Temnothorax mongolicus ( PISARSKI , 1969)

Temnothorax mongolicus ( PISARSKI, 1969)

( Fig. 32 View Figs 32–41 )

Leptothorax serviculus mongolicus PISARSKI, 1969 b: 301 View in CoL , workers, Mongolia: Songino, 24 km SW from Ulan-Bator; Uburchangaj aimak, Changai Distr., 18 km S from Somon Chužirt; DLUSSKY & PISARSKI, 1970: 86.

Leptothorax mongolicus View in CoL : RADCHENKO, 1994 b: 156 [raised to species rank]; 1995 b: 18 (queens, males); BOLTON, 1995: 241.

Leptothorax serviculus RUZSKY View in CoL : KUPYANSKAYA, 1990: 140; TERAYAMA et al., 1992: 28; KIM, 1996: 177; 2003: 2; LYU & CHO, 2003: 273, nec RUZSKY, 1902 et auct. (misidentification).

Temnothorax mongolicus : BOLTON, 2003: 271.

Material examined: 3 workers ( holotype and paratypes), Mongolia , Songino , 24 km SW from Ulan-Bator, 22.v.1962, No 3299, leg. R. BIELAWSKI & B. PISARSKI;; paratypes: 4 workers, Mongolia , Uburchangaj aimak, Changai Distr. , 18 km S from Somon Chužirt, 1830 m a.s.l., 29.vi.1964, No. 223, leg. Z. KASZAB ( MIZ, HNHM); non-type material: several tens workers, 4 queens, 4 males from Mongolia , South Siberia and North Korea .

Distribution. Mongolia, Chita and Amur Regions of Russia, North Korea.

Ecology. It inhabits steppes, dry meadows and dry lighted sparse forests; nests are built in soil.

Notes. T. mongolicus most resembles T. pisarskii (see Notes under the latter). COLLINGWOOD (1976) determined a couple of specimens from North Korea as L. serviculus , but really they belong to T. mongolicus (material in HNHM, examined). This mistake was repeated by TERAYAMA et al. (1992) and by KIM (1996, 2003).