Formica clara sinae

This subspecies is only known by the type series which was collected on the sand-flats west of Nu Ku Kow, Kiachou Bay, Quingdao (= Tsingtao), Shandong Province (Wheeler 1923).

Identification
Seifert and Schultz (2009) - A member of the Formica rufibarbis group. Though being most similar to Formica clara s.str. in the majority of characters, the much more developed pronotal pilosity (nPN1.4 9.2) and some 2850 km distance from the next known population of F. clara s.str. makes it advisable to establish an East Chinese subspecies F. clara sinae. We cannot exclude that F. c. sinae could have species rank but testing this is prevented by lack of further sympatric material.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 * orientalis. Formica rufibarbis var. orientalis Wheeler, W.M. 1923b: 4 (w.) CHINA. [Junior primary homonym of orientalis Ruzsky, above.] Replacement name: sinae Emery, 1925b: 250.
 *  sinae. Formica (Serviformica) rufibarbis var. sinae Emery, 1925b: 250. Replacement name for orientalis Wheeler, W.M. 1923b: 4. [Junior primary homonym of orientalis Ruzsky, 1915a: 427.] Santschi, 1928b: 42 (q.). Junior synonym of glauca: Dlussky, 1967a: 74. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Wu, 1990: 4. Subspecies of clara: Seifert & Schultz, 2009: 265.

Worker
Seifert and Schultz (2009) - Medium-sized Serviformica, CS 1.327 mm; pronotum more hairy than in Formica clara s.str., nPN1.4 9.2. Propodeum plus dorsolateral metapleuron normally with one seta. Petiole narrower than in average F. clara s.str.: PEW / CS1.4 0.428. All other body dimensions near the average of the nominal form: CL / CW1.4 1.142, OceD / CS1.4 0.168, EYE / CS1.4 0.283, SL / CS1.4 1.060, nMN1.4 1.6, nPE1.4 2.5, nHFFL1.4 0.2, RipD1.4 4.2, sqPDG1.4 2.9. Clypeus with sharp median keel and longitudinal microcarinulae. Frontal triangle finely transversally rippled and with 40 - 60 pubescence hairs. Eyes with microsetae of 5 - 7 μm maximum length. Ventral coxae and gaster tergites with long setae. Dorsal crest of petiole in frontal view convex, sometimes with straight median portion. In lateral aspect wedge-shaped, relatively small with more convex anterior and more straight posterior profile. Colouration as in the typical northern population of F. clara s.str.: light yellowish brown with darker vertex, dorsal pronotum and mesonotum, coxae only slightly more dark.

Type Material
Seifert and Schultz (2009) - Three workers labelled “ShanTung', China Aug.24 1922 A.P.-Jacot” [integrated interpretation from both handwritten labels of Jacot], “A. P. Jacot No. 2287”, “Gift of W. M. Wheeler”, “M.C.Z. Type 1-3 21733”, “var. orientalis Wheeler”; three further workers labelled “ShanTung', China Aug.24 1922 A. P.-Jacot” [integrated interpretation from both badly handwritten labels of Jacot], “Gift of W. M. Wheeler”, “M.C.Z. Type 4-6 21733”; all.