Myrmica cagnianti, a new ant from North Africa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

8 Pages·1996·0.34 MB·English

by  Espadaler, X.

Misceliania Zool6gica 19.1 (1996) 67
Myrmica new
cagnianti, a ant
from North Africa (Hymenoptera,
Formicidae)
X. Espadaler
Espadaler, X., 1996. Myrmica cagnianti, a new ant from North Africa (Hymenoptera,
Formicidae). /\4isc. ZooL, 19.1: 67-74.
Myrmica cagnianti, a new ant from North Africa (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).- Myrmica
cagnianti, a Moroccan ant, is proposed as a new species. It is characterized by its scape
without lobulated extension, fine pilosity, absence of tibial spurs II and III and the shape
of the petiole node. Differences from M. aloba Forel, M. specioides Bondroit and M.
scabrinodis Nylander are described. The males of this new species are very similar to M.
scabrinodisma\es. Cephalic indices provide a good way to discriminate between M. cagnianti
and related species. The social parasite Myrmica Icabylica (Cagniant) has been found in a
nest of this new species, constituting the second record for this rare ant.
Key words: Myrmica, New species, Formicidae, Maghreb.
(Rebut: 17 XI 95; Acceptacio definitiva: 2 I 96)
Xavier Espadaler, Dept de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Univ. Autdnoma
de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Espanya (Spain).
Introduction ruginodis Nylander from Tebessa (Santschi,
1910); M. scabrinodis Nylander from
Several Myrmica species from North Af- Tebessa (Forel, 1890) and from Tonga
rica have been recorded. These include Lake, Algeria (Gvgniant, 1969); M. sabuleti
M. aloba Forel from Morocco (Santschi, Meinert was referred to as a tramp spe-
1931a, 1936, 1939; CoLLiNGwooD, 1963) and cles in North Africa (Emery, 1921); M.
Tunis (Santschi, 1931b); M. rubra L. from rolandi Bondroit (a synonym of M.
the Higher Atlas (Cagniant, 1962); M. scabrinodis; Seifert, 1988) from Tunis
©
1996 Museu de Zoologia
68 Espadaler
(Santschi, 1925, 1929). However, Santschi year or less: head, thorax, legs and
(1936) himself doubted the iden-tification pedicels reddish brown; gaster dark
of M. aloba in the absence of males and brown. Older workers: head, thorax and
there is also doubt about the correct gaster dark brown; legs and pedicels
identification of some ofthe older records reddish brown. Pilosity finer and longer
of this and other species, some of which than in M. aloba and other European
at least should probably be referred to Myrmica (15 species compared), specially
the new species proposed here. on the gaster.
TrueM. aloba is a common Iberian spe- Scapesharply bent nearthe base, with-
cies. Recent capture of sexuals with asso- out any lobar extension; scape thinner
ciatedworkers have madeafullerdescrip- than inM. aloba. External borderofscape
tion possible (TiNAUT & Espadaler, 1987). with preponderantlysubdecumbent hairs.
AbundantIberian materialcompared with Head indices, see table 2. Frontal trian-
samplestaken atOukaimeden, HigherAt- gle smooth and shining in the first 2/3,
las, Morocco, appear to differ at specific with 1-4 short striae at the apex. Dorsal
level. The new species, with the scape median surfaceofthe head longitudinally
having no lobar extension at the bend is striate, becoming reticulate laterally; spe-
so reminiscent of that of M. aloba that it cies between frontal striae smooth and
may be advisable to check all previous shining; spaces between lateral reticle,
African material. Citations of M. aloba superficially sculptured.
from Algeria (Cagniant, 1968, 1973) cor- Thorax longitudinallystriate, thespaces
respond to this new species. between striae smooth and shining; pro-
podeal spineslong,fineandslightlycurved
downwards when viewed from side and
Material and Methods diverging from above. Mesopropodeal
furrow shallow. Tibial spurs from middle
Measurements were made with a Nikon and hind legsverypoorlydeveloped, nearly
binocular microscope and scaled eyepiece, absent; in a few examples from Algeria
mm
accurate to 0.025 (table 1). thespurs maybe nearnormallydeveloped.
Indices used arethose ofArnoldi (1934): Petiole in profile with distinctly concave
- Head Index: width of the head at the anteriorface, similartoM. specioidesBon-
anterior margin of the eyes x 100 /length droit; the node sloping backwards from
of the head; the dorsal crest, without a distinct step;
- Frontal Index: width of the forehead x viewed from above its sides converge
100 / width of the head; anteriorly. Postpetiole globose to sub-
- Frontal laminae Index: width of the eliptical from above, distinctlywid-erthan
forehead x 100 / width of the frontal the petiole; postero-dorsal face ofpetiole
laminae. finelyreticulate rugose; post-petiolerugose
- Buschinger's Index: distance from propo- with striae converging posteriorly. Gaster
deal spiracle to the tip of the spines / smooth and shining.
distance from propodeal spiracle to the
descent face of propodeum in profile. Female (fig. 3)
Lg 5.8-6.0 mm; colour similartothe worker
but the head darker, specially the clypeus
Results and front, and two dark parapsidal strips
and a middle anterior zone of scutum,
Myrmica cagnianti n. sp. posterior border of scutum and a dark
spot at the posterior zone of the anpis-
Worker (figs. 1, 2, 5, 6) ternum. Pilosity very fine, as in workers.
Lg 3.7-4.7 mm; general habitus of most Scape, clypeus and head sculpture as in
European Myrmica. Colour ofworkers one workers; head indices, see table 2. Thorax
'
Miscel-l^nia Zooldgica 19.1 (1996) 69
* Tabfe 1. Myrmita caghlanti n. ip. Wjeahs andfstarid^V^jdeyiation ofeight
l' chard^cters measured on'workeri (w^ ri's47}-q\jeeTisWf*±9) and males (m; n
': Myrmica cagnianti sp. n. Mediaydesvihiidh estshdarde bcho caracteres
' medidos en obreras (w, n =47), reinas(f; n = 9}ymachos (m; n = 4).
,,.,.- ratio to
Characters mean- \,.s.d/'vi5ead width s.d.
i
Head width beliind eyes ,;. vl\. ,..•'-•- ~:H J
.
w r
0.«15 0.025
f
1.025 0.010
.
m V t-Aig
0.731 0.037
:
Head length
w
1.050 0.052 1.195 0.020
.
f 1.201 0.018 1.170 0.020
m
' f'l^v ^- l
.
70 Espadaler
longitudinally rough, brilliant between infuscated basal halfand brownish veins.
rugae;spinessomewhatshorterthan inthe Closed discoidal cell and half partitioned
worker (see Buschinger's index, table 2). cubital cell. Petiole and postpetiole simi-
Tibial spurs comparatively less devel- lar to the worker but the dorsal face of
oped than inMyrmica queens.Wingswith the node with a small step in side view.
Figs- 1-5. Myrmica cagnidntl n. sp.: 1. Petiole and postpetiole of worker, side
view, pilosity omitted; 2. Three examples from the same colony; 3. Petiole and
postpetiole of female, side view, pilosity omitted; 4. Petiole and postpetiole
of male, side view, pilosity omitted; 5. Scape of worker, upper and frontal
view.
Myrmica cagnianti sp. n,: f. Pecioloypospedolo de la obrera, vista lateral, se
omite lapilosidad;2. Tresejemplos de la misma colonia; 3. Pecioloypospedolo
de la hembra, vista lateral, se omite la pilosidad; 4. Peciolo y pospedolo del
macho, vista lateral, se omite lapilosidad; 5. Escapo de la obrera, vista superior
y frontal.
Miscell^nia Zooldgica 19.1 (1996) 71
Male (figs. 4, 6, 7, 9-12) antennae, mandibles and tarsi brownish
Lg 4.2-4.6 mm; head and thorax brown- yellow. Abundant long hairs on all ap-
ish; coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, peti- pendages, longer than their maximum
ole, postpetiole and gaster slightly lighter; width; hind tarsal hairs subequal on ail
Figs. 6-12. Myrmica cagnianti n. sp.: 6. Male antenna; 7. Front leg of male;
8. Mid and hind tibiae of worker showing reduced{(purs, pilosity'd>nitted;9.
Aedeagus; 10. External paramera; 11. Volsella; 12. Subgenitafplate.
'.l';
Myrmica cagnianti sp. n.:€. Antena delmacho;7. Pata anteriordelmacho;
8. Tibias media y posterior de la obrera mostrando espolones reducidos, se
omite la pilosidad; 9. Edeago; 10. Parimero externo; 11. Volsella; 12. Placa
subgenital.
72 Espadaler
Table 2. Myrmica cagnlanti n.sp.
Biometrical Indices. Mean (s.d.).
Myrmica cagniati n. sp. indices
biomitricos. Media (desviaci6n
esteindar)
Miscell^nia Zoologica 19.1 (1996) 73
Discussion Biological notes
Taxonomic position M. cagnianti nests in humid spots, ap-
parently in all mountain chains of Mo-
Worlcers have scapes similar to those rocco and Algeria as could be expected
of M. aloba. In M. cagnianti body size for this genus in a dry region, except
is smaller, the sculpture is longitudinal Anti Atlas. In May, nests have always been
with the interspaces very shiny, the found in biotopes near permanent wa-
pilosity is finer and the meso-propodeal ter streams.
furrow less developed. The best way Societies are polygynous (up to 34
to discriminate the two species, besides queens in a nest from Oukaimeden).
cephalic indices, is by the near absence The nest from Sou Iblane was heavily
of tibial spurs and the shape of the parasitized by Myrmica icabylica (Cagni-
petiole which is not truncated above ant, 1970). In a non exhaustive search 38
in M. cagnianti. The petiole is also malesand 106femaleswerecollected.This
narrower in M. cagnianti [mean ± sd social parasitewas previouslyknown only
PE/HW(petiole width/head width): 0.24± from Tala Guilef, Algeria.
0.008; measured as in Seifert, 1988]. It
differs from M. scabrinodis by its non
angulate scape, the shape of the peti-
ole and the cephalic indices and from Resumen
M. specioides also by its scape and ce-
phalic indices. Myrmica cagniati, una nueva hormiga del
Females of M. cagnianti differ from norte de Africa (Hymenoptera, Formi-
M. aloba by the scape petiole shape [PE/ cidae)
HW
(petiole width/head width): 0.27±
0.008) and pilosity in similar ways as Se propone a Myrmica cagnianti, una hor-
workers and from M. scabrinodis by the miga de Marruecos, como una nueva
scape, petiole shape and cephalic indi- especie.
ces. Se caracteriza por el escapo sin exten-
Males of M. cagnianti differ from M. sion lobulada, pilosidad fina, ausencia de
aloba by the shape of the petiole, which espolones tibiales II y III y por la forma del
is likethat ofM. scabrinodisand the long nodo del peciolo (figs. 1-5, 6-12). Se descri-
appendage pilosity separates M. ben las diferencias con M. aloba Forel, M.
cagnianti from M. specioides. They are specioides Bondroit y M. scabrinodis
smaller, with a relatively shorter head Nylander. Los machos de esta nueva espe-
and narrower alitrunk but otherwisevery cie son muy similares a los de M.
difficult to separate from the similarM. scabrinodis. Los indices cefalicos constitu-
scabrinodis. yen un buen metodo para discriminar en-
The group of Myrmica species with tre M. cagnianti y especies relacionadas.
bent scape without lobar extensions or El parasito social Myrmica kabylica
with slight angle should be cosidered (Cagniant) ha sido encontrado en el nido
with care asseparate new morphospecies de esta nueva especie, constituyendo la
may perhaps be recognized. Identifica- segunda cita para esta rara hormiga.
tion of species belonging to this group,
if made with scarce material and in ab-
sence ofwinged forms, is difficult. Work- Acicnowledgements
ers are extremely alike in spite of being
structurally rich, and proper naming is I am indebted to C. A. Collingwood
very much helped with biometrical analy- (Leeds) for a critical reading of the
sis. manuscript.
74 Espadaler
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