Myrmica tulinae Elmes, Radchenko & Aktaç, 2002

From Elmes et.al, (2002) [1]

Workers .Head slightly longer than broad, with weakly convex sides and occipital margin, and rounded occipital corners. Anterior clypeal margin broadly rounded, not prominent and without notch medially Frontal carinae strongly curved, frons quite narrow (similar to that of M. sabuleti Meinert). Antennal scape relatively short, strongly angulate at its base, with quite large horizontal lobe (similar M. sabuleti). Mandibles with 7-9 teeth.Alitrunk with slightly flattened promesonotal dorsum; promesonotal suture indistinct from above metanotal groove distinct, wide and deep. Propodeal spines relatively long, acute and straight, not curving downwards, wide at base, not divergent (seen from above), projecting  backwards at an angle less than 45°. In profile, anterior surface of petiole concave, meets with dorsal surface at  an angle about  90°; dorsal surface flattened, inclined  posteriorly, forming distinct plate. Postpetiole somewhat shorter than high, with convex dorsum. Spurs on middle and hind tibiae (at least in part of type series) partly reduced and with reduced pectination. Head dorsum with longitudinal, divergent rugae, only occiput with reticulation. Antennal   sockets  usually not surrounded by rugae, or at most only fine concentric striation. Clypeus with fine longitudinal rugulae.  Alitrunk  with longitudinal, more or less straight rugae but pronotal dorsum with more sinuous rugae. Rugae on petiole longitudinal, those  of postpetiole longitudinally - concentric. Surfaces between rugae on the body smooth and shiny.  Hairs of the head margins and alitrunk dorsum abundant, erect to suberect, quite long and slightly curved;  antennal scape with suberect and tibiae with short sub decumbent hairs.The overall colour reddish, appendages somewhat  lighter.

Queens. Generally like workers in shape of head, character of sculpture, colour and pilosity of the  body except they have a relatively slightly wider head slightly coarser  sculpture, a more or less straight anterior surface of the petiole, and propodeal spines that are wider at their base.

Males Head usually (but not always) slightly longer than broad, with convex occipital margin and sides, and gradually rounded occipital corners; anterior clypeal  margin widely rounded, not prominent medially. Frontal carinae not strongly curved. Antennal scape very short ( even shorter than M. Scabrinodis Nylander) antennae 13-jointed antennal club distinctly 5-jointed. Masticatory margin of mandibles distinct, with 5-7 acute teeth.
Frons and lateral parts of head dorsum with fine longitudinal rugulae; surface of head densely punctured, appearing dull; clypeus with finer punctation; short sinuous rugae and reticulation only on rear (upper) part of head dorsum. Central part of scutum behind Mayr's furrows with fine longitudinal striation; scutellum longitudinally rugulose. Pro- and mesopleurae with fine striation, propodeum  more densely rugulose. Sides of petiole and postpetiole with longitudinal rugae, their dorsal surfaces with only fine striation. Surface of alitrunk and waist between striation and rugae  smooth and shiny, only propleurae with fine punctation.
Head margins and mandibles with very long, abundant, curved erect hairs. Alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole and gaster with less abundant and  shorter  erect  to  suberect hairs. Legs with very long, curved erect hairs. Legs with very long, curved erect hairs (like M.scubriodis) antennal scape and first 7 funicular joints with long, curved erect hairs, joints of antennal club with very short subdecumbent hairs. Colour of body  blackish-brown to black, appendages somewhat lighter.

References