Formica clara sinae Emery, 1925

Seifert, B. & Schultz, R., 2009, A taxonomic revision of the Formica rufibarbis Fabricius, 1793 group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Myrmecologische Nachrichten 12, pp. 255-272 : 265-266

Formica clara sinae Emery, 1925 stat. n.

Formica rufibarbis var. sinae Emery, 1925 ; China: Shantung, Tsingtao. [replacement name for Formica rufibarbis var. orientalis Wheeler, 1923 , a junior primary homonym of Formica fusca ssp. orientalis Ruzsky, 1915 ] Type material examined: Three workers labelled "ShanTung', China Aug. 24 1922 A. P. - Jacot " [integrated interpretation from both handwritten labels of Jacot], " A. P. Jacot No. 2287", " Gift of W. M. Wheeler ", " M. C. Z. Type 1-3 21733", " var. orientalis Wheeler "; three further workers labelled "ShanTung', China Aug. 24 1922 A. P. - Jacot " [integrated interpretation from both badly handwritten labels of Jacot], " Gift of W. M. Wheeler ", " M. C. Z. Type 4-6 21733"; all MCZ Cambridge.

Material examined: 1 sample with 6 workers from China was subject to a numeric analysis of 18 characters (Fig. 23).

1 sample with 6 workers from China was subject to a numeric analysis of 18 characters. China: Shantung (type orientalis), 24.VIII.1922 [36.24° N, 120.32° E, coordinates estimated] .

Description of worker (based on the type sample): medium-sized Serviformica , CS 1.327 mm; pronotum more hairy than in F. clara s. str., nPN1.4 9.2. Propodeum plus dorsolateral metapleuron normally with one seta. Petiole narrower than in average F. clara s. str.: PEW / CS1.4 0.428. All other body dimensions near the average of the nominal form: CL / CW1.4 1.142, OceD / CS1.4 0.168, EYE / CS1.4 0.283, SL / CS1.4 1.060, nMN1.4 1.6, nPE1.4 2.5, nHFFL1.4 0.2, RipD1.4 4.2, sqPDG1.4 2.9. Clypeus with sharp median keel and longitudinal microcarinulae. Frontal triangle finely transversally rippled and with 40 - 60 pubescence hairs. Eyes with microsetae of 5 - 7 µ m maximum length. Ventral coxae and gaster tergites with long setae. Dorsal crest of petiole in frontal view convex, sometimes with straight median portion. In lateral aspect wedge-shaped, relatively small with more convex anterior and more straight posterior profile. Colouration as in the typical northern population of F. clara s. str.: light yellowish brown with darker vertex, dorsal pronotum and mesonotum, coxae only slightly more dark.

Comments on taxonomy: Though being most similar to F. clara s. str. in the majority of characters, the much more developed pronotal pilosity (nPN1.4 9.2) and some 2850 km distance from the next known population of F. clara s. str. makes it advisable to establish an East Chinese subspecies F. clara sinae . We cannot exclude that F. c. sinae could have species rank but testing this is prevented by lack of further sympatric material.

Distribution and biology: This subspecies is only known by the type series which was collected on the sand-flats west of Nu Ku Kow, Kiachou Bay, Quingdao (= Tsingtao), Shandong Province ( Wheeler 1923).