Myrmica multiplex

The type material, workers and gynes, were found on a mountain at an altitude of about 1700 m.

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the pachei species group. It is characterized by the long, suboval head (CI > 1.20) with the convex sides and occipital margin, and the very widely rounded, barely marked occipital corners; margins of the head with not very abundant long suberect hairs. Its pronotum has coarse, short sinuous rugae and reticulation, while the mesonotal and propodeal dorsum has quite coarse transversal rugosity (numbering ≤ 20), similar rugae are also on the upper parts of mesopleura and propodeum. It differs from the related Myrmica weii by its distinctly higher petiole with a relatively short dorsal plate.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality in Shaanxi Province of China.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Males have not been collected.

Nomenclature

 *  multiplex. Myrmica multiplex Radchenko & Elmes, 2009a: 81, figs. 46-55 (w.q.) CHINA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 203.

Worker
Head suboval, distinctly longer than broad, with convex sides and occipital margin, and very widely rounded, barely marked occipital corners; anterior clypeal margin narrowly rounded, but not prominent and not-notched medially. Upper latero-ventral corners of head rounded, not pointed (seen in profile). Mandibles with 6-7 teeth. Frontal carinae very feebly curved, mergmg with rugae that extend over the posterior third of the head dorsum. Frons wide, frontal lobes not extended. Scape relatively long, longer than head width, gradually though distinctly curved at the base, without any trace of lobe or carina.

Alitrunk long and low, promesonotum convex (seen in profile), promesonotal suture indistinct (seen from above). Metanotal groove distinct, though not deep. Propodeal lobes rounded apically. Propodeal spines quite short, straight, thin, slrnder and sharp, directed backward and somewhatl upward at an angle of about 45°. Petiole with relativcly short but distinct peduncle, its anterior surface almost straight, meeting the dorsal face at a blunt, narrowly rounded angle, dorsal surface short, slightly convex, gradually sloping posteriorly. Postpetiole higher than long, with quite narrowly rounded dorsum. Spurs on middle and hind tibiae well developed and pectinate.

Frons and occiput with relatively few straight, divergent rugae, numbering 15-17 between frontal carinae level with the eyes; temples and occiput with a few rugae and reticulation. Surface between rugae densely and quite coarsely punctated, appearing dull. Clypeus shiny, with reduced sculpture, comprising a few irregular longitudinal rugulae: frontal triangle smooth and shiny. Mandibles quite coarsely longitudinally rugose.

Pronotum with coarse short sinuous rugae and reticulation; mesonotal and propodeal dorsum with ≤ 20 quite coarse transverse rugae, thelJatters occur also on upper parts of mesopleura and propodeum; lower parts of mesopleura and sides of propodeum with coarse longitudinal rugosity. Surface between rugae on alitrunk smooth and shiny. Petiole and postpetiole with longitudinal sinuous rugosity and partly reticulate; surface between rugae finely but densely punctated (less coarsely than on the head dorsum), appearing more or less dull. Gaster smooth and shiny.

Head margins with relatively sparse, slightly curved, long suberect hairs: alitrunk dorsum with longer hairs; petiole with 6-8 long and several shorter hairs. Scape with subdecumbent hairs, tilted at an angle of about 30° above the surface: tibiae with subdecumbcent hairs. Head and alitrunk reddish, dorsum of petiolar node and postpetiole, and gaster reddish-brown, appendages somewhat lighter.

Queen
Generally similar to workers by the shape and sculpture of head, frontal lobes. Propodeal spines (which are more blunt at the apex) and waist. Mandibles with 7-9 teeth. Alitrunk long and low, coarsely sculptured; anterior half of scutum with sinuous longitudinal rugae and reticulation: posterior half of scutum, scutellum and propodeal dorsum with coarse transverse rugae; pronotum with coarse irregular rugosity and reticulation; mesopleura and lower part of propodeum longitudinally rugose. Petiolar node and postpetiole much more coarsely rugose than in workers, but ground sculpture less developed, the surface appearing shiny.

Type Material
Holotype worker, China Shaanxi Prov., Qin Ling Shan, 108 km SW Sian, Aulorote km 93 S Zhouzhi, 107°56'E, 33°45'N, H 1650 m. No. 962, 1-2.ix.1995, leg. Wrase ; paratypes: 3 workers, 3 queens, with the same label as the holotype (IZK,, SCHULZ)

Etymology
From the Latin word multiplex = various or diverse, that reflects the mixed and various kinds of sculpture on the alitrunk.