EN
A taxonomic revision is made of the Palaearctic species of Myrmica belonging to the schencki-group. Three new species are described: M. siciliana (all castes) from Sicily, M. onoyamai (all castes) from Japan and M. inucta (workers only) from northwest Kazakhstan; also first descriptions are made of the sexual castes for two species: M. caucasicola (queen) and M. koreana (queens and males). Keys to the identification of both workers and males of all species, and maps of their distributions are provided. The distribution of the various species is discussed and it is suggested that the origins of extant Palaearctic schencki-group species is linked to the development of the Steppe Zone during the last 10 million years.