Myrmica scabrinodis explained

Myrmica scabrinodis is a Euro-Siberian species of ant. It lives in moderately humid habitats, tolerates soil moisture but also needs direct sunshine. It often inhabits peat bogs. It builds nests in the ground, in grass or moss tussocks, even under stones or in rotten wood. Its colonies are monogynous or have only a few queens and may contain about 2500 workers. This ant species is the main host of the entomopathogenic fungus Rickia wasmannii. Phengaris caterpillars are primary threats of M. scabrinodis with specific species such as Phengaris arion developing a predatory relationship.^[1]

Subspecies^[2]

• Myrmica scabrinodis scabrinodis
• Myrmica scabrinodis scabrinodosabuleti

References

• Csata E et al. (2013) Comprehensive survey of Romanian myrmecoparasitic fungi: new species, biology and distribution. North-Western Journal of Zoology 9 (1): no. 131101.
• Csősz S, Markó B, Gallé L 2011. The myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Hungary: an updated checklist North-Western Journal of Zoology 7: 55–62.
• Czekes Z et al. 2012. The genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Romania: distribution of species and key for their identification Entomologica romanica 17: 29–50.

Notes and References

1. Sielezniew. Marcin . Dario Patricelli . Izabela Dziekańska . Francesca Barbero . Simona Bonelli . Luca Pietro Casacci . Magdalena Witek . Emilio Balletto . The First Record of Myrmica lonae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as a Host of the Socially Parasitic Large Blue Butterfly Phengaris (Maculinea)* arion (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Sociobiology. 2010. 56. 465–475.
2. Web site: Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander 1846. https://web.archive.org/web/20071001051146/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=80820. dead. October 1, 2007. Fauna Europaea. 18 June 2012.