Temnothorax mongolicus

Temnothorax mongolicus (PISARSKI, 1969) (Fig. 32) Leptothorax serviculus mongolicus PISARSKI, 1969 b: 301, 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: RADCHENKO, 1994 b: 156 [raised to species rank]; 1995 b: 18 (queens, males); BOLTON, 1995: 241. Leptothorax serviculus RUZSKY: 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).