Myrmica Latreille, 1804

Ivanov, Kaloyan, Hightower, Liberty, Dash, Shawn T. & Keiper, Joe B., 2019, 150 years in the making: first comprehensive list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Virginia, USA, Zootaxa 4554 (2), pp. 532-560 : 548-549

Myrmica Latreille

With the exception of the widespread M. punctiventris , the members of this essentially cold climate genus are collected infrequently in Virginia. André Francoeur is working on a much-needed revision of the Nearctic members of this genus and we have chosen to follow his preliminary findings in our species accounts below (see also Ellison et al. 2012).

americana Weber. Accomack, Clarke, Fairfax, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Prince William (MCZ), “ Occoquan Falls ” (MCZ), “ Virginia ” (MCZ). Literature records: Accomack ( Weber 1948), “ Virginia ” ( Peck et al. 1998, Guenard et al. 2012).

Distribution of this species in Virginia is unclear, confounded with the undescribed M. AF- eva. We have not collected, or examined specimens of, this species in Virginia.

emeryana Forel. Fairfax, Montgomery, Pulaski (UCM, VMNH). Literature records: Bath, Fairfax ( Weber 1948, Kjar & Barrows 2004, Kjar 2009), “ Shenandoah Mt. Park, Skyline Dr. ” ( Weber 1948), “ Virginia ” ( Guenard et al. 2012).

Distribution of this species in Virginia is unclear; confounded with the undescribed M. AF- smi.

*AF- eva. Frederick: 9.x.1966, McClanahan leg.; Hanover: Ashland, Randolph-Macon College campus, 19.x.1999, S Mcgregor leg.; Poor Farm Park, Rt. 54; 2 mi W of Randolph-Macon College, 9.x.2003, J Silcox leg.; Montgomery: 1966, FL Munra leg. (VMNH).

This undescribed species is found in dry-mesic to mesic grasslands and disturbed habitats such as old fields ( Ellison et al. 2012). Historically it has been commonly confused with Myrmica americana .

fracticornis Forel. Literature records: “ Virginia ” ( Weber 1948).

pinetorum Wheeler, W.M. Literature records: Augusta ( Wang et al. 2000), “ Virginia ” ( Francoeur 2007, Guenard et al. 2012).

punctiventris Roger. Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Caroline, Craig, Fairfax, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Henry, Madison, Patrick, Prince Edward, Rockingham, Scott, Shenandoah , Suffolk, Sussex, Virginia Beach (JTLC, USNM, USNPS, VMNH). Literature records: Albemarle, Augusta, Fairfax, Virginia Beach ( Weber 1950, Wang et al. 2000, Kjar & Barrows 2004, Kjar 2009, Guenard & Drew 2011, Kjar & Park 2016), “ Virginia ” ( Mayr 1886, Emery 1895, Francoeur 2007, Guenard et al. 2012).

*AF- smi. Accomack: Tangier Is., near Dump Road, 37.82756° N, - 75.99978° W, 0 m, 4.vi.2015, JB Keiper leg., Winkler litter extraction, small wooded patch at the edge of disturbed coastal marsh (VMNH); Fairfax: Great Falls, 38° 59.2´N, 77° 14.9´W, 38 m, 3.viii.2008, J Sosa leg., leaf litter (USNM); Highland: George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, 38.30694° N, - 79.76972° W, 950 m, 18.vii.2016, K Ivanov leg., KI2640, strays in leaf litter, upland dry mixed forest with open understory (VMNH); Rockingham: Shenandoah National Park, nr. Two Mile Run Overlook, 38.29727°N, - 78.64934°W, 864m, 7-21.ix.2016, K Ivanov, L Hightower, JB Keiper, ND Moncrief leg., pitfall traps, montane oak-hickory forest; Shenandoah National Park, nr. Two Mile Run Overlook, 38.29727°N, - 78.64934°W, 864 m, 3-19.v.2017, K Ivanov, L Hightower, JB Keiper leg., pitfall traps, montane oak-hickory forest; Shenandoah National Park, nr. Two Mile Run Overlook, 38.29727°N, - 78.64934°W, 864 m, 5-19.ix.2017, K Ivanov, L Hightower, JB Keiper leg., ground foragers and foragers at peanut butter and jelly baits, pitfall traps, montane oak-hickory forest (USNPS); Tazewell: Burke’s Garden, 910m, 20.viii.1979, C Kugler leg. (RUIC).

This undescribed species prefers dry to mesic deciduous woodlands and mixed forests ( Ellison et al. 2012) and is also occasionally found in grasslands and old fields.

spatulata Smith, M.R. Fauquier, Madison, Rockingham (JTLC, STDC, VMNH). Literature records: “ Virginia ” ( Guenard et al. 2012).