Myrmica tulinae

M. tulinae lives in a quite wide range of altitudes, from about sea level up to 1800 m, were it inhabits moderately humid sites or even wet and boggy places, but never lives in dry habitats (Elmes et al. 2002; Radchenko et al. 2003).

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) – A member of the scabrinodis complex of the scabrinodis species group. The female castes of M. tulinae most resemble those of Myrmica sabuleti and are barely distinguishable from them. In contrast, males of M. tulinae well differ from those of M. sabuleti by their much shorter scape (SI1 < 0.40 vs. > 0.50), but by the length of the scape and by the character of pilosity on the scape and tibiae they are very similar to Myrmica scabrinodis males and could easily be confused with them if found without female castes. Thus, one needs both workers and males to be sure of correct identification of M. tulinae (see also Elmes et al. 2002).

Key to Myrmica of Romania

Key to Myrmica of West Europe and North Africa

Distribution
Turkey, Georgia, France, Italy, Netherlands and Poland. Because based only on the female castes M. tulinae can be confused with M. sabuleti, this species in fact may be widespread in Euro-Caucasian region.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Turkey.

Biology
Elmes et al. (2002) - The four colonies from Thrace (which provided the holotype) collected in 1999, were nesting in damp, coarse-sandy soil in a small plantation (Populus sp.), where they made raised mounds (ca. 20 cm diameter and 10 cm high). The earlier Thracian samples were taken from Oak forest and Ulmus-Fraxinus forest. Those from NE Turkey were living under stones in alpine meadow. The general impression of M. tulinae nests is similar to those of Myrmica sabuleti, a species that the females resemble morphologically. However, M. tulinae appears to prefer slightly damper conditions than M. sabuleti.

Nomenclature

 *  tulinae. Myrmica tulinae Elmes, Radchenko & Aktaç, 2002: 158, figs. 1-18 (w.q.m.) TURKEY. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 311.

Worker
Head slightly longer than broad, with weakly convex sides and occipital margin, and rounded occipital corners. Anterior clypeal margin broadly rounded, not prominent and without notch medially. Frontal carinae strongiy curved, frons quite narrow (similar to that of M. sabuleti Meinert). Antenna! scape relatively short, strongly angulate at its base, with quite large horizontal lobe (similar to that of M. sabuleti). Mandibles with 7-9 teeth.

Alitrunk with slightly flattened promesonotal dorsum; promesonotal suture indistinct from above; metanotal groove distinct, wide and deep. Propodeal spines relatively long, acute and straight, not curving downwards, wide at base, not divergent (seen from above), projecting backwards at an angle less than 45°. In profile, anterior surface of petiole concave, meets with dorsal surface at an angle about 90°; dorsal surface flattened, inclined posteriorly, forming distinct plate. Postpetiole somewhat shorter than high, with convex dorsum. Spurs on middle and hind tibiae (at least in part of type series) partly reduced and with reduced pectination.

Head dorsum with longitudinal, divergent rugae, only occiput with reticulation. Antennal sockets usually not surrounded by rugae, or at most only fine concentric striation. Clypeus with fine longitudinal rugulae. Alitrunk with longitudinal, more or less straight rugae but pronotal dorsum with more sinuous rugae. Rugae on petiole longitudinal, those of postpetiole longitudinally-concentric. Surfaces between rugae on the body smooth and shiny.

Hairs of the head margins and alitrunk dorsum abundant, erect to suberect, quite long and slightly curved; antennal scape with suberect and tibiae with short subdecumbent hairs.

The overall colour reddish, appendages somewhat lighter.

Queen
Generally like workers in shape of head, character of sculpture, colour and pilosity of the body except they have a relatively slightly wider head (compare indices in Tables 2a and 2b), slightly coarser sculpture, a more or less straight anterior surface of the petiole, and propodeal spines that are wider at their base.

Male
Head usually (but not always) slightly longer than broad, with convex occipital margin and sides, and gradually rounded occipital corners; anterior clypeal margin widely rounded, not prominent medially. Frontal carinae not strongly curved. Antennal scape very short (even shorter than in M. scabrinodis Nylander), antennae 13-jointed, antennal club distinctly 5-jointed. Masticatory margin of mandibles distinct, with 5-7 acute teeth.

Alitrunk relatively long, scutum convex, and scutellum does not project dorsally above scutum when seen in profile. Propodeum with blunt rounded denticles. In profile, petiole relatively high, with narrowly rounded dorsum of node, its anterior surface straight; postpetiole higher than long, with convex dorsum.

Frons and lateral parts of head dorsum with fine longitudinal rugulae; surface of head densely punctured, appearing dull; clypeus with finer punctation; short sinuous rugae and reticulation only on rear (upper) part of head dorsum. Central part of scutum behind Mayr's furrows with fine longitudinal striation; scutellum longitudinally rugulose. Pro- and mesopleurae with fine striation, propodeum more densely rugulose. Sides of petiole and postpetiole with longitudinal rugae, their dorsal surfaces with only fine striation. Surface of alitrunk and waist between striation and rugae smooth and shiny, only propleurae with fine punctation.

Head margins and mandibles with very long, abundant, curved erect hairs. Alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole and gaster with less abundant and shorter erect to suberect hairs. Legs with very long, curved erect hairs (like M. scabrinodis); antennal scape and first 7 funicular joints with long, curved erect hairs, joints of antennal club with very short subdecumbent hairs. Colour of body blackish-brown, appendages somewhat lighter.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Turkey, Thrace, Kirklareli District, near Bulgarian border, alt. 380 m, 24.viii.1999, TR-59 (leg. J. E. & G. W. Elmes) (TU); paratypes: 49 workers, 3 gynes, 18 males from the nest of holotype; 10 workers, same locality, date and collectors, TR-60; 24 workers, 3 males, same locality and date, No 99/1721 (leg. K. Kiran); 17 workers, same locality and date, No. 99/1722 (leg. K. K.iran); 30 workers, 1 gyne, 1 male, same locality and date, No. 99/1723 (leg. K. Kiran); 20 workers, 3 males, Turkey, Thrace, 53 km east Kirklareli, Vize - Sergen Koyu, 06.ix.1988 (leg. N. Aktac); 9 workers, Turkey, Thrace, Kirklareli, Derekoy, 18.iv.1989, No. 89/16 (leg. N. Akta~); 1 worker, 1 gyne, Turkey, Thrace, Kirklareli, Pehlivankoy-Ku§tepe koyii, 01.x.1996, No. 96/124 (leg. N. Aktac;); 60 workers, 15 gynes, 2 males, NE Turkey, south edge of Artvin Region, high pass ca.10 km N of Ardesen, alt. 2150 m, 15.viii.2000, TR-123 (leg. G. W. Elmes) (TU, MIIZ, IZK, ELMES).

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - this species was dedicated to Prof. Tulin Aktac of Trakya University, Turkey, the wife of our friend and colleague Prof. Nihat Aktac of Trakya University.