Myrmica taibaiensis

Two collections were made from nest in a rotten tree trunk and rotten tree root, in mountain forest at an altitude between 2000 and 2200 m.

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the pachei species group and redescribed workers and queen (Radchenko and Elmes 2009a). Wei C. et al. (2001, p. 563) noticed: “The new species is close to Myrmica inezae. It differs from the later by the shape and number of mandible teeth, the shape of propodeal spines, and the colour of body”. Although in some respects there are similarities between the inezae- and pachei-groups (see Radchenko and Elmes 2001b), the authors were certainly referring to its similarity to Myrmica weii, which they had misidentified as M. inezae (see also Radchenko et al. 2008). The mesonotal and propodeal dorsum of M. taibaensis is transversally rugose, while the pronotal dorsum is reticulate; the occipital and lateral margins of the head above the eyes have numerous short subdecumbent hairs; the propodeal spines are long, but massive, strongly widened at the base.

Distribution
Shaanxi Province, China.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  taibaiensis. Myrmica taibaiensis Wei, Zhou & Liu, in Wei, Zhou, He & Liu, 2001: 562, figs. 2-3 (w.q.) CHINA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2009a: 69; Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 301.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Mt. Taibai 2200 m, Taibai Co., Shaanxi Prov., nested in rotten trunk of tree, in the forest, 19 Aug. 1997, Wei Congo Paratypes: 35 workers, 5 females, Mt. Taibai 2000 m, in rotten root in the forest, 27 Aug. 1997, Wei Cong.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - a combination of the name Taibai with the Latin suffix ensis = place of origin, to indicate that it was found on Mt. Taibai, the main peak of the Qinling Mountain, Shaanxi Province, China.