workers, Chitinskaya obl., Stretenskij distr., Ust'-Dunaevo, Pad' Kulinda, 10 IX 1957 (G. Dlussky); 195 workers, Evreiskaya AO, Mt. Obluchje, 40 km S of village of Pashkovo, 2-16 VI 1978 (ToMs); 20 workers, 1 female, Amurskaya obl., river M. Para- river B. Ergel, 5 IX 1958 (Zinoviev); Primorsky Kraj: 9 workers, Khankaiskij distr., Sintuche, 1 V 1972 (A. Kupianskaya); 9 workers, Barabach-1evada, 9 V 1972 (A. Kupianskaya); 23 workers, 4 males, Kedrovaya Pad', 5 V 1971, 18 IX 1973, 16 VI 1975 (A. Kupianskaya); 2 workers, 1 male, same locality, 6 IX 1964 (G. Dlussky); 8 workers, Tetuchinskij distr., rivers Iman and Krasnaya, 4 IX 1971 (A. Kupianskaya); 13 workers, Dalnegorskij distr., Tetuche-Pristan', lake Vas'kovka, 26 VI 1972 (A. Kupianskaya); 7 workers, Pejshula, Zmeinaya Gorka, 21 VII 1969 (A. Kupianskaya); 11 workers, Sudzuche, bukhta Kut, 5 VIII 1946 (Sharov); Suvorovo, 24 VI 1972 (Zherychin); 4 workers, vicinity of Vladivostok, 5 V 1989 (L. Rybalov); 1 female, lake Hanka, 2 IX 1986 (A. Kotenko); 4 workers, Sakhalin, vicinity of Juzhno-Sakhalinsk, 25 VII 1975 (A. Kupianskaya); 2 workers, Sakhalin, village of Matrosovka, 9 VIII 1986 (S. Basarukin); Kunashir: 3 workers, Alechino, 23 VIII 1875 (Tikhomirova); 3 workers, Tretiakovo, 21 VIII 1975 (Tikhomirova); 11 females, 2 males, lake GQriachee, volcano Golovina, 9 VIII 1970 (Tikhomirova) (ZM, ).

Myrmica carinata

One worker syntype in, one worker syntype in. specimen labelled “Aru,” specimen without data.

The card on which the specimen is mounted has been cut in half at some time in the past and originally had a second worker. The apices of the legs of this worker are still visible on the card, to the left of the entire specimen; the specimen is this maimed worker.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - a combination of the Latin word trans = across or over, with the name Siberia, to indicate it is widespread throughout Siberia.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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