Myrmica zojae

A rather xerophylous species, inhabiting steppes where it builds nests in soil.

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the lobicornis complex of the lobicornis species group and differs from Myrmica lobicornis by its wider frons, by the shape of petiole, by the shorter propodeal spines, by the shape of the lobe at the base of scape, which is directed upward and somewhat forward, etc. From other sympatric species from the lobicornis-group it also well differs by the shape and bigger size of the scape lobe.

Distribution
SE Altai and S. Ural Mountains, Russia.

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

Nomenclature

 *  zojae. Myrmica zojae Radchenko, 1994h: 210, figs. 13-22 (w.q.m.) RUSSIA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 330.

Worker
Holotype, worker: AL 1.34; HL 0.99; HW 0.85; SL 0.84; FW 0.29; FLW 0.38 mm.

Paratypes, workers: AL 1.34-1.47; HL 0.94-1.05; HW 0.81-{).94; SL 0.78-0.90; FW 0.28-0.32; FLW 0.36-0.41 mm (Figs 13-15).

Head elongate (CI 1.12-1.18), with slightly convex sides, narrowly rounded occipital corners and straight occipital border. Anterior clypeal margin straight or very feebly convex. Frontal carinae strongly curved, frons narrow (FI 1.27-1.35, FLI 2.83-3.10), antennal sockets surrounded by arched rugae. Antennal scapes moderately long (SI 1.17-1.24), abruptly curved basally, forming right angle, with large lobes, stick out forwards and upwards. Frons coarsely longitudinally rugulose, occiput and temples with coarse wavy rugae.

Alitrunk with faint mesopropodeal impression, which is frequently lacking. Propodeal spines short, straight, acute at apex, slightly extended at base. Petiole with short cylindrical part, anterior face of petiolar node slightly concave, meets with dorsal face under rounded angle, dorsal area indistinct, sloping, petiolar node in side view wedge-form. Postpetiole high, short, its length 1. 7-1.8 times less than height.

Alitrunk and pedicel strongly longitudinally rugulose. Body with numerous standing hairs; antennal scapes and tibiae with numerous, rather coarse suberect hairs. Alitrunk, pedicel and appendages reddish-brown, head and gaster darker.

Queen
Paratype, female: AL 1.82; HL 1.13; HW 1.2; SL 0.88 mm (Figs 16-18).

Shape of head, frontal carinae, frontal lobes and scapes as in workers. Sides of alitrunk longitudinally rugulose, rugae more coarse on propleurae and propodeum; scutum and scutellum longitudinally rugulose. Propodeal spines short, strongly extended at base. Anterior face of petiolar node straight, not concave; node in side view sharply angulate, with distinct sloping dorsal area. Pilosity and colour as in workers.

Male
Paratype, male: AL 1.65; HL 0. 79; HW o. 76; SL 0.64 mm (Figs 19-22).

Head somewhat elongate (CI 1.04), occipital comers narrowly rounded, occipital border slightly convex. Anterior clypeal margin straight. Antennal scapes moderately long (SI 1.22), abruptly curved basally at obtuse angle. Dorsum of head densely punctate, fine rugulosity on frons only. Head with numerous standing hairs. External margin of antennal scapes with numerous suberect hairs, their length somewhat longer than maximum diameter of scapes; inner margin of scapes with dense subdecumbent pilosity.

Sides of alitrunk punctate, only lower parts ofmesopleurae and propodeum with fine rugulosity. Scutum and scutellum densely punctate, with short fine rugulosity on scutum; space between notaulae smooth and shining. Propodeum with short acute triangular teeth. Petiole high, not lower than postpetiole, its node cubiform with convex, rounded dorsal face.

Alitrunk (except propodeum) and gaster with relatively sparse, short standing hairs. Hind tibiae with dense standing hairs. Colour brown, gaster dark brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker: the SE Altai, Kuraiskaya kotlovina, No. 572, 9 VI 1964 (Z. Zhigulskaya).Paratypes: 19 workers, 1 female, 1 male, the same locality, Nos. 546, 572, 575, 617, 638, 657, VI-VII 1964 (Z. Zhigulskaya).

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - this species was dedicated to the collector, our friend and colleague, the Russian myrmecologist Dr. Zoja Alexandrovna Zhigulskaya from Magadan.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dubovikoff D. A., and Z. M. Yusupov. 2018. Family Formicidae - Ants. In Belokobylskij S. A. and A. S. Lelej: Annotated catalogue of the Hymenoptera of Russia. Proceedingss of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences 6: 197-210.
 * 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.
 * Zhigulskaya Z. A. 2009. The ants of the Chuya Depression and the Yustyd river basin in Southeastern Altai. Contemporary Problems of Ecology 2009 2(3): 210-215.