Myrmica hecate

The nests of this species were found under stones in grasslands and in soil covered with scarce to dense vegetation. Nest temperature and humidity ranged from 24.4-28°C and 45% to 90%, respectively. Large colonies contained more than 200 workers. Alates of this species occasionally appear as late as in September in Northeast Himalaya. The altitudinal range for this species is 1300m to 3700m above mean sea level. (Bharti et al., 2016)

Identification
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - A member of the rugosa complex of the rugosa species group that most resembles Myrmica aimonissabaudiae, differing from the latter by its multidentate mandibles that have more than 10 small teeth.

Distribution
Himalaya

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Nepal.

Biology
This species lives at altitudes between 1300 and 3700 meters. Its ecology is unknown.

Castes
Queen, males and workers are known.

Nomenclature

 *  hecate. Myrmica smythiesi subsp. hecate Weber, 1947: 461 (w.) INDIA. Radchenko & Elmes, 2002: 42 (q.m.). Raised to species: Radchenko & Elmes, 2001a: 250. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 144.

Type Material

 * Lectotype (designated by Radchenko & Elmes, 2001): worker: “India, Himalaya, Darjeeling, Botanical gardens, 6900 ft, 7.viii.09, No.8609-19, Pavia” (MCZ).
 * Paralectotype (designated by Radchenko & Elmes, 2001): worker (damaged, without postpetiole and gaster), “Darjeeling, 6000 ft, 24.x.1909. No.8607-19, Brunetti” (MCZ).

Type Material
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - Described from two workers with the Indian museum labels “sweepings in grass and low herbage, Brunetti, Darjiling, 6,000 feet, 24.1X.08, No. 8607-19” and “Botanical gardens, Darjiling, 6,900 feet, 7.viii.09, C. Pavia, No. 8609-19”. (Harvard).

Etymology
Radchenko and Elmes (2010) - named for Hecate, the Greek goddess of sorcery and witchcraft.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H., S. Sasi, and A. Radchenko. 2016. Biogeography and ecology of Myrmica species (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Himalayan regions. Sociobiology 63(3): 956-975.
 * Radchenko A. G., and G. W. Elmes. 2001. A taxonomic revision of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from the Himalaya (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Entomologica Basiliensia 23: 237-276.
 * Radchenko, A. G., and G. W. Elmes. "A taxonomic revision of the ant genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from the Himalaya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Entomologica Basiliensia 23 (2001): 237-276.