276,850 research outputs found
Monomorium perplexum Radchenko 1997
No full textMonomorium perplexum Radchenko, 1997 Material: 24 $, transitional region of Alborz Range forest steppe and Central Persian deserts, Khojir National Park (35°39'11''N, 51°43'37''E), 1462 m asl, 1.V2008, leg. Omid Paknia. Remarks: Outside of Iran, the species is distributed in the Transcaucasus, Anatolia, the Aegean Islands and Greece (Radchenko 1997d).Published as part of Paknia, O., Radchenko, A. & Pfeiffer, M., 2010, New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran., pp. 29-38 in Asian Myrmecology 3 on page 3
Eocenomyrma groehni Radchenko 2020, sp. nov.
No full textEocenomyrma groehni sp. nov. = Eocenomyrma orthospina: Radchenko and Dlussky 2016: 407 (only specimen No. 6800, misidentification, nec Dlussky and Radchenko, 2006: 563). Locality. Baltic amber, Late Eocene, Priabonian stage, 33.9–37.8 Ma. Description. Worker. Total length ca. 2.7 mm. Head somewhat longer than wide, with slightly convex sides, widely rounded occipital corners and slightly concave occipital margin. Eyes relatively big, situated somewhat in front of sides of head. Frontal carinae moderately curved, frons quite wide; they merging with rugae that extend to occipital margin, do not curve outwards and do not merge with rugae that surround antennal sockets; frontal lobes extended laterally, covered base of antennae. Anterior clypeal margin widely and shallowly concave medially. Antennae 12-segmented, with rather big 3-segmented apical club that subequal to total length of remainder funicular segments; scape quite long, almost reaching occipital margin, smoothly curved at base, without lobe or carina. Shape of mandibles barely visible. Mesosoma quite slender, twice longer than pronotal width, humeri rounded, promesonotal suture absent, propodeal groove deep. Propodeal spines long, straight and acute, ca. 0.5 times of head width, strongly divergent (seen from above). Petiole with long peduncle, anterior surface of its node strongly concave, node quite high, with rounded dorsum. Postpetiole wide, ca. 1.4 times of its own length and ca. 1.3 times of width of petiole. Spurs on middle and hind tibia obscured. Whole head dorsum with slightly sinuous longitudinal rugae. Mesosomal dorsum with coarse reticulation, only surface between propodeal spines with fine transversal rugosity; petiole, postpetiole and gaster smooth and shiny. Surface between rugae on head and mesosoma with fine superficial punctation, but appears shiny. Temples and occipital margin of head with a few straight, quite long and thin erect to suberect hairs, mesosoma with sparse hairs, waist and gaster with more abundant similar hairs. Antennal scape and legs with decumbent to subdecumbent pilosity. Body colour dark brown. Measurements (in mm) and ratios: HL 0.66, HW 0.60, SL 0.41, FW 0.25, FLW 0.30, OL 0.14, ML 0.75, PNW 0.38, PL 0.31, PW 0.23, PPL 0.21, PPW 0.29, HTL 0.43, ESL 0.29, ESD 0.30; HL/HW 1.11, SL/HL 0.69, SL/HW 0.76, FW/HW 0.41, FLW/FW 1.21, OL/HL 0.22, ML/PNW 2.00, PL/HW 0.52, PW/HW 0.39, PPW/PW 1.28, PPW/HW 0.50, PPW/PPL 1.44, ESL/HW 0.48, ESD/ESL 1.05. Queens and males. Unknown. Type material. Holotype worker, complete specimen, GPIH No. 4945, coll. Gröhn No. 6800 (AntWeb CASENT No. 0917556). Etymology. The species is dedicated to Mr. Carsten Gröhn, who collected the holotype specimen. Remarks. Among all known Eocenomyrma species, E. groehni may be confused only with E. orthospina Dlussky et Radchenko, 2006, but it well differs from the latter species by structure of the frontal carinae, which merging with the rugae that extend to the occipital margin; in contrary, the frontal carinae in E. orthospina are short, curve outwards and merge with the rugae, which surround antennal sockets. Additionally, entire head dorsum in E. groehni is with the slightly sinuous longitudinal rugae, but in E. orthospina the only frons is with the not coarse longitudinal, slightly sinuous rugae, and the lateral parts of the head dorsum and occiput are with reticulation.Published as part of Radchenko, A., 2020, New Species Of Extinct Ant Genus Eocenomyrma Dlussky Et Radchenko (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) From The Baltic Amber, pp. 109-111 in Annales Zoologici 70 (1) on page 110, DOI: 10.3161/00034541ANZ2020.70.1.005, http://zenodo.org/record/377660
Eocenomyrma orthospina Dlussky et Radchenko
No full textE. orthospina M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d. Two workers: 1) Baltic amber, CGC F-6800. Measurements (in mm): HL 0.69, HW 0.60, FW 0.27, FLW 0.31, SL 0.46, ML 0.75, PnW 0.75, PL 0.31, PW 0.23, PPL 0.21, PPW 0.30, ESD 0.27, total length ca. 3.0. Indices: HL/HW 1.15, FW/HW 0.45, FLW/FW 1.15, SL/HL 0.67, SL/HW 0.77, PL/HL 0.45, PPL/HL 0.30. 2) Rovno amber, SIZK K-7026 (specimen damaged, without petiole, postpetiole and gaster). Measurements (in mm): HL 0.66, HW 0.57, SL 0.52, FW 0.23, FLW 0.26, AL 0.85, PnW 0.39, ESL 0.31, ESD 0.30, HTL 0.52, total length ca. 3.5 (by analogy of ML+HL compare to other species). Indices: HL/HW 1.16, SL/HL 0.79, SL/HW 0.91, FW/HW 0.46, FLW/FW 1.13, ESL/ HL 0.47, ESL/HW 0.53. A key for the identification of Eocenomyrma species 1. Head, mesosoma and waist only densely punctated, without rugosity or reticulation (fig. 7). Scape relatively very short, SL/HL 0.52, SL/HW 0.57. Petiole with very short peduncle, PL/ PH 1.13, its anterior surface steep, very slightly concave, meets with dorsal surface of node at an acute angle, dorsal plate short ant strongly declined posteriorly so that petiole seems cuneiform (seen in profile) (figs 8, 10)...................................................................................................................................................... E. breviscapa sp. n. – Head, mesosoma and waist longitudinally rugose or reticulated; petiole of another shape, but in any case with much longer peduncle, PL/ PH> 1.25 (figs 5, 6, 12–17) Scape distinctly longer, SL/HL> 0.58, SL/HW> 0.70...................................................................................................................................................... 2 2(1). Gyne: propodeal spines relatively short (ESL/HL 0.17), straight, slightly widened at the base; head dorsum and mesosoma mostly longitudinally rugose, coarse reticulation presents on occipital area of the head (figs 5, 6)....................................................................................................................... E. ukrainica sp. n. – Workers: propodeal spines longer (ESL/HL> 0.23), more widened at the base, often curved down along their length, if straight, then much longer, ESL/HL> 0.35 (figs 12–17)..................................................... 3 3(2). Head dorsum and mesosoma with longitudinal, slightly sinuous rugosity, without reticulation (fig. 12)......................................................................................................................................... E. rugosostriata (Mayr) – Head dorsum and mesosoma at least partly with reticulation (figs 13–17)................................................ 4 4(3). Whole head dorsum and mesosoma with fine reticulation; petiolar node with well developed, flattened dorsal plate (fig. 13)................................................................................ E. elegantul a Dlussky et Radchenko – Frons with longitudinal, slightly sinuous rugae, remainder part of head dorsum with coarse reticulation; petiolar node with rounded dorsum, without dorsal plate (figs 14–17)............................................ 5 5(4). Propodeal spines thin, not widened at the base, straight, directed backward and upward; petiole with very long peduncle (PL/ PH> 1.90) (figs 14, 15)................................ E. orthospina Dlussky et Radchenko – Propodeal spines massive, widened at the base, slightly curved down along their length, directed mainly backward; petiole with much shorter peduncle (PL/ PH 1.27) (figs 16, 17)........................................................................................................................................................................ E. electrina Dlussky et RadchenkoPublished as part of Radchenko, A. G. & Dlussky, G. M., 2016, Further Data On The Extinct Ant Genus Eocenomyrma (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), pp. 395-406 in Vestnik Zoologii 50 (5) on pages 405-406, DOI: 10.1515/vzoo-2016-0046, http://zenodo.org/record/644928
Tetramorium sabatinellii Radchenko & Scupola 2015, sp. n.
No full textTetramorium sabatinellii sp. n. M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d. Holotype, worker, Jordan, 31°34ʹ N, 36°01ʹ E, road number 15 Amman-Aqaba, 50 km to the south of Amman, 3.6 km to the north of Al Zumayla, in the semi-deserts ground 800 m west of the road 15 on a little hill at 686 m a. s. l., 29.04.2009, leg. Guido Sabatinelli, Mauro Daccordi and Marco Uliana (MSNG). Paratypes, 44 workers, 1 ♀ and 1 Ơ from the nest of holotype (MSNG, MSNVR, MSNVE, MSNM, SIZK, ASPC). E t y m o l o g y. The species is dedicated to our colleague, Guido Sabatinelli, who worked in Jordan and collected this species. W o r k e r s (fig. 1, a–d). Head somewhat longer than wide, with subparallel, almost straight sides, widely rounded occipital corners and very feebly concave occipital margin. Eyes situated about midlength of sides of head, gena distinctly longer than maximal diameter of eye. Scape quite strongly curved at base, without any additional structures on bent, not reaching occipital margin. Frontal carinae distinctly curved and frontal lobes extended. Frons with quite coarse longitudinal rugosity, number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes 1.4 times wider than petiole. Central part of scutum and scutellum with not coarse, but dense longitudinal rugulosity, surface between rugulae densely punctated. Pronotum and mesopleura, as well as whole propodeum, mostly densely punctated. Petiolar node and postpetiole densely and coarsely punctated, dorsum of petiolar node also with longitudinally-concentric rugae, dorsum of postpetiole also with longitudinal rugae. Stipites of genitalia strongly curved inward apically (seen dorsally or ventrally), their apices strongly excavated (seen from behind). Mesosoma and waist with not abundant long erect hairs. Surface of gastral tergites completely smooth and shiny. Body colour black, mandibles and appendages brownish. Measurements of male (in mm): HL 0.64, HW 0.66, OL 0.29, GnL 0.04, SL 0.37, PL 0.46, PW 0.28, PH 0.28, PPL 0.24, PPW 0.40, PPH 0.42, HTL 0.85, ML 1.73, MH 1.07, SCL 1.31, SCW 0.92. Indices: CI 0.97, SI 1 0.53, SI 2 0.52, OI 1 0.43, OI 2 6.50, PI 1 1.68, PI 2 0.43, PPI 1 0.61, PPI 2 0.60, MI 1.62, SCI 1.42. T a x o n o m i c n o t e s. Workers and queens of T. sabatinellii well differ from those of T. kabulistanicum and T. pisarskii by the completely longitudinally striato-punctated first gastral tergite, while such sculpture is present only on the basal half of tergite in two latter species. T. sabatinellii differs from T. striativentre by the distinctly curved frontal carinae and extended frontal lobes (mean FLI 1.12 in workers T. sabatinellii vs. 1.01 in T. striativentre), by the coarser rugosity on the head dorsum (in workers number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes 15, mean 18, respectively), and by the another sculpture on the waist dorsum (see Key below, and compare fig. 1, b, c and 6, b, c). It differs from T. schneideri by the transversal petiolar node, which is subcircle in the latter species (seen from above), and by the coarser rugosity on the head dorsum. Among all know species of this group, workers of T. sabatinellii the most resemble T. saudicum, differing from the latter mostly morphometrically: they have longer scape, wider petiolar node and postpetiole, longer genae, etc. (see also Key). E c o l o g y. The nest of this species was found in the semi-desert area with sparse vegetation in soil under stone at an altitude 686 m a. s. l.Published as part of Radchenko, A. G. & Scupola, A., 2015, Taxonomic Revision Of The Striativentre Species Group Of The Genus Tetramorium (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), pp. 219-244 in Vestnik Zoologii 49 (3) on pages 221-225, DOI: 10.1515/vzoo-2015-0024, http://zenodo.org/record/645236
Tetramorium kulickae Radchenko & Dlussky 2015, sp. n.
No full textTetramorium kulickae sp. n. Leptothorax sp. C: Kosmowska-Ceranowicz, 2001: 59. Tetramorium sp. B: Dlussky, Rasnitsyn, 2009: 1032. M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: worker, holotype, No. 20246, Muzeum Ziemi PAN, Baltic Amber, Gdansk-Stogi, Poland. E t y m o l o g y. The species is dedicated the memory of Polish palaeoentomologist, Dr. Róża Kulicka (1944–1999). W o r k e r (fig. 3–5). Head longer than broad, with subparallel sides, very feebly concave occipital margin and rounded occipital corners. Lateral portions of clypeus raised in both sides into a sharp shield-like ridge in front of antennal insertions, so that antennal sockets separated from clypeal surface. Eye well developed, of moderate size. Anterior clypeal margin convex. Antenna 12-segmented, with 3-segmented apical club, scape short, far not reaching occipital margin. Mesosoma low (ML/MH 2.89), with distinct but shallow metanotal groove, promesonotum somewhat flattened. Propodeum with blunt denticles. Petiole with quite long peduncle, strongly concave anterior surface, its node not high, with widely rounded dorsum (PL/PW 1.17, PL/ PH 1.40) Postpetiole subglobular (PPL/PPW 1.00). Spurs on the mid and hind tibia are obscure. Whole mesosoma with quite coarse longitudinal, slightly sinuous rugosity. Sculpture on head barely visible, but head seems to be longitudinally rugose; petiolar and postpetiolar nodes seem to be coarsely punctated. Mesosomal dorsum with long, thin erect hairs. Total length ca 2.5–2.7 mm. Measurements (in mm): ML 0.81, MH 0.28, PL 0.21, PH 0.15, PW 0.18, PPL 0.15, PPW 0.15. Queen and male unknown. Taxonomic notes Kosmowska-Ceranowicz (2001) recorded two species from the Baltic Amber collected near Gdansk (Stogi) in the Catalogue of amber collection of Tadeusz Giecewicz, deposited in the Museum of the Earth. Their collecting numbers fully correspond with those of T. paparamatum and T. kulickae, and determined by her as Tetramorium sp. n. and Leptothorax sp., respectively. Dlussky, Rasnitsyn (2009) recorded three undescribed species of this genus from the Baltic and Rovno ambers. Two of them from Baltic amber we described above, but record from the Rovno amber was based on misidentification, and we identify now this specimen as Fallomyrma transversa Dlussky et Radchenko, 2006. Radchenko (1992 a, b) established six species groups for Tetramorium of the former USSR. One of them, inerme group, is characterized by the relatively small queens with flattened scutum and scutellum, scutum is narrowed anteriorly so that anterio-lateral angles of pronotum are visible from above. Additionally, body sculpture in queens and workers reduced, head dorsum and mesosoma mostly smooth or at most with the fine striation. We placed T. paraarmatum sp. n. to this group. The species of caespitum group have much bigger queens, their scutum distinctly convex, not narrowed anteriorly, so that anterio-lateral angles of pronotum covered by scutum and invisible or very barely visible from above. Body sculpture of queens and workers well developed, head dorsum and mesosoma longitudinally rugulose, while this sculpture in not very coarse. Since we described T. kulickae sp. n. based on workers, we tentatively place it to this group. Based on the main diagnostic features, e. g., the body size, the shape of mesosoma, the reduced body sculpture, presence of distinct propodeal teeth, T. paraarmatum sp. n. resembles modern species T. armatum. At the same time, T. kulickae sp. n. is similar to modern species of Tetramorium caespitum group, e. g., T. caespitum s. l., T. impurum (Foerster, 1850) or T. hungaricum Röszler, 1935. Nevertheless, we do not think that modern ant species might exist in the Late Eocene, what is supported by the all existing data. For example, several fossil Late Eocene amber ant species are very similar to modern ones, e. g. extinct Formica flori Mayr, 1868 to extant F. fusca Linnaeus, 1758, Lasius schiefferdeckeri Mayr, 1868 to L. niger Linnaeus, 1758, etc., but no one doubts their heterospecifity.Published as part of Radchenko, A. G. & Dlussky, G. M., 2015, First Record Of Fossil Species Of The Genus Tetramorium (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), pp. 311-316 in Vestnik Zoologii 49 (4) on pages 313-315, DOI: 10.1515/vzoo-2015-0033, http://zenodo.org/record/645247
Myrmica afghanica Radchenko & Elmes, 2003, sp. nov.
No full text<p>Myrmica afghanica, sp. nov.</p> <p>= M. tibetana: Collingwood 1961: 36, 6w, 1q, Afghanistan, Pashki Nuristan, 6.iv. (sic!), [19]48, leg. K. Paludan, misidentification, not Mayr, 1889: 279 et al.</p> <p>Material examined. Holotype worker, " Afghanistan, Pashki Nuristan, 6.vi. (sic!) 48, leg. K. Paludan ";</p> <p>paratypes: 2 workers and 1 queen (dealate, specimen without postpetiole and gaster), same labels as holotype (University Museum Copenhagen).</p> <p>Description</p> <p>Workers (Figs 1-6): Head long, with parallel sides, straight or very feebly concave occipital margin, and narrowly rounded occipital corners. Anterior clypeal margin prominent and pointed medially. Frontal carinae short, almost straight, not curving outwards to merge with the rugae, which surround antennal sockets. Frons wide, frontal lobes relatively narrow (see indices below). Antennal scape long and slender, very feebly curved at the base, without trace of angle or carina. Alitrunk dorsum feebly convex, metanotal groove very shallow. Propodeal spines short but sharp, projected backwards and upwards (at an angle about 45°). Petiole with long anterior peduncle, in profile petiolar node dorsum broadly rounded and postpetiole sub-globular.</p> <p>Head dorsum having mostly a relatively coarse, longitudinal rugulosity, only the lateral parts and occiput having reticulation. Frons between frontal carinae level with the eyes with less than 13 rugae. Surfaces between rugae appearing shiny, being at most very finely, superficially sculptured. Promesonotal dorsum mostly longitudinally rugose, only anterior half of pronotum with coarse reticulation; sculpture on propodeal dorsum partly reduced; sides of alitrunk with longitudinal, slightly sinuous rugae. Petiolar and postpetiolar nodes with longitudinally-concentric rugae. Tibiae of hind and middle legs with well developed, pectinate spur. Quite hairy species. Antennal scape and legs with very abundant and long hairs that are almost erect on scape and sub-erect on legs; the longest hairs on antennal scape distinctly longer than maximal diameter of the scape. Body colour light brown to black, appendages yellowish brown.</p> <p>Measurements (mm) and indices (data for holotype in parenthesis): HL 1.02-1.12 (1.06), HW 0.82-0.88 (0.84), FW 0.35-0.39 (0.36), FLW 0.37-0.40 (0.39), SL 0.82 - 0.86 (0.86), AL 1.42-1.52 (1.50), HTL 0.74-0.82 (0.76), PNW 0.60-0.63 (0.60), PL 0.40-0.41 (0.40), PW 0.23-0.24 (0.24), PH 0.30-0.33 (0.31), PPL 0.32-0.33 (0.33), PPW 0.36 (0.36), PPH 0.36-0.39 (0.36), ESL 0.19-0.23 (0.19), ESD 0.34 (0.34); CI 1.24-1.27 (1.26), FI 0.43-0.44 (0.43), FLI 1.03-1.06 (1.06), SI1 0.75-0.81 (0.81), SI2 0.95-1.02 (1.02), PI1 1.24-1.33 (1.32), PI2 0.47-0.49 (0.49), PPI1 0.85-0.92 (0.92), PPI2 1.00-1.08 (1.00), PPI3 1.50-1.56 (1.50), PPI4 0.41-0.44 (0.43), ESLI 0.23 -0.26 (0.23), ESDI 1.48-1.79 (1.79), HTI 0.45-0.47 (0.45).</p> <p>Queen (specimen without postpetiole and gaster) (Figs 7-12): Relatively small compared to queens of many Myrmica species but proportionately larger than the workers (about 25% larger on both HW and AL). Otherwise the general features of shape, sculpture and pilosity are very similar to the workers. It differs from the workers by the slightly convex lateral margins of the head, and the following details of the body sculpture: just longitudinal rugae present on the head dorsum and alitrunk with no reticulation; only the petiolar node dorsum has any reticulation. Postpetiole and gaster most probably also very similar to those of workers.</p> <p>Measurements (mm) and indices: HL 1. 26, HW 1.06, FW 0.45, FLW 0.47, SL 1.00, AL 1.88, HTL 1.00, PL 0.51, PW 0.33, PH 0.43, ESL 0.19, ESD 0.42; CI 1.19, FI 0.42, FLI 1.04, SI1 0.75, SI2 0.94, PI1 1.55, PI2 0.48, ESLI, 0.18, ESDI 2.21, HTI 0.47, AI 1.59, SCI 1.62.</p> <p>Etymology. This species is named after Afghanistan where it is probably endemic.</p> <p>Distribution and ecology. We cannot find Pashki Nuristan, but the most probable locality is Nurestan (34°56' N, 70°22' E) located in a river valley of the Hindu Kush, about 60 km north of Jaelaelaebad and 120 km northeast of Kabul. If we are correct and M afghanica is a member of the rubra species-group (see below), then it might be distributed more widely in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, northwards into the adjacent territories of Tadzhikistan and the western slopes of the Pamirs. On the other hand, it could be a true Himalayan endemic belonging to the smythiesii-group (see below) either with a restricted local distribution or perhaps also living on the lower slopes of the Karakorum in Pakistan and northwest India. Nothing is known about its ecology but if we have truly identified the type locality, then it probably lives at lower altitudes (1000-2000m) where it is should be associated with river valleys.</p> <p>Taxonomic position and discussion. Until the features of the males of M. afghanica are described it is impossible to place it, with any certainty, in known Myrmica speciesgroups(see Radchenko and Elmes 2001). Based on the female castes M. afghanica could belong to either the rubra-group or the smythiesii-group. It is most similar to the species of the dshungarica-complex of the rubra species-group, which are distributed in Central Asia, and therefore, like M. tenuispina, it might have invaded Afghanistan from the north. On the other hand if it belongs to the smythiesii-group it is probably a true endemic of the region.</p> <p>Workers and queens of the species in the rubra- and smythiesii-groups are characterized by a long and slender antennal scape, which is gently curved at the base without any angle or carina, by their short, almost straight frontal carinae and wide frons (FI> 0.40) and quite narrow frontal lobes (FLI <1.15). Males from these groups are characterized by a quite long antennal scape, but the scape of rubra-group males is even longer than that of the smythiesii-group (Radchenko and Elmes 2001). Workers and queens are relatively small, like many other species in the rubra-group.</p> <p>With the current knowledge M. afghanica can no longer be confused with M. tibetana despite M. tibetana being placed in the rubra-group by Radchenko (1994a). We considered this earlier opinion wrong and proposed that M. tibetana characterizes its own species-group(Radchenko and Elmes 2001) because it appears to have more in common with species from the scabrinodis-group rather than species from either the rubra- or smythiesii-groups. For example, workers of the species belonging to the tibetana-group are characterized by frontal carinae curved at their anterior third and frontal lobes that are relatively wide and sub-square (FLI> 1.30 versus <1.15), features typically seen in scabrinodis-group species. Also the males of tibetana-group species have a short antennal scape like those of the scabrinodis-group. However, the scabrinodis-group clearly differs from the tibetana-group by its S-shaped frontal carinae that are curved from their midlength.</p> <p>If M. afghanica is a member of the dshungarica-complex (i.e. M. dshungarica, M. juglandeti, M. ferganensis and M. kryzhanovskii which mainly live in the Tien-Shan and Pamir Mountains - see Radchenko 1994a) then it most resembles M. kryzhanovskii. Both have long and abundant standing hairs on the legs and antennal scape but M. afghanica differs from M. kryzhanovskii by its prominent and medially-pointed anterior clypeal margin, by much shorter propodeal spines (ESLI 0.23-0.26 versus> 0.30) and by a relatively coarser longitudinal rugosity on the head dorsum (frons between frontal carinae level with the eyes with less than 13 rugae versus more than 15 in M. kryzhanovskii).</p> <p>The other three species have much less abundant and shorter hairs on their legs and antennal scapes. M. afghanica also differs from M. dshungarica by the parallel sides of its head, as opposed to convex sides, by a much longer petiolar peduncle and by the distinctly concave anterior surface and rounded dorsum of the petiolar node, versus the steep anterior surface and distinctly flattened dorsum of the petiolar node seen in M. dshungarica. M. afghanica's prominent and pointed anteromedian clypeal margin well separates it from both M. juglandeti and M. ferganensis, which have less prominent and broadly-rounded anteromedian clypeal margins (see also Arnoldi 1976; Tarbinsky 1976; Radchenko 1994b).</p>Published as part of <i>Radchenko, A. G. & Elmes, G. W., 2003, Myrmica afghanica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a new ant species from Afghanistan., pp. 1-8 in Zootaxa 375</i> on pages 3-
Cataglyphis pubescens Radchenko & Paknia, 2010, sp. nov.
No full textCataglyphis pubescens sp. nov. Etymology. From the Latin word "pubescens " - pubescent, that means character of the depressed pubescence on the head and alitrunk. Material examined. Holotype worker, Iran, province Yazd, Siahkooh National Park, 32°35'55"N, 54°13'57"E, 987 m, 23 May 2008, nest sample, arid area, leg. Omid Paknia, collection code: SIA 2459009 (MMTT); paratypes: 6 workers from the nest of holotype; 2 workers from the same locality but collected by pitfall traps (IZK, MMTT). Description. Workers (Figs 8-13). Species of small size, body length ca. 4 mm. Head length subequal to its width; head slightly narrowed anteriorly, with straight (not convex) sides (below the eyes), rounded occipital corners and very weakly convex occipital margin. Anterior clypeal margin almost straight, without median notch. Clypeal setae subequal to clypeal length and joined near its anterior margin. Eyes relatively small, their maximum diameter ca 1.05-1.25 times less than length of genae, situated distinctly beyond the midlength of head margins. Ocelli small, forming equilateral triangle. Antennae 12-segmented, scape relatively short, subequal or only slightly longer than head length; first funicular segment relatively long, only slightly shorter than length of second and third segments together, remainder segments distinctly longer than broad. 3rd and 4th segments of maxillary palpes rather long, subequal in length, 5th segment short, 1.5-1.9 times shorter than 4th ones, 6th segment only slightly shorter that the 5th one; 3rd segment not flattened, oval in cross-section, with not abundant erect hairs, length of the longest hairs less than twice longer than maximum diameter of the segment; 4th-6th segments with abundant but somewhat shorter pilosity. Mandibles with long apical tooth, somewhat smaller preapical one and three small basal teeth. Alitrunk relatively short and robust, mesonotum not raised over pronotal level. Dorsal surface of propo- deum subequal to posterior one, both meet at a rounded blunt angle. Propodeal spiracles small, slit-like. Petiole squamiform, with distinct, rather thick scale. Surface of head and propodeum with fine but dense microreticulation, appears dull, promesonotum and gaster with very fine superficial microreticulation, appear shiny. Body with sparse whitish standing pilosity, while it is somewhat more abundant than in the most of species of the cursor- and emmae-group. Occiput with more than 10 straight erect hairs, frons and clypeus without such hairs. Alitrunk and coxae with scattered erect hairs of different length, petiolar scale with a few short hairs. Head (especially temples and occiput), mesopleura, propodeum and coxae with dense pubescence, formed by long, very abundant silverish appressed hairs. Gaster with very sparse and short decumbent hairs. Scape and funiculus with short, quite thick, whitish subdecumbent hairs, tibiae with numerous, rather long subdecumbent to suberect setae, and additionally with less abundant yellowish bristles on inner margin. Whole body black. Queens and males are unknown. Measurements and indices see in Tables 1 and 2. Ecology. This species was collected in the interior region of the Central Persian desert basin. This area is characterized by hot summer and cold winter with mean annual temperature 19°C, and by the very low annual precipitation - 67 mm only. This territory belongs to the Irano-Turanian phyto-geographical region. Most specimens were collected by hand from a nest. Nest was built in an open area, having a small entrance without surrounding structures. Comparative diagnosis. C. pubescens shares several features of the emeryi-, cursor- and emmae species-groups of Cataglyphis. Thus, setae on the anterior clypeal margin are very long, subequal to or even somewhat longer than the length of clypeus, similarly to C. emeryi (Karawajew), but unlike the latter species these setae join close to the anterior clypeal margin, as in the species of cursor-group (Radchenko 1997 a, 1998). The first funicular segment is quite long, about twice longer than the second one and only slightly shorter than the second and third segments together: this is one of the diagnostic features of workers of the emmae-group (according Agosti 1990). On the other hand, worker caste of C. pubescens is not dimorphic (the latter is characteristic for the emmae-group species); additionally, they have distinctly thicker petiolar scale than C. emeryi. In general, workers of the species of all three groups mentioned above are superficially quite similar to one another, particularly their whole body is blackish-brown to black, they have petiole with distinct scale (i.e. it is not cuneiform or nodiform), but their males well differ by the structure of genitalia (Agosti 1990; Radchenko 1997a). Moreover, workers of C. emmae and C. emeryi move slowly, rather like Proformica Ruzsky species (C. emmae has been originally described as a member of Proformica) than Cataglyphis, while C. pubescens move very fast, like most of the Cataglyphis species. The proper taxonomic position of this species can be definitively resolved when males will be found. Despite this little taxonomic vagueness, C. pubescens clearly differs from any knows species of the groups mentioned above by the much more developed, dense appressed pubescence on the head and alitrunk.Published as part of Radchenko & Paknia, 2010, Two new species of the genus Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran., pp. 69-76 in Annales Zoologici 60 on pages 71-7
Cataglyphis stigmatus Radchenko & Paknia, 2010, sp. nov.
No full textCataglyphis stigmatus sp. nov. Etymology. From the Latin word "stigma" - spiracle, to emphasize very long propodeal spiracles. Area; (2) Naiband National Park; (3) Siahkooh National Park. Material examined. Holotype worker, Iran, Province Bushehr, Mond protected area, 28°03'N, 51°36'E, 6 m a.s.l., 15 July 2007, arid area, leg. Omid Paknia, collection code: MND-2128002 (MMTT); paratypes: 1 worker from the nest of holotype; 2 workers from the same site, but collected on bait traps; 3 workers, Iran, Province Bushehr, Naiband National Park, 27°18'N, 52°48'E, 19 July 2007, 6 m a.s.l., nest sample, arid area, leg. Omid Paknia (IZK, MMTT). Description. Workers (Figs 2-7). Species of medium size, body length ca. 5-7 mm. Head with almost parallel sides (below the eyes) and gradually convex occipital margin, occipital corners not marked, head length subequal to its width. Anterior clypeal margin convex, without median notch. Clypeal setae distinctly shorter than length of clypeus and joined near its anterior margin. Eyes relatively small, their maximum diameter1.2-1.5 times less than length of genae, situated distinctly beyond the midlength of head margins. Ocelli relatively big, forming equilateral triangle. Antennae 12-segmented, scape long, distinctly longer than head length, first funicular segment distinctly shorter than the length of second and third segments together. 3rd and 4th segments of maxillary palpes long, subequal in length, 5th segment 1.5-1.6 times shorter than 3rd or 4th ones, 6th segment is the shortest; 3rd segment somewhat flattened, with abundant erect hairs on inner margin, length of the longest hairs equal or only a little longer than maximum diameter of the segment; 4th segment with similar pilosity, two apical segments with abundant but shorter hairs. Mandibles with long apical tooth, somewhat smaller preapical one and three small basal teeth. Alitrunk long and slender, mesonotum not raised over pronotal level. Propodeum low, gradually arched, its dorsal surface distinctly longer than posterior one. Propodeal spiracles elongate-oval, while not distinctly slit-like, and very long: their length exceeds (or at least reaches) half of the propodeal height. Petiole obviously nodiform, with rounded node dorsum. Surface of whole body with dense microreticulation, appears dull, although not strongly matt. Body with sparse whitish standing hairs. Occiput with 5-6 quite long erect hairs, frons with 3-4, clypeus - with 2 similar hairs. Alitrunk and petiolar node with a few sparse short hairs. Head and gaster with very sparse and short decumbent pilosity, distance between hairs longer than hairs ' length; surface of alitrunk (except of mesonotal dorsum) and coxae with dense silverfish pubescence. Tibiae with depressed whitish short setae and additionally with a few yellowish bristles on inner margin. Antennae with fine, short depressed pubescence, without semi-erect hairs. Whole body yellow to orange-yellow. Queens and males are unknown. Measurements and indices see in Tables 1 and 2. Ecology. Distribution of this species is probably limited to the northern coastal plains of the Persian Gulf. This region is characterized by hot long summer and mild winter, with mean annual temperature 27C° and 236 mm precipitation. Phyto-geographically it belongs to the subtropical region. Both nest samples of C. stigmatus were collected in open arid areas. The nest entrance had a small mound ca. 5 cm height and ca. 15 cm in diameter. Specimens were active at the hottest time of day, between 10.00 and 16.00. Workers were attracted on baits both by tuna fish and sugar syrup. Comparative diagnosis. Based on all main diagnostic feature (e.g. nodiform petiole, body sculpture, maxillary palpes structure, etc.; see also Agosti 1990, Radchenko 1997a), C. stigmatus clearly belongs to the bicolor species-group. Almost all species of this group are bicoloured (with reddish head and alitrunk and black gaster) or black with the only one previously known exception - C. lunaticus which has entirely yellow body. Consequently, C. stigmatus obviously differs by colour from all known species of this group, except of C. lunaticus. Despite we did not investigate the type specimens of the latter species (it has been described based on 2 workers from Turkey), the detailed original description, including morphometric data and excellent drawings, provided by Baroni Urbani(1969) allow us to compare both species. C. stigmatus well distinguishes from C. lunaticus by the longer scape (SI1> 1.20 vs <1.10), by the lower propodeum with the dorsal surface being distinctly longer than the posterior one (the length of the dorsal surface of propodeum in C. lunaticus is subequal to the length of posterior one), by the less abundant standing hairs on the alitrunk and petiole, by the somewhat smaller size, and especially by the much longer propodeal spiracles. We examined size of propodeal spiracles in more than fifty Cataglyphis species, including about twenty ones from the bicolor-group, but could not found such big spiracles in any of the investigated specimens.Published as part of Radchenko & Paknia, 2010, Two new species of the genus Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran., pp. 69-76 in Annales Zoologici 60 on pages 70-7
Tetramorium pisarskii Radchenko & Scupola 2015, sp. n.
No full textTetramorium pisarskii sp. n. = Tetramorium striativentre kabulistanicum Pisarski, 1967: 403, part., only workers from Hassan Guilan, nec. material from Cheikhabad. M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d. Holotype, worker, “ Afghanistan, Hassan Guilan entre Guerechk et Dilaram, A 314, 7.9.1957, leg. K. Lindberg ”, “ T. kabulistanica sp. n. det. B. Pisarski ”, “Inst. Zool. PAN Warszawa 43/61” (MIZ). Paratype, worker with the same label (MIZ) (see also Taxonomic notes, below). E t y m o l o g y. The species is dedicated to the memory of outstanding Polish myrmecologist Prof. Bohdan Pisarski. W o r k e r s (fig. 5, a–d). Head very little longer than wide, with somewhat convex sides, widely rounded occipital corners and very feebly concave or almost straight occipital margin. Eyes situated about midlength of sides of head, length of gena subequal to maximal diameter of eye. Scape quite strongly curved at base, without any additional structures on bent, reaching occipital margin. Frontal carinae distinctly curved and frontal lobes extended. Frons with relatively fine longitudinal rugosity, number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes ca. 20. Mandibles with 5 teeth, coarsely longitudinally rugose. Surface of head between rugae densely punctated, same on mandibles smooth and shiny. Occipital margin with a few quite long suberect hairs, temples and genae without hairs. Рис. 5. Детали строения Tetramorium pisarskii sp. n., рабочий, holotype: a — тело в профиль; b — грудь и стебелек, вид сверху; c — голова, вид сверху; d — брюшко, вид сверху. Mesosoma with very shallow metanotal groove, propodeum with relatively long teeth widened at base, but not with thin spines. Whole mesosoma with quite coarse longitudinal, almost straight rugae. Petiole longer than high, its node transversal; postpetiole distinctly higher than long and distinctly wider than length. Petiolar node dorsum and postpetiolar dorsum with regular longitudinally-concentric rugae. Mesosomal dorsum and waist with not abundant, quite long erect hairs. Only basal half of first gastral tergite densely longitudinally striato-punctated, remainder part of tergite smooth and shiny or with fine superficial microreticulation. Head, mesosoma and waist brownish-red, appendages somewhat lighter, gaster blackish-brown. Measurements of workers (in mm; n = 2), ordered as: holotype-paratype: HL 0.83– 0.85, HW 0.81–0.83, FW 0.34–0.33, FLW 0.37–0.36, OL 0.21–0.20, GnL 0.21–0.21, SL 0.67– 0.65, ML 1.06–1.07, PNW 0.54–0.52, PL 0.33–0.35, PW 0.25–0.25, PH 0.26–0.29, PndL 0.21–0.20, PPL 0.21–0.20, PPW 0.29–0.29, PPH 0.28–0.30, ESL 0.22–0.09, ESD 0.21–0.21, HTL 0.63–0.62, rug-frons 20–14. Indices: CI 1.02–1.02, SI 1 0.81–0.76, SI 2 0.83–0.78, FI 0.42–0.40, FLI 1.09–1.09, OI 1 0.26–0.24, OI 2 1.00–0.95, PI 1 1.27–1.21, PI 2 0.31–0.30, PndI 1.19–1.25, PPI 1 0.72–0.69, PPI 2 0.36–0.35, ESLI 0.27–0.11. Queens, males and ecology unknown. T a x o n o m i c n o t e s. T. pisarskii the most resembles T. kabulistanicum, sharing with the latter the character of sculpture on the first gastral tergite. Moreover, holotype and paratype specimens of T. pisarskii were originally included by Pisarski (1967) to the paratype series of T. kabulistanicum. Nevertheless, Pisarski (loc. cit., p. 405) noted that “Workers from Hassan Guilan have somewhat coarser, but more regular sculpture than those from Cheikhabad” (out translation from French). T. pisarskii distinctly differs from T. kabulistanicum by the sculpture of mesosoma and waist: the mesosomal dorsum is with more regular, almost straight longitudinal rugae, the waist dorsum is with regular longitudinally-concentric rugae vs. the mesosomal and waist dorsum are with sinuous longitudinal rugae in the latter species. Additionally, longitudinal rugosity on the head dorsum in T. pisarskii is less coarse, number of rugae between frontal carinae level with the eyes ≥ 20 (≤ 15 in T. kabulistanicum).Published as part of Radchenko, A. G. & Scupola, A., 2015, Taxonomic Revision Of The Striativentre Species Group Of The Genus Tetramorium (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), pp. 219-244 in Vestnik Zoologii 49 (3) on pages 226-227, DOI: 10.1515/vzoo-2015-0024, http://zenodo.org/record/645236
Myrmica specioides Bondroit 1918
No full textMyrmica specioides Bondroit, 1918 Material: 8 $, Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests, Babolsar, in urban area (36°42'30''N, 52°38'04''E), 10 m asl, 18.IX.2002, leg. Omid Paknia. Remarks: This species has a very wide distribution that includes Europe (northwards to the south of England and Denmark), the Caucasus, Anatolia, Turkmenistan, southwest Siberia and northern Kazakhstan, eastwards to the Altai Mountains (Radchenko & Elmes 2004; Radchenko 1994b); it was introduced to North America (Jansen & Radchenko 2009).Published as part of Paknia, O., Radchenko, A. & Pfeiffer, M., 2010, New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran., pp. 29-38 in Asian Myrmecology 3 on page 3
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