Formica sinensis WHEELER, 1913

Seifert, Bernhard, 2021, A taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic members of the Formica rufa group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - the famous mound-building red wood ants, Myrmecological News 31, pp. 133-179 : 172

Formica sinensis WHEELER, 1913

Formica truncicola var. sinensis WHEELER, 1913 [type investigation]

This taxon was described from the vicinity of Chongging (W China, 29.53° N, 106.52° E). Investigated were 32 syntype workers on 10 pins which were probably from the same sample as concluded from the consistent morphology. A lectotype plus two paralectotype workers on the same pin are labelled “ Lectotype (top specimen) Formica truncicola var. sinensis Wheeler 1913 desig. B. Seifert 2006 ”, “Chun King, China, 1909”, “Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Dept. Invert. Zool. No. 22594” and “ Formica truncicola var. sinensis Whlr. ”; depository AMNH New York. 26 paralectotype workers on eight pins in AMNH New York and three paralectotype workers in SMN Görlitz are all labelled “Chun King, China, 1909” and “Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Dept. Invert. Zool. No. 22594”. In the key of the original description (p. 391) and on the syntype labels, WHEELER (1913) used F. sinensis as trinomen but later in the heading of the main text (p. 437) as quadrinomen. Herewith, by majority indication, I suppose that WHEELER (1913) did not intend to introduce this taxon in infrasubspecific rank. Otherwise, WU (1990) would be the first who made the name available.