Myrmica afghanica

The biology and ecology of this species is unknown.

Identification
Males of M. afghanica are unknown and without males it is impossible to determine membership of a Myrmica species group with certainty. The morphological features of the female castes suggest that M. afghanica belongs either to the dshungarica-group or to the smythiesii-group. It most resemble species of the dshungarica-group, which are distributed in Middle Asian Mountains, in which case M. afghanica, like Myrmica tenuispina, might have invaded Afghanistan from the north. On the other hand, if it belongs to the smythiesii-group it is probably a true endemic of the region. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India. Palaearctic Region: Afghanistan.

Castes
Males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  afghanica. Myrmica afghanica Radchenko & Elmes, 2003b: 3, figs. 1-12 (w.q.) AFGHANISTAN. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 81.

Worker
Head long, with parallel sides, straight or very feebly concave occipital margin, and narrowly rounded occipital corners. Anterior clypeal margin prominent and pointed medially. Frontal carinae short, almost straight, not curving outwards to merge with the rugae, which surround antennal sockets. Frons wide, frontal lobes relatively narrow (see indices below). Antennal scape long and slender, very feebly curved at the base, without trace of angle or carina. Alitrunk dorsum feebly convex, metanotal groove very shallow. Propodeal spines short but sharp, projected backwards and upwards (at an angle about 45°). Petiole with long anterior peduncle, in profile petiolar node dorsum broadly rounded and postpetiole sub-globular.

Head dorsum having mostly a relatively coarse, longitudinal rugulosity, only the lateral parts and occiput having reticulation. Frons between frontal carinae level with the eyes with less than 13 rugae. Surfaces between rugae appearing shiny, being at most very finely, superficially sculptured. Promesonotal dorsum mostly longitudinally rugose, only anterior half of pronotum with coarse reticulation; sculpture on propodeal dorsum partly reduced; sides of alitrunk with longitudinal, slightly sinuous rugae. Petiolar and postpetiolar nodes with longitudinally-concentric rugae. Tibiae of hind and middle legs with well developed, pectinate spur. Quite hairy species. Antennal scape and legs with very abundant and long hairs that are almost erect on scape and sub-erect on legs; the longest hairs on antennal scape distinctly longer than maximal diameter of the scape. Body colour light brown to black, appendages yellowish brown.

Measurements (mm) and indices (data for holotype in parenthesis): HL 1.02–1.12 (1.06), HW 0.82–0.88 (0.84), FW 0.35–0.39 (0.36), FLW 0.37–0.40 (0.39), SL 0.82-0.86 (0.86), AL 1.42–1.52 (1.50), HTL 0.74–0.82 (0.76), PNW 0.60–0.63 (0.60), PL 0.40–0.41 (0.40), PW 0.23–0.24 (0.24), PH 0.30–0.33 (0.31), PPL 0.32–0.33 (0.33), PPW 0.36 (0.36), PPH 0.36–0.39 (0.36), ESL 0.19–0.23 (0.19), ESD 0.34 (0.34); CI 1.24–1.27 (1.26), FI 0.43–0.44 (0.43), FLI 1.03–1.06 (1.06), SI1 0.75–0.81 (0.81), SI2 0.95–1.02 (1.02), PI1 1.24–1.33 (1.32), PI2 0.47–0.49 (0.49), PPI1 0.85–0.92 (0.92), PPI2 1.00–1.08 (1.00), PPI3 1.50–1.56 (1.50), PPI4 0.41–0.44 (0.43), ESLI 0.23 –0.26 (0.23), ESDI 1.48–1.79 (1.79), HTI 0.45–0.47 (0.45).

Queen
(specimen without postpetiole and gaster): Relatively small compared to queens of many Myrmica species but proportionately larger than the workers (about 25% larger on both HW and AL). Otherwise the general features of shape, sculpture and pilosity are very similar to the workers. It differs from the workers by the slightly convex lateral margins of the head, and the following details of the body sculpture: just longitudinal rugae present on the head dorsum and alitrunk with no reticulation; only the petiolar node dorsum has any reticulation. Postpetiole and gaster most probably also very similar to those of workers.

Measurements (mm) and indices: HL 1. 26, HW 1.06, FW 0.45, FLW 0.47, SL 1.00, AL 1.88, HTL 1.00, PL 0.51, PW 0.33, PH 0.43, ESL 0.19, ESD 0.42; CI 1.19, FI 0.42, FLI 1.04, SI1 0.75, SI2 0.94, PI1 1.55, PI2 0.48, ESLI, 0.18, ESDI 2.21, HTI 0.47, AI 1.59, SCI 1.62.

Type Material
Holotype, w, "Afghanistan, Pashki Nuristan, 6:vi.(Sic!) 48, leg. K. Paludan" (Copenhagen); paratypes: 2 w, 1 q (dealate, specimen without postpetiole and gaster), with the same labels as holotype (Copenhagen). We cannot find Pashki Nuristan, but the most probable locality is Nãrest~n (34°56' N, 70°22' E) located in a river valley of the Hindu Kush, about 60 km north of Jäläläbad and 120 km northeast of Kabul.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - from the name of the country Afghanistan with the adjective suffix for nouns ica (from the Greek ικο) = belonging to, from, it is probably endemic to that country.