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 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, Greece, Poland, Turkey.

Nomenclature

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

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.