Myrmica sabuleti Meinert

8. Myrmica sabuleti Meinert, 1861

Figs. 14,34,39,50,56,66.

Myrmica sabuleti Meinert, 1861:327.

Worker. Reddish brown. Antennal scapes are sharply angulate with a longitudinal keel running forward from the bend and a more or less massive lateral extension, which in Scandinavian samples is frequently curved up to appear as a large semiupright tooth seen from behind. The petiole node is more rounded and usually less truncate than in M. scabrinodis Nyl. and the epinotal spines are relatively longer but these features are too variable for certain discrimination between the species in all cases. Head Index: 85.6; Frons Index: 36.8; Frontal Lamina Index: 66.5. Length: 4.0-5.0 mm. Queen. As worker. Length: 5.5-6.5 mm.

Male. Large and robust, with the antennal scape equal in length to between 4 and 5 following funiculus segments. Appendage hairs are shorter than in M. scabrinodis and on the antennae do not exceed their appendage width. Length: 5.0-6.0 mm.

Distribution. Local in Denmark, South and Central Sweden, South Norway and South Finland. Locally common in the British Isles including Scotland and Ireland. - Range: South Europe to Central Scandinavia, Portugal to Urals.

Biology. This is a robust species usually nesting in sun exposed sheltered sites, often in groups of small nests each containing up to a 1000 or more workers with a few queens. It is characteristically larger and more brightly coloured than the similar M. scabrinodis and easy to distinguish in Scandinavia where the scape development is relatively massive equivalent to the form described as var. lonae Finzi. Nests are usually located under stones but unlike M. scabrinodis seldom or never in tree stumps or in boggy land.