Myrmica nitida

Myrmica nitida is distributed in alpine zone of Northwest Himalaya. The nests are located under stones in grasslands with scattered Juniper and Rhododendron, with ground cover of herbs and shrubs. The recorded nest temperature and humidity was 23.6°C and 89%, respectively. The altitudinal range for this species is 2600-3600m above mean sea level (Bharti et al., 2016).

A colony was found living in the same habitat in Kashmir as Myrmica rhytida, at 3600 m, under a stone, on small ridge on the west side of a lake, with scattered juniper and rhododendron shrubs and a ground cover of various herbs and flowers (Philip Ward).

Identification
By the general shape of their alitrunk, workers of M. nitida are similar to species from the cachmiriensis complex of the rugosa-group, but its males have a long antennal scape. By this feature of males, M. nitida should be related to the smythiesii-group but the workers do not fit with this group, because their frontal carinae do not curve outwards and do not merge with the rugae surrounding the antennal sockets. Moreover, the workers' alitrunk appears smooth and shiny with only fine superficial striation on the sides; similarly reduced sculpture is rather rare and occurs only in a few Myrmica species (i.e. Myrmica villosa, Myrmica inucta). Thus, we consider the taxonomic position of M. nitida as uncertain. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  nitida. Myrmica nitida Radchenko & Elmes, 1999a: 35, fig. 3 (1-10) (w.q.m.) INDIA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 205.

Type Material
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Holotype, W, “Kashmir, 1 km NE Yehmer Pass, 34°13'N, 75°10'E, 3600 m, 06.08.1978, leg. P. Ward, acc. No 3044; alpine vegetation, under stone” (London); paratypes: 9 W from the same nest as holotype; 17 W, 4 q (alate) ,1 2 m, “Kashmir, Sanang, 2600-2750 111, leg. W. Wittmer” (London, Basle, Ward, Kiev, Elmes).

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - M. nitida: from the Latin word nitidus = shining, to describe its generally smooth and shiny appearance.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H., Y. P. Sharma, M. Bharti, and M. Pfeiffer. 2013. Ant species richness, endemicity and functional groups, along an elevational gradient in the Himalayas. Asian Myrmecology 5: 79-101.
 * 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.