Myrmica inezae

Colonies of Myrmica inezae were found nesting under stones and in rotten logs at shady places. These areas are covered with Cedrus and Pinus trees with very dense ground vegetation. Lowest and highest air temperature observed at the collection site was 21.4°C and 30°C, respectively, the nest temperature never exceeding 17°C. Humidity of the collection site ranged from 54% to 79%. Alates appear in June and July. The altitudinal range for this species is 1900-3000m above mean sea level. (Bharti et al., 2016)

Identification
A member of the inezae group. M. inezae is a very conspicuous species, belonging to the inezae species group. Even though this species was described only from a single worker, it so well differs from any other known Myrmica species that we had no .trouble attributing the non-type material to this species. Its main features are the coarse transversal rugosity on the alitrunk dorsum combined with long propodeal spines and a long petiole having a very long and thin peduncle. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Castes
Males have not been collected.

Nomenclature

 *  inezae. Myrmica inezae Forel, 1902c: 226 (w.) INDIA. Radchenko & Elmes, 2002: 37 (q.). See also: Bingham, 1903: 268; Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 153.

Type Material
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Holotype. w, "Himalaya, Pachmarchi (Schurr)" (GENEVA);

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Forel's eldest daughter was called Inez and although he did not specifically say so, this species was most probably dedicated to her; the name is derived from Greek and means chaste. Forel also gave :this name to species in two other genera.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Forel A. 1902. Myrmicinae nouveaux de l'Inde et de Ceylan. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 165-249.
 * Forel A. 1903. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part X. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 679-715.
 * Gulzar A. 2014. Classification and Distribution of ants in Kashgar, Xinjiang. Master's Thesis Shaanxi Normal University, 75 pages.
 * Radchenko, A. G., and G. W. Elmes. "A taxonomic revision of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from the Himalaya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Entomologica Basiliensia 23 (2001): 237-276.