Myrmica rhytida

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Fairly common at altitudes from 3130 and 4200 m in Kashmir (Philip Ward, pers. comm.), where it nested in the soil (often under stones) and in birch logs, in alpine meadows often containing juniper species, and at the edges of birch forests at an altitude where rhododendrons begin to appear. It was often sympatric with Myrmica wardi but tended to live at higher altitudes (mean 3600 m vs. 2700 m) Ward found it tending root aphids in several of its nests. Its foraging behavior appears to be quite cryptic, it stays close to the soil surface and was never found foraging on plants. In this respect it behaviour is reminiscent of that of the northern European Myrmica lobicornis.

Identification
The saddle-shape alitrunk of the workers of M. rhytida suggest that it might be close to species from the cachmiriensis-complex of the rugosa species group. Both workers and queens differ from the species of the cachmiriensis-complex (Myrmica wardi, Myrmica ordinaria and Myrmica cachmiriensis) by the distinctly coarser rugosity of head dorsum, alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole. However, rugosa-group species are typified by males having short antennal scape whereas the scape of M. rhytida males is long. Probably it could be placed inits own separate species group, but for now we list it under species whose taxonomic position is uncertain. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution
Known only from the type localities from India (Kashmir).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  rhytida. Myrmica rhytida Radchenko & Elmes, 1999a: 41, fig. 5 (1-10) (w.q.m.) INDIA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 224.