Myrmica curvithorax

M. slovaca is a rather thermophilous species that builds its nests directly into the soil. In central Europe it is frequently found in dry meadows but in the eastern part of its range, M. slovaca mainly inhabits intrazonal, relatively wet and often salted habitats in the steppe zone. Thus it could be a relict steppe species in central Europe. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the specioides complex of the scabrinodis species group. It is easily distinguished from any other species from this group by its very narrow frons (worker PI ::; 0.30). However, the males have short standing hairs on the legs and scape and are hard to distinguish from males of Myrmica specioides and some other species.

Distribution
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Belarus, Ukraine, southern part of European part of Russia (to the north up to Nizhniy Novgorod; see Zrianin and Zrianina, 2007), south of West Siberia, Kazakhstan, Altai Mts.; Spain

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine.

Fungi
This species is a host for the ectoparastic fungus Rickia wasmannii (Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012).

Nomenclature

 *  curvithorax. Myrmica curvithorax Bondroit, 1920a: 148, fig. 1 (w.) SPAIN.
 * Synonym of slovaca: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 280.
 * [Note: Radchenko & Elmes give slovaca as senior synonym, but curvithorax has priority.]
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 278; Seifert, 2011: 170.
 * Senior synonym of slovaca: Seifert, 2011: 170 (in text).
 * slovaca. Myrmica (Myrmica) slovaca Sadil, 1952: 259, figs. VI, 8-14; VIII, 35, 36; IX, 35; X, 10, XI, 13 (w.q.m.) CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
 * Status as species: Arnol'di, 1970b: 1837 (in key); Kutter, 1977c: 71; Arnol'di & Dlussky, 1978: 534 (in key); Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 268 (in key); Radchenko, 1994c: 144 (in key); Radchenko, 1994e: 80; Radchenko & Elmes, 2009c: 521; Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 280; Czechowski, et al. 2012: 98; Czekes, et al. 2012: 43 (in key).
 * Junior synonym of salina: Seifert, 1988b: 25; Seifert, 1994: 13; Seifert, 2002a: 96; Radchenko & Elmes, 2004: 228.
 * Junior synonym of curvithorax: Seifert, 2011: 170 (in text).