Myrmica indica

Poorly known, this species lives in open forests at an altitude of about 2500m above mean sea level (Radchenko & Elmes, 2010; Bharti et al., 2016).

Identification
A member of the ritae complex of the ritae species group. Myrmica alperti had a more robust body and shorter appendages, a differently shaped petiole and more rounded apically propodeal lobes; Myrmica weberi was distinctly smaller and more "glossy" with frontal carinae that curve outwards to merge with the ruga that surround the antennal socket. All three forms resemble Myrmica serica by the sculpture on the head dorsum, but differ from the latter by the absence of standing hairs on the genae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Bhutan, India, Nepal.

Nomenclature

 *  indica. Myrmica ritae subsp. indica Weber, 1950b: 221 (w.) INDIA. Radchenko & Elmes, 1998: 11 (q.m.). Raised to species: Radchenko, 1994a: 44. See also: Elmes & Radchenko, 2009: 117; Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 152.

Type Material

 * Lectotype (designated by Radchenko & Elmes, 1998): worker, “Tonglu, E. Himalayas, 10,000 ft., 22.04.10 (C. W. Beebe)” (MCZ).
 * Paralectotype (designated by Radchenko & Elmes, 1998): 2 workers, with the same label as lectotype (MCZ).

Type Material
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Lectotype, w (designated by Radchenko and Elmes 1998), "Tonglu, E. Himalayas, 10,000 ft., 22.04.10 (C. W. Beebe)" (HARVARD); paralectotype: worker, with same label (HARVARD)

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the Latin word indica = pertaining to India.