Myrmica
Encyclopedia
Myrmica is a genus
of ant
s within the subfamily Myrmicinae
. It is widespread throughout the temperate regions of the Holarctic
and high mountains in Southeast Asia. The genus consists of around 200 known species, and additional subspecies, although this figure is likely only to rise as soon as Chinese and Neartic fauna lists are revised. The genus contains a number of inquiline
species (commensal symbionts), other Myrmica species that manage to invade the nest of their host. Subsequently, they use hormones to manipulate the host colony in such a way, that eggs of the host queen develop into workers, and parasite brood into sexuals. Hence, the parasite is not able to sustain a colony of its own, but uses host resources instead.
Similarly, larvae of the butterfly genus Maculinea (Lepidoptera
, family Lycaenidae
) live inside Myrmica nests where they are either directly fed by ants or prey upon ant brood. The five European large blue butterfly species are facing extinction and are subject to large conservation efforts.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s within the subfamily Myrmicinae
Myrmicinae
Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants. There are about 140 genera within the group, with the family being cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes...
. It is widespread throughout the temperate regions of the Holarctic
Holarctic
The Holarctic ecozone refers to the habitats found throughout the northern continents of the world as a whole. This region is divided into the Palearctic, consisting of Northern Africa and all of Eurasia, with the exception of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and the Nearctic,...
and high mountains in Southeast Asia. The genus consists of around 200 known species, and additional subspecies, although this figure is likely only to rise as soon as Chinese and Neartic fauna lists are revised. The genus contains a number of inquiline
Inquiline
In zoology, an inquiline is an animal that lives commensally in the nest, burrow, or dwelling place of an animal of another species. For example, some organisms such as insects may live in the homes of gophers and feed on debris, fungi, roots, etc...
species (commensal symbionts), other Myrmica species that manage to invade the nest of their host. Subsequently, they use hormones to manipulate the host colony in such a way, that eggs of the host queen develop into workers, and parasite brood into sexuals. Hence, the parasite is not able to sustain a colony of its own, but uses host resources instead.
Similarly, larvae of the butterfly genus Maculinea (Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
, family Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
) live inside Myrmica nests where they are either directly fed by ants or prey upon ant brood. The five European large blue butterfly species are facing extinction and are subject to large conservation efforts.
Species
- M. ademoniaMyrmica ademoniaMyrmica ademonia is a species of ant, originally described from Russia.-References:*Bolton, B. 1995. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. [Page 277: Replacement name for Myrmica aspersa]*Kupyanskaya, A. N. 1990. Ants of the Far...
Bolton - M. afghanicaMyrmica afghanicaMyrmica afghanica is a species of ant from Afghanistan.-External links:*...
Radchenko and Elmes - M. aimonissabaudiae Menozzi
- M. alaskensis Wheeler
- M. aldrichi
- M. aloba Forel
- M. americana Weber
- M. anatolica Elmes Radchenko and Aktac
- M. angulata Radchenko, A.G., Zhou. S., and Elmes, G.W.
- M. angulinodis Ruzsky
- M. arisana Wheeler
- M. arnoldii Dlussky
- M. atomaria Gerstaecker
- M. basalis Smith
- M. bergi Ruzsky
- M. bessarabica Nasonov
- M. bidens Förster
- M. bibikoffi Kutter
- M. boltoni Radchenko and Elmes
- M. brancuccii Radchenko and Elmes
- M. breviceps Smith, F.
- M. brevinodisMyrmica brevinodisMyrmica brevinodis is a species of ant.-References:* Crewe, R.M., and Blum, M.S. 1970b. Identification of the alarm pheromones of the ant Myrmica brevinodis. J. Insect Physiol. 16:141-146....
Emery - M. brevispinosa Wheeler
- M. cachmiriensis Forel
- M. cadusaMyrmica cadusaMyrmica cadusa is a species of ant. Myrmica cadusa differs from similar ants in the genus Myrmica by the external shape of the antennal socket, which is jar shaped. They forage on the ground surface. Myrmica are unique from other types of ants in many ways...
Kim Park and Kim - M. cagnianti Espadaler
- M. cariniceps Guérin-Méneville
- M. caucasicola Arnol’di,
- M. chinensis Viehmeyer
- M. colaxMyrmica colaxMyrmica colax is a species of ant, originally described by Cole as Paramyrmica colax. Until now, it is only known from its type locality in the Davis Mountains, Texas, USA. He found M. colax in a M. striolagaster colony and considers the two species quite similar in morphology. This suggests M....
Cole - M. collingwoodi Radchenko and Elmes
- M. commarginata Ruzsky
- M. contigue Smith
- M. cursor Smith, F.
- M. curvithorax Bondroit
- M. diluta Nylander
- M. dimidiata Say
- M. discontinua Weber
- M. displicentia Bolton
- M. divergens Karavaiev
- M. domestica Shuckard
- M. draco Radchenko, G.G., Zhou.S., Elmes, G.W.
- M. dshungarica Ruzsky
- M. eidmanni Menozzi
- M. elmesi Bharti and Sharma
- M. emeryana Cole
- M. ereptrix Bolton
- M. excelsa Kupyanskaya
- M. exigua Buckley
- M. faniensisMyrmica faniensisMyrmica faniensis is a species of insect in family Formicidae. It is endemic to Belgium.-Source:* Social Insects Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 10 August 2007....
Boven, 1970 - M. ferganensis Finzi
- M. forcipata Karavaiev
- M. foreliana Radchenko and Elmes
- M. formosae Wheeler, W.M.
- M. fortior Forel
- M. fracticornis Forel
- M. fragilis Smith
- M. fuscula Nylander
- M. galbula Losana
- M. gallienii Bondroit
- M. gigantea Collingwood
- M. glaber Smith
- M. glacialis Emery
- M. glyciphila Smith
- M. gracillima Smith
- M. hamulata Weber
- M. hecate Weber
- M. hellenica Finzi
- M. helleri Viehmeyer
- M. hirsuta Elmes
- M. hyungokae Elmes, G.W., Radchenkoo, A.G., and Kim, B.
- M. incompleta Provancher
- M. incurvata Collingwood
- M. indica Weber
- M. inezae Forel
- M. jennyae Elmes, Radchenko, and Aktac
- M. jessensis Forel
- M. juglandeti Arnol'di
- M. kabylica Cagniant
- M. kamtschatica Kupyanskaya
- M. karavajevi Arnol’di
- M. kasczenkoi Ruzsky
- M. kirghisorum Arnol’di
- M. kollari Mayr
- M. koreana Elmes, G.W., Radchenkoo, A.G., and Kim, B., 2001
- M. kotokuiMyrmica kotokuiMyrmica kotokui is a species of ant of the genus Myrmica.This species closely resembles the European Myrmica ruginodis and is perhaps not a separate distinctive species. Onoyama suggested that it might best be treated as a subspecies of M. ruginodis.-External links:*...
Forel - M. kozlovi Ruzsky
- M. kryzhanovskii Arnol'di
- M. kurokii Forel
- M. lacustris Ruzsky
- M. laevigata Smith
- M. laevinodisMyrmica laevinodisMyrmica laevinodis is a species of ant that closely resembles M. kotokui, and is at times difficult to distinguish, due to variation in morphology and color in M. kotokui. However, the unraised rugae on the posterodorsal portion of the mesonotum are usually characteristic, though some M. kotokui...
Nylander - M. laevissima Smith
- M. lampraMyrmica lampraMyrmica lampra is a species of ant found in Quebec, named in 1968 by Andre Francoeur. The species is evidently inquiline ....
Francoeur, 1968 - M. latifrons Starcke
- M. lobicornis Nylander
- M. lobifrons Pergande
- M. lonae Finzi
- M. longiscapus Curtis
- M. lampraMyrmica lampraMyrmica lampra is a species of ant found in Quebec, named in 1968 by Andre Francoeur. The species is evidently inquiline ....
Francoeur - M. lauraeMyrmica lauraeMyrmica laurae is a species of ant. It does not have a common name. The ant is found in Italy. It is considered vulnerable on the IUCN Red List....
Emery - M. lemasnei Bernard
- M. luctuosa Smith,F.
- M. luteola Kupyanskaya
- M. magniceps
- M. margaritae Emery
- M. martensi Radchenko and Elmes
- M. mellea Smith
- M. mexicana Wheeler, W.M.
- M. microrubra Seifert
- M. minkii Förster
- M. minuta Ruzsky
- M. mirabile Elmes & Radchenko
- M. mirabilis Elmes & Radchenko
- M. modesta Smith
- M. molesta
- M. molifaciens
- M. monticola Creighton
- M. myrmicoxena Forel
- M. nearctica Weber
- M. nitida Radchenko
- M. ominosa Gerstaecker
- M. ordinaria Radchenko
- M. orthostyla Arnol’di
- M. pachei Forel
- M. parallela Smith
- M. pellucida Smith
- M. pelops Seifert
- M. petita Radchenko
- M. pharaonisMyrmica pharaonisMyrmica pharaonis is a species of ant native to West Africa, but it has been introduced to Asia, Europe, Central America, South America, North America and Australia....
- M. pinetorum Wheeler
- M. pisarskii Radchenko
- M. punctiventris Roger
- M. quebecensis Francoeur
- M. radchenkoi Bharti and Sharma
- M. ravasinii Finzi
- M. reticulata Smith
- M. rhytida Radchenko
- M. rigatoi Radchenko and Elmes
- M. ritae Emery
- M. rubraMyrmica rubraMyrmica rubra, also known as the European fire ant or common red ant, is a species of ant of the genus Myrmica, found all over Europe and in some parts of North America and Asia. They are mainly red in colour, with slightly darker pigmentation on the head. The ants live under stones, fallen trees,...
Linnaeus - M. ruginodisMyrmica ruginodisMyrmica ruginodis is a species of ant that lives in northern parts of Europe and Asia. It is very similar to M. rubra, but has a more northerly and higher-altitude distribution. Overwintering larvae may become either workers or queen ants, with up to 20 queens living in a colony of up to 2,500...
Nylander - M. rugiventris Smith
- M. rugosa Mayr
- M. rugulosa Nylander
- M. rugulososcabrinodis Karawajew
- M. rupestris Forel
- M. sabuletiMyrmica sabuletiMyrmica sabuleti is a species of ant. The species is indigenous to Europe and most colonies are polygynous. The Large Blue butterfly caterpillar parasitically prey on the species as it hatchess on thyme buds and then tricks the ants into believing it is one of their own larvae, ants then carry it...
Meinert - M. salina Ruzsky
- M. samnitica Mei
- M. saposhnikovi Ruzsky
- M. scabrinodis Nylander
- M. schencki Emery
- M. seminigra Cresson
- M. serica Wheeler, W.M
- M. silvestrii Wheeler, W.M
- M. sinensis Radchenko, A.G., Zhou,S., and Elmes, G.W.
- M. sinica Wu and Wang
- M. smythiesii Forel
- M. spatulata Smith
- M. specioides Bondroit
- M. stangeana Ruzsky
- M. striatula Nylander
- M. striolagaster Cole
- M. sulcinodis Nylander
- M. suspiciosa Smith
- M. symbiotica Menozzi
- M. taediosa Bolton
- M. tahoensis Wheeler
- M. taibaiensis Wei, Zhou and Liu, 2001
- M. tamarae ElmesRadchenko and Aktac
- M. tenuispina Ruzsky
- M. tibetana Mayr
- M. titanica Radchenko
- M. transsibirica Radchenko
- M. trinodis Losana
- M. tschekanovskiiMyrmica tschekanovskiiMyrmica tschekanovskii is a species of ant, one of around 200 known species of the genus Myrmica which is widespread throughout the temperate regions of the Holarctic. It was first described in 1994 by Dr Alexander Radchenko, of the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology in Ukraine....
Radchenko - M. tulinae Elmes, Radchenko, and Aktac
- M. turcica Santschi
- M. unifasciata Bostock
- M. urbanii Radchenko
- M. vandeli Bondroit
- M. vastator Smith
- M. vexator Smith
- M. villosa Radchenko and Elmes
- M. vittata Radchenko and Elmes
- M. wardi Radchenko
- M. wesmaeli Bondroit
- M. wheeleri Weber
- M. whymperi Forel
- M. williamsi Radchenko
- M. winteraeMyrmica winteraeMyrmica winterae is a species of insect in family Formicidae. It is endemic to Switzerland.-Source:* Social Insects Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 10 August 2007....
(Kutter, 1973) - M. wittmeri Radchenko
- M. yamanei Radchenko
- M. yoshiokai Weber
- M. zojae Radchenko