Myrmica constricta

Distribution
This taxon was described from the Ukraine. It is also found in Poland, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Romania, Italy, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece.

Biology
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 amont 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. Nuptial flights are in August-September. (Radchenko and Elmes, 2010)

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.

Additional References

 * Radchenko, A.G. & Elmes, G.W. 2010. Myrmica ants of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3: 1-789.