Myrmica constricta

Inhabits rather xerothermic habitats, usually open places with sandy soils, and relatively sparse vegetation in full exposure to the sun. In semi-natural habitats it builds nests in the ground, occasionally under stones, but more often among grass roots, in dry sandy meadows that border rivers, lakes, ponds and seashores. In urban environments it is quite common in lawns and flower borders in city parks and around public buildings. Colonies may consist from several hundred to more than 1500 workers and several queens, and the species can probably form very large populations or super colonies (see notes to Myrmica rugulosa). Nuptial flights are in August-September. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) – A member of the rugulosa-complex of the scabrinodis species group (see also Radchenko and Elmes 2004). It most resembles Myrmica rugulosa but differs from the latter by the presence of a small narrow ridge at the base of its scape. Female castes differ from the morphologically similar Myrmica hellenica by having a less developed lobe on the scape base, and males differ from the latter by having shorter standing hairs on the legs (for more details see Seifert et al. 2009).

Key to Myrmica of West Europe and North Africa

Distribution
This species is quite widely, but sporadically distributed in Central and partly southern Europe: Ukraine, Poland, southern Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Romania, Italy, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine.

Nomenclature

 * minuta. Myrmica rugulosa var. minuta Karavaiev, 1929b: 204 (w.m.) UKRAINE. [Junior primary homonym of minuta Say, 1836: 294, above.] Replacement name: constricta Karavaiev, 1934: 74.
 *  constricta. Myrmica rugulosa var. constricta Karavaiev, 1934: 74. Replacement name for minuta Karavaiev, 1929b: 204. [Junior primary homonym of minuta Ruzsky, 1905b: 670.] Junior synonym of slobodensis: Karavaiev, 1936: 274 (priority incorrect, constricta has seniority); of rugulosa: Arnoldi, 1970: 1840; of hellenica: Radchenko, 2009: 70. Revived status as species: Seifert, et al. 2009: 72. Senior synonym of slobodensis: Seifert, et al. 2009: 72. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 113.
 * slobodensis. Myrmica rugulosa var. slobodensis Arnol'di, 1934: 162 (w.m.) UKRAINE. Senior synonym of constricta: Karavaiev, 1936: 274 (priority incorrect, constricta has seniority). Junior synonym of rugulosa: Arnol'di, 1970b: 1840; of hellenica: Radchenko, 2009: 70; of constricta: Seifert, et al. 2009: 72.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the Latin constricta = small, limited in size, or marked by contraction, tightening, or compressed, contracted; as this is a replacement name for minuta, the meaning "small" seems the most reasonable.