Myrmica orthostyla

Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - M. orthostyla lives at quite high altitudes (about 2500 m) in various kinds of mountains steppes. Nests were built in soil, usually under stones. Based on collecting data, males were found in the nests in September, which indicates that mating flights are in late summer (August-September).

Identification
A member of the tibetana group. It is very similar to Myrmica tenuispina, but differs from it mainly by the thin, straight, long, stick-like propodeal spines. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation.

Nomenclature

 *  orthostyla. Myrmica orthostyla Arnol'di, 1976a: 552, fig, 8 (w.q.m.) KYRGYZSTAN. See also: Tarbinsky, 1976: 27; See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 210.

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - the name is a combination of the Greek words orthos = straight and stylos = pillar or pole, to describe the straight stick or pole-like propodeal spines.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 2010. Myrmica ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 790 pp.
 * Schultz, R., A. G. Radchenko, and B. Seifert. "A critical checklist of the ants of Kyrgyzstan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 (2006): 201-207.