Myrmica mifui

Found in mountain meadows at an altitude of 3020 m. Nesting site unknown.

Identification
Chen et al. (2016) - This species belongs to the pachei group. This species is very similar to Myrmica pleiorhytida, but differs from the latter by number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes ≤ 25; mesonotal and propodeal dorsum fine transverse rugae < 20. This species also resembles to Myrmica dongi, but differs from the latter by petiole with a finer triangular ventral process; propleuron only with densely punctuated; mesonotal and propodeal dorsum with 8−10 coarse sinuous transverse rugae. Main discriminative morphological characters with other species of the pachei-group is shown in the pachei-group species key.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  mifui. Myrmica mifui Chen, Zhue & Huang, 2016: 103, figs. 20-22 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. HL 1.55, HW 1.38, FW 0.60, FLW 0.63, SL 1.28, PW 0.90, ML 1.95, PL 0.50, PH 0.48, ESL 0.48, CI 1.12, FI 0.43, FLI 1.05, SI1 0.82, SI2 0.92, ESLI 0.35. Paratypes (n=2). HL 1.54−1.58, HW 1.37−1.40, FW 0.60−0.62, FLW 0.61−0.63, SL 1.25−1.26, PW 0.90−0.92, ML 1.91−1.94, PL 0.50−1.52, PH 0.50−0.51, ESL 0.46−0.49, CI 1.13−1.14, FI 0.42−0.44, FLI 1.04−1.05, SI1 0.80−0.81, SI2 0.90−0.93, ESLI 0.33−0.35.

Holotype. Head longer than broad, with very weakly convex sides and almost straight posterior margin, and rounded posterior corners; anterior clypeal margin rounded, slightly prominent, not notched medially. Frontal carinae very feebly curved, merging with the rugae that extend to the posterior third dorsum of head. Frons wide, frontal lobes not extended. Antennal scape relatively long, gradually though distinctly curved at the base, without any trace of lobe or carina.

Mesosoma relatively robust, promesonotum in profile view convex, promesonotal suture in dorsal view well-developed. Metanotal groove distinct, very deep. Propodeal lobes triangular apically. Propodeal spines moderately long, straight, sharp, directly backward at an angle of about 45º. Petiole high, with very short peduncle, its anterior surface slightly concave, dorsum of node with a distinct dorsal plate, slightly convex, posterior surface steep, so that petiolar node appears sharply cylindroid (seen in profile). Postpetiole subglobular, its anterior and dorsal surfaces forming a regular arch. Spurs of middle and hind tibiae well-developed and pectinate.

Head with very dense, fine, almost straight, slightly posteriorly diverging longitudinal rugae on the whole dorsum, number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes < 25. Posterior part and lateral sides of the head with reticulation, surface between reticulation densely superficially punctate, appearing more or less shiny and not dull. Clypeus with longitudinal rugae, surface between them shiny. Frontal triangle smooth and shiny.

Pronotal dorsum reticulated, lateral sides reticulate-punctate; mesonotal dorsum with 8−10 coarse sinuous transverse rugae; dorsum of propodeum with several finer transverse rugae; lower parts of mesopleura and sides of propodeum with fine longitudinal rugae. Space between rugae on mesosoma smooth and shiny. Petiole high, and with a strongly triangular ventral process. Petiole and postpetiole with short irregular rugae, densely though not coarsely punctate, appearing dull.

Margins of head with long suberect hairs; dorsum of mesosoma with longer hairs, petiole with 6−8 long hairs. Antennal scape and tibiae with subdecumbent hairs. Body colored blackish-brown, appendages somewhat lighter.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Taibai Mt., Shaanxi Prov., China, 33°59'57"N, 107°47'17"E, 3020m. 20.viii.1997, leg. Cong Wei, No. G970018; Paratypes. 3 workers, as holotype. Deposited in the Insect Collection of.

Etymology
The specific epithet is the name of a famous calligrapher in the Northern Song Dynasty.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chen Z. L., S. Y. Zhou, and J. H. Huang. 2016. Seven species new to science and one newly recorded species of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from China, with proposal of a new synonym (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ZooKeys 551: 85–128.