Myrmica schencki Emery

Collingwood, C. A., 1979, The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark., Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica 8, pp. 1-174 : 56

10. Myrmica schencki Emery , 1895

Figs. 31,40, 51,64.

Myrmica rubra scabrinodis var. schencki Emery , 1895:315.

Worker. Brownish red with gaster and sometimes head darker. Frontal triangle striate. Antennal scape sharply angled near base, with an upright flange at the bend fitted closely into the thin divergent frontal ridge. Frons very narrow, about 'A head width. Mesopropodeal furrow shallow and postpetiole low, somewhat cubical in profile and spherical from above. Head Index: 88.4; Frons Index: 24.5; Frontal Laminae Index: 63.3. Length: 4.0-5.5 mm.

Queen. As worker. Length: 5.0-6.0 mm.

Male. Scapes very short, angled; second funiculus segment elongate. Appendage hairs short, subdecumbent. Petiole long and low, often striate at dorsolateral margins. Length: 4.0-4.5 mm.

Distribution. Local in Denmark and southern areas of Finland, Sweden and Norway, also S. England, Wales and Ireland. - Range: South Europe to South Scandinavia.

Biology. This is an interesting species somewhat resembling a large paler M. lobicornis but distinguished by the lower more cubical postpetiole. According to the Danish myrmecologist Chr. Skott, this species differs from other European Myrmica in having no winter brood, is mainly nocturnal and derives much of its food from the glandular excretions of low herbage such as Hypochaeris and Hieracium spp. The entrance to the nest is frequently built up as a collar of vegetable detritus (Bisgaard, 1944). Colonies are single queened and isolated, situated in sandy banks and dry pasture. Alatae are found in August, mating occurring on the ground near the nest.