Myrmica polyglypta

Collected from subalpine meadows at altitudes 4000-4700 m Together with Myrmica kozlovi, M. polyglypta seem to be one of the most high altitude tolerant of the Myrmica species.

Identification
M. polyglypta belongs to the pachei species group (see also Radchenko and Elmes 2009a). We placed it to this group because of the transverse rugosity on the alitrunk dorsum (combined with a coarsely reticulate pronotum and longitudinally rugose propodeal dorsum); other important characters are the hairless lateral margins of the head above eyes (only genae and occipital margin with sparse, quite long suberect to subdecumbent hairs) and reticulation on the head dorsum posterior to the eyes, combined with longitudinal rugosity on the rest of the head dorsum. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution
Known only from Yunan Province of China.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  polyglypta. Myrmica polyglypta Radchenko & Rigato, in Radchenko, Zhou, et al. 2008: 781, figs. 44-48 (w.) CHINA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 220.

Worker
Head subrectangular, longer than broad, with almost straight sides, straight occipital margin, and broadly rounded occipital corners: anterior clypeual margin rounded, slightly prominent and not notched medially. Upper latero-ventral corners of head rounded, not pointed, at most bluntly angles (seen in profile). Mandibles with 7-8 teeth. Frontal carinae neither curved outwards, nor merging with rugae, which surround antennal sockets., but confluent with rugae, running to the posterior head margin. Frontal carinae very feebly curved, frons wide, frontal lobes not extended. Scape shorter than head width, gradually curved at the base, without any trace of lobe or carina.

Alitrunk not robust, promesonotum slightly flattened, dorsally with barely marked promesonotal suture. Metanotal groove distinct, but shallow. Propodeal lobes rounded apically. Propodeal spines relatively short, straight, acute, slightly widened at the base, inclined at about 30° nearly horizontal (seen in profile). Petiole quite high, with short peduncle, its anterior face steep, feebly concave, dorsum of node with hardly convex, horizontal or slightly sloping backward plate, with a small posterior strp (seen in profile).

Postpetiole subglobular. Spurs of middle and hind tibiae well developed and pectinate.

Only anterior (lower) half of frons wirh not coarse longtitudinal, slightly sinuous rugae, number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes less than 20, the rest of head dorsum reticulate. Clypeus with longitudinal rugae, frontal triangle smooth. Surface between rugae (except for shiny clypeus and frontal triangle) densely superficially punctate, but apprears quite shiny. Mandibles longitiudinally rugulose.

Pronotum and propodeal dorsum with irregular short sinuous rugae and reticulation. Mesonotum with no more than 10 quite coarse transverse, slightly sinuous rugae. Sides of pronotum with longitudinal sinuous rugae and reticulation, mesopleura and sides of propodeum with longitudinal rugosity. Sides of petiole and postpetiole with short longitudinal rugae, petiolar node dorsum with two longitudinal sulci on its sides, postpetiolar dorsum with semicircular rugae on its margins; whole petiole and postpetiole not coarsely, but densely punctate. Surface of alitrunk between rugae at most with weak superficial microsculpture appears shiny. Gaster smooth and shiny.

Lateral margins of head above eyes hairless, only genae and occipital margin with sparse, quite long suberect to subdecumbent hairs. Promesonotal dorsum with not abundant long erect hairs. Promesonoral dorsum without or at most with a few short hairs; petiole with 6-8 long hairs. Scape with subdecumbent pilosity and tibiae with decumbent pilosity only.

Body colour dark brown to blackish-brown.

Mcasurements (mm) and indices of workers (n = 20) in order minimum – maximum, ranges with means and SD are in parentheses, data of the holotype are in square brackets: HL 1.17-1.31 (1.225 ± 0.041) [1.25]. HW 1.00-1.12 (1.044 ± 0.035) [1.03]. FW 0.44-0.52 (0.464 ± 0.020) [0.47], FLW 0.45-0.53 (0.479 ± 0.022) [0.48], SL 0.92-1.00 (0.953 ± 0.064) [0.95], AL 1.65-1.84 (1.738 ± 0.050) [1.73], PNW 0.72-0.81 (0.761 ± 0.026) [0.78], HTL 0.88-0.99 (0.939 ± 0.032) [0.92], PL 0.47-0.54 (0.505 ± 0.020) [0.52], PW 0.29-0.33 (0.309 ± 0.019) [0.31], PH 0.38-0.42 (0.400 ± 0.014) [0.40], PPL 0.31-0.36 (0.336 ± 0.012) [0.34], PPW 0.39-0.44 (0.420 ± 0.0 17) [0.43], PPH 0.41-0.45 (0.430 ± 0.014) [0.44], ESL 0.31-0.39 (0.353 ± 0.023) [0.36], ESD 0.42-0.52 (0.471 ± 0 032) [046]: CI 1.14-1.21 (1.174 ± 0.016) [1.21], FI 0.43-0.46 (0.446 ± 0.010) [0.46], FLI 1.02- 1.05 (1.026 ± 0.010) [1.02], SI1 0.74-0.80 (0.777 ± 0.017) [0.75] SI2 0.86-0.94 (0.912 ± 0.022) [0.91], PI1 1.16-1.36 (1.267 ± 0.055) [1.31], PI2 0.45-0.51 (0.483 ± 0.016)  [0.50], PI3 0.28-0.31 (0.296 ± 0.011) [0.30], PPI1 0.76-0.80 (0.784 ± 0.013) [0.78], PPI2 0.99-1.08 (1.026 ± 0.024) [1.03], PPI3 1.33-1.38 (1.352 ± 0.018) [1.37], PPI4 0.39-0.41 (0.401 ± 0.010) [0.41], ESLI 0.29-0.39 (0.339 ± 0.027) [0.35], ESDI 1.17-1.07 (1.336 ± 0.135).

Type Material
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Holotype, w, “China, Yunnan, Habashan Mts., 4000-4700 m, 27°19'W, 100006'E, 8-9.vi,2002, leg. S. Becvar and R. + H. Fougue” (Milan); paratypes: 13 W with the same labels as holotype (Milan, Kiev)

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from a combination of the Greek words poly = many, and glyptos = carved, to describe the variable sculpture on the alitrunk.