Bothriomyrmex anastasiae

The type material was collected by K. V. Arnoldi in a pine forest.

Identification
Dubovikoff (2002) - A member of the Bothriomyrmex adriacus group. I include in this group, in addition to the nominotypical species, also Bothriomyrmex modestus and Bothriomyrmex communista anatolicus. The taxonomic status of the last species is not fully understood yet and calls for refinement, for which purpose a study of queens and males is necessary. B. anastasiae is distinguished from species of this group by the head measurements of workers and queens (B. anastasiae, CIq = 94-96; CIw = 91-93; B. adriacus, CIw = 85-88; B. modestus, CIw = 89-90) and short scapus only slightly projecting beyond the occipital head margin (S I = 85-89).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Russian Federation.

Nomenclature

 *  anastasiae. Bothriomyrmex anastasiae Dubovikoff, 2002: 918, figs. 1-3 (w.q.) RUSSIA.

Worker
Body pale, yellowish fuscous. Metanotal depression shallow; propodeum weakly projecting over mesonotum. Recumbent abdominal pubescence dense; only posterior margins of abdominal segments with not numerous erect chaetae.

Head chaetae arranged along anterior margin of clypeus and one chaeta on margin of each antennal socket. Eyes on facial surface, separated from lateral head margin and entirely visible. CI = 9 1-93; SI = 88-90.

Queen
Body fuscous; abdomen darker, with dense recumbent pubescence. Legs and antennae paler. Head wide, short, somewhat narrowed downwards; occipital margin slightly concave. Erect hair only present on anterior margin of clypeus. Scapus with short semierect hairs, extending beyond occipital margin of head by no more than its maximum diameter. Declivous propodeal surface with long chaetae; long chaetae on metastemal lobes directed precisely backwards. Declivous surface of abdominal segment I with several short erect hairs. CI = 94-96 (94); SI = 85-89 (85).

Type Material
Holotype: Q, Russia, Krasnodar Territory, Dzhankhot, SE of Gelendzhik, pine forest, 8.VII .1956, K. Arnoldi. Paratypes: 3 Q, 3 W, labels as in holotype (ZIN); 11 W, Krasnodar Territory, Markotkh Range near Kabardinka, 2.VII.1956, K. Arnoldi (ZISP).

Etymology
The species is named for my daughter Anastasia.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dubovikoff D. A., and Z. M. Yusupov. 2018. Family Formicidae - Ants. In Belokobylskij S. A. and A. S. Lelej: Annotated catalogue of the Hymenoptera of Russia. Proceedingss of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences 6: 197-210.