Myrmica forcipata

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - In the ELMES collection there are series from> 80 nests of M. forcipata collected by Michal Woyciechowski from northern Mongolia at about 1000 m a.s.l. (1999-2001, see also ecological data for Myrmica angulinodis). About 48% of nest series were taken in herb-rich and wet grassy meadows near rivers, where most nests were built in grass clumps with some directly in the soil or under pieces of rotten wood; 22% were found in the other wettish habitats, shrubland and riparian woodland, where nests were most likely to be found in grass and moss tussocks. A further 28% of series came from drier meadow-steppe, where nests were mostly built directly in the soil. Only 2 nests of M. forcipata were found in mountain-forest and mountain dry steppe (for description of biotopes see Muehlenberg et al. 2000). Sexuals were found in nests from July to August and mating swarms were observed on a hilltop (1040 m. a.s.l.) on 12th and 15th August 1999, mixed with M. angulinodis.

Identification
M. forcipata belongs to the lobicornis species group. Specimens are characterized by the blunt, thick and inwardly curved propodeal spines, and by a sharply angled petiolar node. By these features, it is similar to Myrmica angulinodis, but differs from the latter by the distinct, though not large, vertical lobe at the scape bend. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution
South and East Siberia (to the west until Sayany Mts.), Mongolia, absent in the Russian Far East.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Mongolia, Russian Federation.

Biology
Despite M. forcipata and Myrmica angulinodis being morphologically quite similar (see above) and often living sympatrically and sharing mating swarms, this pair of species appear to be quite well-separated ecologically. In Mongolia M. angulinodis were clearly associated (> 80% of series) with mountain-forest and its ecotones, with montain-steppe and herb-meadows, less than 5% of M. forcipata were taken in these habitats. It appears to be a much more hygrophilous species, preferring the grassy habitats near rivers. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Nomenclature

 *  forcipata. Myrmica (Myrmica) forcipata Karavaiev, 1931c: 105, fig. 2 (w.) RUSSIA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 134.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - the name derived from the Latin word forceps = pincher or tongs, to describe its forceps-like propodeal spines.