Myrmica caucasicola

Inhabits mainly dry mountain forests at an altitude 700-1600 m.

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) – A member of the schencki species group and most resembles Myrmica schencki. Workers and queens differ from the latter mainly by their somewhat wider frons and by a much smaller lobe at the scape bend. Males of M. caucasicola have very long, erect hairs on the tibiae and tarsi and are hardly distinguishable from those of Myrmica ravasinii. On the other hand, this feature well discriminates males of both species from all other species of the schencki-group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia.

Nomenclature

 *  caucasicola. Myrmica schencki nat. caucasicola Arnol'di, 1934: 172, fig. 38-40 (w.m.) ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN. Radchenko, Elmes & Alicata, 2006: 519 (q.). Raised to species: Arakelian, 1994: 24; Radchenko, 1994a: 44; Radchenko, 1994c: 140 (in key); Radchenko, 1994f: 79. See also: Seifert, 2003b: 147; Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 109.

Worker
Seifert (2003) - Head as long as broad. Clypeus on entire surface longitudinally rugulose-carinate. Frontal triangle longitudinally carinulate. Frontal carinae less narrowing than in Myrmica schencki. Longitudinal macrorugae on vertex ± linear, weakly wrinkled; on central vertex, their interspaces are perfectly smooth. On lateral and posterior vertex, the macrorugae are connected by few macroanastomosae, giving a semi-reticulate macrosculpture; their interspaces reflecting but with a weak microreticulum. Scape in principal architecture similar to Myrmica lobicornis; its flange much smaller than in schencki. Propodeal spines shorter and thinner than in schencki; their axis in lateral view deviating by 25-40° from the mesosomal longitudinal axis. Mesopropodeal depression absent or weak. Mesosomal macrorugae clearly wrinkled and moderately strong (the strongest on pronotum are 15-16 mm high); their dorsal interspaces smooth. Dorsal centre of postpetiolar node ± smooth, very weakly microreticulate. Petiolar and postpetiolar shape similar to schencki but petiolar proflie more angulate. Setae on whole body relatively longer than in average schencki.

Queen
Radchenko, Elmes and Alicata (2006) - This description is based on single queen with the label: “137, USSR, Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Tallish Mts., Lerik, 1200 m, xerophitous canyon, 8.X.83, Golovatsch” (ZMMU).

Generally like workers in shape of head and scape, colour and pilosity of the body, except it has coarser sculpture on the head and alitrunk, and propodeal spines that are wider at their base and shorter.

Type Material
Seifert (2003) - Type Material Seen: One specimen from a syntype series of Arnoldi was washed off, cleaned, remounted, and designated as lectotype (by present designation); it is labelled "AZERBAIJDSHAN·Talysh Mountains, Nodus-galasi, 14.07.1929, leg. K.Arnoldi No A 4286"; depository SMN Goerlitz. 8 worker paralectotypes collected by K.Arnoldi in the Talysh mountains in July 1929, sample numbers A4237, A4286, A4294, A4282; ZMLSU Moskva. 2 paralectotype workers from Talysh, July 1929, leg K.Arnoldi, MZ Lausanne.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the name Caucasus with the Latin suffixincola = inhabitant of, to indicate that this is a species of the Caucasus region that includes the type localities.