Myrmica specioides Bondroit

11. Myrmica specioides Bondroit, 1918

Figs. 30,36,48,54.

Myrmica specioides Bondroit, 1918:100.

Myrmica scabrinodis ssp. rugulosa var. rugulosoides Forel, 1915:29.

Myrmica rugulosoides var. striata Finzi, 1926:117.

Myrmica puerilis Starcke, 1942:24.

Myrmica balcanica Sadil, 1951:253.

Myrmica balcanica var. scabrinoides Sadil, 1951:255.

Worker. Yellow red to reddish brown. Antennal scapes sharply angulate at bend with a more or less distinct lateral expansion. Petiole narrow, rectangular from above, in side view sloping evenly from the anterodorsal crest to its junction with the postpetiole. Postpetiole spherical almost cubical in side view, only slightly higher than wide. Head Index: 84.6; Frons Index: 40.6; Frontal Laminae Index: 78.3. Length: 3.0-4.5 mm. Queen. As worker. Length: 5.0-5.5 mm.

Male. With short scape equal in length to three following segments; appendages more slender than in M. scabrinodis with hairs not longer than their appendage width, those on the underside of the hind tarsae being distinctly shorter than those on the extensor surface; petiole low with shallow dorsal curvature. Length: 5.0 mm.

Distribution. Rare. Denmark: LFM, R0dby, sand dunes, 1 colony Sept. 1974. - Finland: N, Taktom; Ab, Rymatylla. - England: East Kent only. - Range: Spain to W. Russia; Italy to South Finland.

Biology. This is a rather local species in Europe but likely to be overlooked through confusion with M. scabrinodis in the female castes and may well occur in other areas of southern Fennoscandia. It is a more slender species with a broader frons, narrow petiole and more spherical postpetiole. The male resembles that of M. rugulosa but has the petiole longer and lower with a much flattened dorsal area. In England and Denmark nests occurred in coastal sand and gravel banks with a simple entrance hole. Workers behave more aggressively than M. scabrinodis and sting freely. Alatae have been found in August and September.