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Phalagorn: Myrmica sp. but what species? (20. Jul 2011 08:53)

I recently caught a bunch of these ants in Hörby, Skåne, in southern Sweden.
I guess it is a Myrmica sp. ?, but what species?

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/18-4.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/17-4.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/19-3.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/110.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/111.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/112.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/113.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/1-33.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/12-6.jpg

I also took a few pictures with the microscope.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/13-5.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/14-3.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/15-4.jpg

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z388/phala2/16-4.jpg

Pi.Ag3: Re: Myrmica sp. but what species? (20. Jul 2011 12:26)

It seems as if you have caught Myrmica rubra, but I'm not 100% sure because I don't know which species of Myrmica live in swede.

Greetings, Phil

Phalagorn: Re: Myrmica sp. but what species? (20. Jul 2011 13:20)

It seems as if you have caught Myrmica rubra, but I'm not 100% sure because I don't know which species of Myrmica live in swede.

Greetings, Phil

There are 15 species of Myrmica living in Sweden:

Myrmica gallienii
Myrmica hellenica
Myrmica hirsuta
Myrmica karavajevi
Myrmica lobicornis
Myrmica lonae
Myrmica rubra
Myrmica ruginodis
Myrmica rugulosa
Myrmica sabuleti
Myrmica scabrinodis
Myrmica schencki
Myrmica specioides
Myrmica sulcinodis
Myrmica vandeli

Pi.Ag3: Re: Myrmica sp. but what species? (20. Jul 2011 17:45)

Then my guess, Myrmica rubra, should be correct.
Very commendable pictures, by the way!

Greetings, Phil

Phalagorn: Re: Myrmica sp. but what species? (21. Jul 2011 13:37)

Then my guess, Myrmica rubra, should be correct.
Very commendable pictures, by the way!

Greetings, Phil

Thanks!
Can you tell me what you base this on, that it is Myrmica rubra ? I would like to know the details of where to look for to determine the species of this correct. I would be pleased to see pictures of the key to Myrmica spp. Would you please refer to further information or references, where you can compare the specimens? Thanks in advance.

Pi.Ag3: Re: Myrmica sp. but what species? (21. Jul 2011 14:47)

Hi Phalagorn,

okay, it try to explain. The first thing you have to do is to take a look at the base of the scapus (first antenna segment). If it's not curved for more than 40°, and there is no strange deformation, the species is either Myrmica rubra or ruginodis.
Here are some picture for better understanding:
Myrmica rubra
NOT Myrmica rubra/ruginodis but M. sabuleti , also NOT Myrmica rubra/ruginodis

To distinguish Myrmica rubra from ruginodis you take a look at the petiole and the thorns. The thorns of M. ruginodis are normally bigger than those of M. rubra, the petiole of M. ruginodis looks a bit more "clunky" (in side view). Difficult to describe because I've also a problem with the correct vocabulary.
View of the petiole and postpetiole of Myrmica rubra

The key for Myrmica spp. is in Seifert's book "Die Ameisen Nord- und Mitteleuropas".
Also helpfull for specimens compare is antweb, see e.g. http://www.antweb.org/description.do?rank=species&name=rubra&genus=myrmica&project=austriaants or http://www.antweb.org/description.do?rank=species&name=ruginodis&genus=myrmica&project=austriaants

Greetings, Phil