Myrmica pseudorugosa

This species has been collected at an altitude of 3600 meters, which represents the trans Himalayan alpine zone. It is a dry desert above the timber line (Bharti, 2012; Bharti et al., 2016).

Identification
Bharti (2012) - Myrmica pseudorugosa belongs to the rugosa species group because of the following combination of characters: frontal carinae merging with the rugae that extend to occipital margin, they do not curve outwards and do not merge with rugae that surround the antennal sockets. Frons wide and frontal lobes not extended. Scape very smoothly curved at the base, not angled and with no trace of lobe or carina. Anterior clypeal margin is convex and prominent, without a medial notch. This species group is further subdivided into two complexes, viz. the rugosa complex (with the promesonotal dorsum forming a more or less regular arch in profile, the mesonotal dorsum not impressed transversally and gently curves down to the propodeum so that themetanotal groove generally is shallow. Body sculpture fairly coarse) and the cachmiriensis complex (with promesonotal dorsum does not form regular arch in profile and the mesonotal dorsum impressed transversally, often saddle-shaped and curves down abruptly to the propodeum to form a deep and wide metanotal groove. Body sculpture is finer). Because of its features described above, M. pseudorugosa belongs in the rugosa complex of the rugosa species group.

Due to the sculpture of the petiole and postpetiole, M. pseudorugosa resembles Myrmica aimonissabaudiae, Myrmica rugosa and Myrmica hecate. Because of its longitudinal sculpture on head dorsum and reticulate sculpture limited to lateral sides and occipit, sides of pronotum with longitudinal striations, it shows affinities with M. rugosa (in the other species, the whole head dorsum is covered with reticulate sculpture, except frons and sides of pronotum with sinous rugae and reticulations). From M rugosa, it can be easily separated by the much thicker, much shorter, and erect propodeal spines (maximum ESL 0.16 mm), in M. rugosa the spines are almost equal to the basal face of the propodeum, much longer (maximum ESL:0.30mm) and are inclined towards petiolar node (ESLI 0.33 and ESDI 1.03 in M. rugosa vs. 0.22 and 1.68 in M. pseudorugosa). Similarly, the petiole is longer in M. rugosa (PL:0.50 mm, PH:0.31 mm and PI11.61), while it is shorter in M. pseudorugosa (PL:0.38 mm, PH:0.26 mm and PI11.46) and the postpetiole is also much longer in M. rugosa than M. pseudorugosa (PPL: 0.41 mm in M. rugosa, it is 0.30 mm in M. pseudorugosa). Finally, M. pseudorugosa also differs from M. rugosa by much longer hairs on scape and legs.

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

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  pseudorugosa. Myrmica pseudorugosa Bharti, 2012: 12, figs. 4-6 (w.) PAKISTAN.

Worker
Head. Head much longer than broad, sides parallel, occipital margin straight; mandibles with 7 teeth (apical and preapical ones largest), longitudinally costulate, rugulose and with punctures; clypeus convex, longitudinally rugulose, anterior clypeal margin prominent, convex and equipped with setae, rounded medially and extending over mandibles, space between rugae smooth and shiny; frontal triangle highly polished and shiny; frontal carinae short, almost straight, and not curving outwards to merge with rugae that surround the antennal sockets, but merge with rugae that extend to occipital margin of head; frontal lobes partially cover the condylar bulb; frons wide; antennae 12 segmented, apical 3 segments densely punctated and following segments minutely punctated; scape slender, narrow, weakly curved at base without any trace of lobe or carina, widening towards apex, just extending beyond the upper margin of head, antennae with oblique short hairs, apical 3 segments highly pubescent; eyes somewhat below midlength of head; whole head dorsum longitudinally rugose except sides above eyes which are with reticulate sculpture; head with numerous short subdecumbent hairs and long suberect hairs; mandibles and clypeus with long suberect hairs.

Alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole. Alitrunk dorsum convex; promesonotal dorsum in profile forms regular arch, mesonotal dorsum is not impressed transversally and gently curves down to propodeum, metanotal groove is shallow, promesonotum with reticulate sculpture, suture indistinct; metanotal groove longitudinally rugose; propodeal lobes rounded apically; propodeal spines short, pointed, widened at base, projected upward and backward; sides of alitrunk longitudinally rugose and spaces between rugae smooth and shiny; tibiae of hind and middle legs with well developed pectinate spur; petiole longer than broad, with short anterior peduncle with a tooth like subpetiolar process, node rounded in shape, with reticulate sculpture and punctated; postpetiole as broad as long, finely longitudinally rugose and punctated, posterior part transversally rugose; promesonotum with long hairs; propodeum with minute pubescence, long hairs absent; petiole and postpetiole with long and short suberect hairs directed backwards, peduncle and anterior part of petiole with pubescence.

Gaster. Smooth, highly polished and shiny; tergites and sternites with numerous long erect to suberect hairs with few short suberect hairs between them.

Coloration. Body brown, mandibles, antennae and legs golden-brown.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, Pakistan, Kaghan valley, Gittidas, 3600 meters a.s.l., 17.ix.2005 (Seiki Yamane coll. code = PK05-SKY-42). Paratypes. 3 workers: collected from the same nest (PUAC). Tentative GPS coordinates 35.1167°N–73.9833°E.

Etymology
Named pseudorugosa, because it is allied to Myrmica rugosa.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H. 2012. Two new species of the genus Myrmica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from the Himalaya. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 155: 9-14.
 * Bharti H., S. Sasi, and A. Radchenko. 2016. Biogeography and ecology of Myrmica species (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Himalayan regions. Sociobiology 63(3): 956-975.
 * Bharti, H. "Two new species of the genus Myrmica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from the Himalaya." Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 155 (2012): 9-14.
 * 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.