Although Myrmica spp. indicates all ants pertaining to Myrmica spp. except for Myrmica kotokui in this study, it is assumed that 96% of Myrmica spp. belongs to either Myrmica kurokii or Myrmica carinata (Kwon et al., 2012). However, there is a possibility that these two species are the same (Kwon et al., 2012). Because ant
taxonomists in Korea showed considerable differences on the
classification system of the Myrmica genus and there are likely a
few synonymous species (Kwon et al., 2012), species other than
Myrmica kotokui, which were remarkable in their shapes, were
classified into the same group of species, rather than dividing them
into uncertain species. Myrmica kotokui, which is the most abundant
species, is classified into a different species by some researchers
(e.g. Myrmica ruginodis by Dongpyo Ryu). Whereas
Myrmica kotokui occurred at the temperature zone of 3.2e11.4C,
Myrmica spp. occurred at higher temperatures of 4.5e12.1C
(Table 1). The reduction rate of this species is expected to be
smoother compared with Myrmica kotokui. This result comes from the fact that this species group is composed of several species.
Myrmica spp. (probably Myrmica kurokii) will exist at a low density
around the summits of high mountains in Gangwon-do, whereas
Myrmica kotokui will almost disappear by 2090 (Figure 7).