Myrmica urbanii

According to Radchenko and Elmes (2010), the ecology of this species is poorly known. It has been found at altitudes of 1000-1900m above mean sea level and one nest was found in soil beneath a log in a Quercus forest (Bharti et al., 2016).

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the ritae complex of the ritae species group. It is characterized by the not-very-coarse sinuous rugosity of the frons (having not less than 6 rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes), by the coarsely reticulated rear third of the head dorsum, and by the presence of abundant erect hairs on the head margins.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Nepal. Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  urbanii. Myrmica urbanii Radchenko & Elmes, 1998: 16, fig. 4 (1-5) (w.) INDIA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 314.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - this species was dedicated to our friend, the distinguished Italian myrmecologist Prof. Cesare Baroni-Urbani.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chen Z. L., S. Y. Zhou, and J. H. Huang. 2016. Seven species new to science and one newly recorded species of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from China, with proposal of a new synonym (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ZooKeys 551: 85–128.
 * Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 2001. A taxonomic revision of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from the Himalaya (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Entomologica Basiliensia 23: 237-276.
 * Wang W., Zhou S. Y., and J. H. Huang. 2005. A new species of the genus Vollenhovia Mayr and a new record species of the genus Myrmica Latreille from China (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). [In Chinese with English summary] Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 30(4): 835-838.