Myrmica spinosior

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - From our observations to date the ecology and biology of M. spinosior is very similar to that of Myrmica sabuleti. It usually builds nests under stones or in the soil, in mountain grassland pastures at about 1000-2000 m. Colonies can vary from a few hundred to a thousand or more workers with several functional queens. Sexuals are in the nest in August and nuptial flights probably take place at the same time as those as M. sabuleti. In our experience there is no reason to think that M. spinosior is an ecological variant of M. sabuleti (e.g. Myrmica lonae) that is more thermophilic than M. sabuleti, we are more inclined to the opinion that it is derived from a separate lineage isolated during one of the more recent glaciations with a considerable overlap of range and possible hybridisation (see notes to M. lobicornis and M. obscura).

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the sabuleti complex of the scabrinodis species group that most resembles Myrmica sabuleti from which it well differs by its distinctly wider frons (similar to or even wider than in [[Myrmica scabrinodis (mean FI 0.37 vs. 0.33 in M. sabuleti). However, M. spinosior differs from M. scabrinodis by the less extended frontal lobes (mean FLI l.33 VS. l.42 respectively).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Andorra, France, Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Spain.

Fungi
This species is a host for the ectoparastic fungus Rickia wasmannii (Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012).

Nomenclature

 *  spinosior. Myrmica sabuleti var. spinosior Santschi, 1931a: 3 (w.q.m.) FRANCE. [Also described as new by Santschi, 1931b: 346.] Junior synonym of sabuleti: Seifert, 1988b: 31; Casevitz-Weulersse, 1990a: 137. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Seifert, 2005: 7. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 289.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the Latin word spinosus (thorn) with the adjectival comparative suffix ior giving spinosior = thornier, to describe the relatively longer propodeal spines of this species.