General description: Unfortunately, when I was working on the material for this catalogue, I was unable to reliably separate Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander, 1846 and Myrmica specioides Bondroit, 1918 as it was defined in the last revision of the genus (Radchenko, Elmes, 2010). In a study of a series of workers from a single nest, based on the indexes given in this revision, they could be identified as different species. It is possible that these species are reliably distinguished only by the features of males, in most cases not available. Obviously, the scabrinodis group in the Lower Volga Region requires additional study to clarify the composition and distribution of species of this group. M. scabrinodis “in the wide conception” is one of the most common species of ants in humid habitats (grasslands, forests, banks of water bodies) in the entire Lower Volga Region.

Radchenko, A. G.; Elmes, G. W. 2010. Myrmica ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Old World. Fauna Mundi 3. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 790 pp.