Leptothorax muscorum ( NYLANDER, 1846 )

Radchenko, A., 2004, A Review Of The Ant Genera Leptothorax Mayr And Temnothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Of The Eastern Palaearctic, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 50 (2), pp. 109-137 : 130-135

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.12586852
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F8458E06-3972-1767-FDAB-FA89FD45FC87
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Leptothorax muscorum ( NYLANDER, 1846 )
status

Treatment

Leptothorax muscorum ( NYLANDER, 1846) View in CoL

( Fig. 40 View Figs 32–41 )

Myrmica muscorum NYLANDER, 1846: 1054 , workers, queens, males, Finland.

Leptothorax muscorum View in CoL : MAYR, 1855: 167; DLUSSKY & PISARSKI, 1970: 86; RADCHENKO, 1994 b: 147; 1995 a: 25.

Leptothorax muscorum muscorum View in CoL : KUPYANSKAYA, 1990: 139.

Material examined. Syntypes: worker and queen (dealate) on one pin, “H: fors”, “W. Nyland.”, “Coll. Nyland.”, “Mus. Zool. H: fors Spec. typ. No. 5068”; worker and queen (dealate) on one pin, labelled as above, but type No. 5069; male, labelled as above, but type No. 5067; male, labelled as above, but type No. 5070; 3 workers on one pin, “H: fors”, “W. Nyland.”, “Coll. Nyland.”; worker and queen (dealate), labelled as above; worker and queen (dealate), labelled as above ( FMNH); non-type material: several hundred workers from the Europe, Caucasus, Siberia and Russian Far East .

Distribution. The boreal zone of Holarctic (in general, more southern parts than L. acervorum ), mountains of Southern Europe, the Caucasus; in the Eastern Palaearctic goes to the south to Central Sakhalin (appr. 50° N); absent from Japan and Korean Peninsula.

Ecology. About as in L. acervorum , but with a preference for drier and warmer habitats (it does not inhabit bogs). In the mountains, it lives in meadows. Nests are built under small stones, under bark, in rotten wood, sometimes in litter.

Leptothorax oceanicus ( KUZNETSOV-UGAMSKY, 1928) View in CoL

( Fig. 41 View Figs 32–41 )

Mychothorax muscorum subsp. oceanicum KUZNETSOV-UGAMSKY, 1928: 29 , worker, Russia, Primorsky Region, Ussuri Distr., station Okeanskaya.

Leptothorax muscorum oceanicum : KUPYANSKAYA, 1990: 140, worker, queen (ergatoid).

Leptothorax oceanicum : HEINZE et al., 1993: 177 [raised to species rank]; RADCHENKO, 1994 b: 147; 1995 a: 25.

Leptothorax oceanicus View in CoL : BOLTON, 1995: 242 [emendation of spelling]; RADCHENKO & HEINZE, 1997: 79 [neotype designation]

Material examined. Neotype worker: Russia, Primorsky Region, Suputinsky Natural Reserve , valley of the riv. Maykha, 25.v.1967, leg. A. TICHOMIROVA ( ZMMU); non-type material: 16 workers, 3 queens from Primorsky and Amursky Regions, NE China and North Korea.

Distribution. L. oceanicus seems to be a quite rare species and is known from several localities between 41– 53° N and 125– 135°E: Russia: Amursky Region, Zeya; Habarovsk; Primorsky Region: Vladivostok; Anisimovka; Borisovskoe plateau; Suputinsky Natural Reserve; North-East China: Jilin Province; North Korea: Ryanggang Province.

Ecology. This species inhabits mainly deciduous forests, but also it was found in meadows near lake shores, nests are built mostly in fallen logs, tree stumps, rarely in soil.

Notes. L. oceanicus most resembles L. muscorum but differs from it mainly by the sharply triangular petiolar node with a very narrowly rounded dorsum, (in L. muscorum the petiolar node has a distinct, often rounded, dorsal plate; Figs 40 and 41 View Figs 32–41 ) (for details see RADCHENKO & HEINZE 1987).

KEY TO EASTERN PALAEARCTIC LEPTOTHORAX AND View in CoL TEMNOTHORAX (WORKERS) (excluding Japan)

1 Antennae with 11 segments 2

– Antennae with 12 segments 5

2(1) Humeri in dorsal view distinctly marked, slightly angulate T. koreanus (TERANISHI)

– Humeri in dorsal view widely rounded 3

3(2) Tibiae and antennal scape with numerous standing hairs L. acervorum (FABRICIUS)

– Tibiae and antennal scape without standing hairs, with decumbent pilosity only 4

4(3) Anterior and dorsal faces of petiolar node (seen in profile) meet at a rounded blunt angle, the node has a distinct, often rounded dorsal plate ( Fig. 40 View Figs 32–41 ) L. muscorum (NYLANDER)

– Anterior and posterior faces of petiolar node (seen in profile) meet at an acute angle, the node is sharply triangular ( Fig. 41 View Figs 32–41 ) L. oceanicus (KUZNETSOV-UGAMSKY)

5(1) Humeri in dorsal view distinctly marked and slightly angulate ( Fig. 3 View Figs 1–6 ) 6

– Humeri in dorsal view widely rounded ( Figs 6 View Figs 1–6 , 9 View Figs 7–15 , 18 View Figs 16–23 ) 7

6(5) Head dorsum with reduced sculpture, only finely rugulose and striated, surface between them smooth and shiny ( Fig. 1 View Figs 1–6 ). Propodeal spines much shorter (ESLI 0.23), basally widened, not finger-like ( Fig. 2 View Figs 1–6 ). Petiole without anterior peduncle, about as long as high (PI 1.05), its node with narrowly rounded dorsum, cuneiform (seen in profile, Fig. 2 View Figs 1–6 ). Standing hairs on alitrunk slightly curved, thin, distinctly longer than the minimal eye diameter ( Fig. 2 View Figs 1–6 ). Head, alitrunk and waist dark reddish, gaster reddish-brown

T. cuneinodis sp. n.

– Head dorsum with numerous, quite coarse longitudinal rugae and reticulation ( Fig. 22 View Figs 16–23 ). Propodeal spines long (ESLI> 0.25), straight, basally not widened, bluntly rounded at the tip, finger-like ( Fig. 23 View Figs 16–23 ). Petiole with short but distinct anterior peduncle, distinctly longer than high (PI> 1.20), its node with broadly rounded dorsum (seen in profile, Fig. 23 View Figs 16–23 ). Standing hairs on alitrunk straight, blunt, thick and short, not longer than the minimal eye diameter ( Fig. 23 View Figs 16–23 ). Alitrunk and waist yellowish-red, gaster and head dorsum reddish-brown T. alinae (RADCHENKO)

7(5) Propodeum with long, sharp spines, ESLI> 0.33 ( Figs 5 View Figs 1–6 , 25, 29 View Figs 24–31 , 35, 37 View Figs 32–41 ) 8

– Propodeum with short spines or with sharp denticles only, ESLI <0.28 ( Figs 8 View Figs 7–15 , 17 View Figs 16–23 , 27, 31 View Figs 24–31 , 32, 39 View Figs 32–41 ) 13

8(7) Whole body ochreous-yellow. Head with very broadly rounded, barely marked occipital corners ( Fig. 4 View Figs 1–6 ) T. xanthos sp. n.

– Body reddish-brown to dark brown or bicoloured, with alitrunk distinctly lighter than head and gaster. Head with narrowly rounded, well-marked occipital corners ( Figs 24, 26 View Figs 24–31 , 33, 36 View Figs 32–41 ) 9

9(8) Alitrunk yellow to brownish-yellow, head dorsum and gaster brown 10

– Whole body reddish brown to dark brown 11

10(9) Petiole with relatively short anterior peduncle (PI <1.30), petiolar node massive, with wide, slightly rounded dorsum (seen in profile, Fig. 34 View Figs 32–41 ). Head dorsum finely striated or at most finely rugulose and densely punctate ( Fig. 33 View Figs 32–41 ) T. nassonovi (RUZSKY)

– Petiole with very long anterior peduncle (PI> 1.60), petiolar node slender, with narrowly rounded dorsum (seen in profile, Fig. 25 View Figs 24–31 ). Frons with quite coarse longitudinal, slightly sinuous rugae, remaining parts of head dorsum coarsely reticulate; surface between rugae not coarsely but densely punctate ( Fig. 24 View Figs 24–31 ) T. argentipes (WHEELER)

11(9) Petiole with very long anterior peduncle (PI> 1.75), anterior face in profile strongly concave ( Fig. 37 View Figs 32–41 ) T. taivanensis (WHEELER)

– Petiole with shorter anterior peduncle (PI <1.60), anterior face in profile very weakly concave ( Figs 29 View Figs 24–31 , 35 View Figs 32–41 ) 12

12(11) Propodeal spines longer (ESLI = 0.49–0.52). Petiole relatively higher and shorter (PI <1.40), petiolar node less massive, with narrowly rounded dorsum ( Fig. 29 View Figs 24–31 ). Antennal scape somewhat longer (SI 1> 0.75, SI 2> 0.90)

T. eburneipes (WHEELER)

– Propodeal spines shorter (ESLI = 0.36–0.43). Petiole relatively lower and longer (PI> 1.50), petiolar node massive, with broadly rounded dorsum

( Fig. 35 View Figs 32–41 ). Antennal scape somewhat shorter (SI 1 <0.75, SI 2 <0.90)

T. spinosior (FOREL)

13(7) Whole body reddish-brown to black 14

– Alitrunk yellow to brownish-yellow, contrasting with darker head and gaster, or the whole body ochreous-yellow 16

14(13) Antennal scape relatively long, almost reaching or even slightly surpassing the occipital margin, SI 1> 0.75. Propodeum with short spines, ESLI> 0.15 ( Fig. 31 View Figs 24–31 ) T. kurilensis (RADCHENKO)

– Antennal scape short, distinctly not reaching the occipital margin, SI 1 <0.73. Propodeum with very short sharp denticles, ESLI <0.11 ( Figs 27 View Figs 24–31 , 39 View Figs 32–41 ) 15

15(14) Petiolar node in profile with wide, slightly convex dorsal plate ( Fig. 27 View Figs 24–31 ).

Frons with longitudinal rugae and coarse punctures, remaining part of head dorsum punctate ( Fig. 26 View Figs 24–31 ). Antennae and legs of the same colour as body

T. congruus (F. SMITH)

– Petiolar node in profile very narrowly rounded, subtriangular ( Fig. 39 View Figs 32–41 ).

Head dorsum only finely and densely punctate, striation presents only near the eyes; a central longitudinal band on frons smooth and shiny ( Fig. 38 View Figs 32–41 ).

Antennae and legs yellowish, contrasting with much darker body

T. wui (WHEELER)

16(13) Petiole without anterior peduncle, PI <1.25; petiolar node in profile subtriangular, with very slightly concave or almost straight anterior face and very narrowly rounded dorsum ( Figs 8 View Figs 7–15 , 32 View Figs 32–41 ) 17

– Petiole with distinct anterior peduncle, PI> 1.28; petiolar node in profile with distinctly concave anterior face and broadly rounded, slightly convex dorsal plate ( Fig. 17 View Figs 16–23 ) 18

17(16) Alitrunk and waist ochreous-yellow to brownish-yellow, head dorsum of the same colour as alitrunk, gaster brown, but basal ¼ of first tergite yellow. Antennal scape longer, SI 1 0.73–0.78, mean = 0.75. Propodeum with short spines, ESLI 0.18–0.25, mean 0.22 ( Fig. 8 View Figs 7–15 ) T. pisarskii sp. n.

– Alitrunk and waist ochreous-yellow to brownish-yellow, head dorsum brownish, distinctly darker than alitrunk, gaster entirely brown, without pale spot at the base of the first tergite. Antennal scape shorter, SI 1 0.71–0.75, mean = 0.72. Propodeum usually with short, sharp denticles, ESLI 0.09–0.22, mean = 0.15 ( Fig. 32 View Figs 32–41 ) T. mongolicus (PISARSKI)

18(16) Antennal scape relatively long, almost reaching or even slightly surpassing the occipital margin, SI 1> 0.75. Head dorsum with distinct rugulosity and punctures ( Fig. 16 View Figs 16–23 ). Gaster concolourous with the ochreous-yellow alitrunk or slightly darker than alitrunk, first tergite without pale spot at the base

T. michali sp. n.

– Antennal scape short, distinctly not reaching the occipital margin, SI 1 <0.71. Head dorsum densely punctate and at most with fine longitudinal striation ( Fig. 30 View Figs 24–31 ). Gaster brown, distinctly darker than alitrunk, first tergite with pale spot at the base T. kaszabi (PISARSKI)

Acknowledgements – I sincerely thank Dr. BERNHARD MERZ, Genève, Switzerland and Dr. STEFAN COVER, Harvard, USA who generously loaned the type material. I am especially grateful to Prof. MICHAL WOYCIECHOWSKI, Kraków for providing the material he collected in North Korea, and Dr. G. W. ELMES, CEH, England and Dr. F. RIGATO, Milan, Italy for improving the language and important comments. This work was supported by grant of KBN 6 P04C 06021 and funded as part of the basic science programs of my institute .

FMNH	Field Museum of Natural History
ZMMU	Zoological Museum, Moscow Lomonosov State University

Copyright notice

No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Hymenoptera
Family	Formicidae
Genus	Leptothorax