Myrmica schulzi

Four workers were found on mountain meadows at the altitudes between 2300 and 2600 m.

Identification
M. schulzi belongs to the pachei species group which is now known to comprise a considerable number of rather similar species in China that are mainly distinguished by variations in body sculpture. This species is characterized by the following combination of features: lateral margins of head posterior to the eyes with abundant short decumbent hairs; the frontal carinae curving outwards to merge with the rugae that surround the antennal sockets; the frons with quite dense, fine, slightly sinuous longitudinal rugosity, numbering ca. 20 between the frontal carinae level with the eyes, occiput and temples with fine reticulation, surface between the rugae densely punctated, appears dull; the pronotal dorsum with irregular sinuous rugulosity and reticulation, while the mesonotal and propodeal dorsum with not coarse transversal sinuous rugosity, numbering> 25. (Radchenko and Elmes 2010)

Distribution
Shaanxi Province, China.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  schulzi. Myrmica schulzi Radchenko & Elmes, 2009a: 72, figs. 16-20 (w.) CHINA. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 273.

Type Material
Holotype, w, China, Shaanxi Prov., Qin Ling Shan, Mt. W Pass, 47 km S Xian, Autorote km 70, 108°47'E, 33°51'N, 2300-2600 m, No. 963, 26-29.viii.1995, leg. Wrase (Kiev); paratypes: 3 w with the same label as the holotype (Kiev, Elmes, Schulz).

Etymology
Dedicated to the German myrmecologist Andreas Schulz, who generously provided us with this and other material for our study.