Myrmica yani, Chen, Zhilin, Zhou, Shanyi & Huang, Jianhua, 2016

Chen, Zhilin, Zhou, Shanyi & Huang, Jianhua, 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, pp. 85-128 : 107-109

Taxon classification Animalia ORDO FAMILIA

Myrmica yani sp. n. Figures 29-34

Type material.

Holotype worker. Fanjingshan Nature Reserve , Guizhou Prov., China, 27°54'26" N, 108°38'44"E, 1667m. 30.v.2002, leg. Shanyi Zhou, No. G020318 . Paratypes. 3 workers and 1 queen, data as holotype.

Measurements and descriptions.

Holotype worker (Figs 29-31). HL 1.53, HW 1.18, FW 0.53, FLW 0.55, SL 1.50, PW 0.85, ML 2.08, PL 0.55, PH 0.25, ESL 0.33, CI 1.30, FI 0.45, FLI 1.04, SI1 0.98, SI2 1.27, ESLI 0.28. Paratype workers (n = 15). HL 1.48−1.52, HW 1.17−1.23, FW 0.52−0.54, FLW 0.53−0.57, SL 1.38−1.43, PW 0.81−1.86, ML 2.11−2.14, PL 0.53−0.59, PH 0.21−0.27, ESL 0.30−0.37, CI 1.28−1.31, FI 0.43−0.46, FLI 1.02−1.06, SI1 0.98−1.03, SI2 1.25−1.27, ESLI 0.27−0.29. Paratype Queen (Figs 32-34). HL 1.63, HW 1.33, FW 0.60, FLW 0.63, SL 1.50, PW 1.13, ML 2.50, PL 0.68, PH 0.53, ESL 0.25, CI 1.26, FI 0.45, FLI 1.05, SI1 0.92, SI2 1.27, ESLI 0.19.

Holotype worker. Head longer than broad, with weakly convex sides and posterior margin, and narrowly rounded posterior corners; anterior clypeal margin narrowly rounded, not notched medially. Frontal carinae very feebly curved, merging with the rugae that extend to the posterior half dorsum of head. Frons wide, frontal lobes not extended. Antennal scape relatively long (SI2 1.27), gradually curved at the base, without any trace of lobe or carina.

Promesonotum in profile view slightly convex, promesonotal suture in dorsal view indistinct. Metanotal groove distinct, deep and abrupt. Propodeal lobes rounded. Propodeal spines quite short, straight, thin, acute, directly backward at an angle of about 30 º. Petiole with distinct, but short peduncle, anterior surface slightly convex, meeting the dorsal one to form a blunt, narrowly rounded angle, dorsal surface short, gradually sloping posteriorly, without dorsal plate. Postpetiole subglobular, anterior and dorsal surfaces forming a feeble arch. Spurs of middle and hind tibiae well-developed and pectinate. Frons with dense, fine, slightly sinuous longitudinal rugae, number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes is>20; posterior third dorsum of head densely punctate; posterior part of the head densely micropunctate and dull. Clypeus almost smooth, at most with some fine longitudinal rugae, space between rugae shiny. Frontal triangle smooth and shiny.

Mesosoma with fine transverse rugae in the whole of dorsum, space between rugae with micropunctures and dull. Posterior of petiole with fine short rugae, the rest of petiole and postpetiole densely punctate, appearing dull.

Head with abundant long hairs at margins, genae with a few long hairs; dorsum of mesosoma with long hairs; petiole with 4−6 long hairs and a few short hairs. Antennal scape and tibiae with subdecumbent hairs. Body colored yellowish brown, appendages somewhat lighter.

Paratype workers. With similar morphological characters as holotype, but in one individual, dorsum of mesonotum and front part of pronotum of transverse rugae is abscure.

Paratype queen. Queen generally similar to workers by the shape and sculptures of head (except posterior dorsum of head with fine transverse rugae), frontal lobes, propodeal spines and petiole and postpetiole. Anterior half of scutum with sinuous longitudinal rugae and reticulation; scutum with coarse longitudinal rugae, scutellum concentrically rugulose, propodeal dorsum with transverse rugae; lateral of mesosoma with slightly less coarse longitudinal rugae. Petiolar node and postpetiole with some irregular rugae, space between rugae densely punctate, appearing dull.

Males. Unknown.

Habitat.

This species nests inside decayed wood in the broadleaf and coniferous forests, at elevation 1667m.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is the last name of a famous Chinese artist in the Tang Dynasty, Zhenqing Yan.

Differential diagnosis.

Myrmica yani sp. n. is a remarkable new species, belonging to the pachei group. So far, only three species ( Myrmica pachei , Myrmica inezae and Myrmica villosa ) are recorded from the Himalayas which possess the key character of the whole mesosoma of dorsum bearing transverse rugae. Myrmica yani sp. n. differs from the Myrmica pachei and Myrmica inezae by having a distinctly elongated head, with narrowly rounded posterior corners; posterior third of head dorsally without longitudinal rugae and reticulation, but densely punctate; petiole with distinct, short peduncle, its anterior surface slightly convex, meeting the dorsal one to form a blunt, narrowly rounded angle; dorsal surface short, gradually sloping posteriorly; body colored yellowish brown. It differs from Myrmica villosa by the distinctly elongated head, with narrowly rounded posterior corners; posterior third of head dorsally without longitudinal rugae, but densely punctate; propleuron with densely micropunctures and dull; dorsum of propodeum with fine transverse rugae; anterior surface of petiole slightly convex, meeting the dorsal one to form a blunt, narrowly rounded angle.