Myrmica brancuccii

Little is known about the biology of Myrmica brancuccii. One sample was collected at an altitude 2400 m. (Radchenko, Elmes & Collingwood, 1999; Bharti et al., 2016).

Identification
Well discriminated from almost all Old World Myrmica by its striato-punctated first gastral tergite, sharing this unusual feature only with Myrmica sculptiventris from SW China, but the latter species clearly differs from M. brancuccii by the transversal rugosity on the mesonotal and propodeal dorsum. Workers are very variable in size, so that this could be a relatively polymorphic species in comparison with other Myrmica species. We can not place this species with certainty into any species group. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

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

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  brancuccii. Myrmica brancuccii Radchenko, Elmes & Collingwood, in Radchenko & Elmes, 1999a: 30, fig. 1 (1-5) (w.) NEPAL. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 106.

Type Material
Holotype, w, "Nepal, Utrot, l3.v.83, leg. M. Brancucci" (LONDON); paratypes: 5 w, with the same label as holotype; 14 w, "Nepal, Lawarai, 21.05.83, lcg. M. Brancucci"; 1 w, "Nepal, Lumle, vi.88, leg. Collingwood"; 9 w, "Pakistan, Chitral V., bctween Dir and Lavari Pass, 2400 m, 1l.viii.1994, leg. S. Dacatra" (LONDON, BASLE, LEEDS, MILAN, KIEV, ELMES).

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - this species was dedicated to the well-known coleopterologist, Prof. Michael Brancucci, of the Natural History Museum Basle, who collected the type material.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H. 2011. List of Indian ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Halteres 3: 79-87.
 * Bharti H., S. Sasi, and A. Radchenko. 2016. Biogeography and ecology of Myrmica species (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Himalayan regions. Sociobiology 63(3): 956-975.
 * Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 1999. Ten new species of Myrmica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Himalaya. Vestnik Zoologii 33(3): 27-46.
 * 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.
 * Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 2010. Myrmica ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 790 pp.
 * 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.
 * Rasheed M. T., I. Bodlah, A. G. Fareen, A. A. Wachkoo, X. Huang, and S. A. Akbar. 2019. A checklist of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Pakistan. Sociobiology 66(3): 426-439.