Myrmica hirsuta Elmes

Myrmica hirsuta Elmes, 1978 Fig. 68.

Myrmica hirsuta Elmes, 1978:131.

Queen. Similar to a microgyne M. sabuleti but distinguished by the laterally enlarged postpetiole, wider frons and excessive development of body hairs. Head width: 1.05 mm. Body length: 5.2 mm. Mean postpetiole width: 0.675 mm.

Male. Similar to M. sabuleti except in smaller size and more profuse body hairs. Length: 5.3 mm.

Distribution. Rare, Dorset, South England only.

Biology. This species was discovered by Elmes (1978) in a small group of colonies containing apparently normal M. sabuleti workers and in some cases normal queens. The small queens were at first assumed to be microgynes of M. sabuleti but body pilosity and relative postpetiole measurements were found to be outside the range of that species. In size and appearance M. hirsuta resembles M. myrmecoxena Forel found once only as a parasite of M. lobicornis in Switzerland and also has affinities with the similar but much larger Myrmica bibikoffi Kutter (1963).