Myrmecina silvampla, Shattuck, Steve, 2009

Shattuck, Steve, 2009, A revision the Australian species of the ant genus Myrmecina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 2146, pp. 1-21 : 15

Myrmecina silvampla sp. n.

( Figs 5 , 7 , 32–34 , 47 )

Types. Holotype worker from 2.0km WNW Cape Tribulation (Site 2), 16°05’S 145°28’E, 50m, Queensland, 3 Oct. 1982, Monteith, Yeates & Thompson, QM Berlesate No. 447, rainforest, sieved litter (ANIC, ANIC32- 047355); 1 paratype ergatoid, same data as holotype (ANIC, ANIC32-047243).

Diagnosis. Sculpturing “V”-shaped on pronotum grading into “U”-shaped on mesonotum; body larger (HW> 0.8mm). This species can be separated from all other known Australian species by the combination of “V”-shaped sculpturing on the mesonotum and the large body size.

Worker description. Antennal scapes smooth. First segment of funiculus cone-shaped. Sides of head behind compound eyes smooth. Sculpturing on dorsal surface of mesosoma narrowly “V”-shaped anteriorly and broadly “V”-shaped posteriorly. Carinae extending continuously from the dorsal surface onto the lateral surfaces of the mesosoma. Metanotal spines long. Propodeal spines long. Erect hairs abundant, straight, relatively long. Colour dark brown-black, antennae, mandibles, anterior section of head, lower sections of mesosoma, legs and tip of gaster yellow.

Measurements. Worker (n = 1) — CI 95; HL 0.87; HW 0.82; MTL 0.50; SI 95; SL 0.78; WL 1.02.

Comments. This rare Far North Queensland rainforest species is known from a single collection consisting of two specimens, one a worker and the other an ergatoid (with an enlarged mesosoma).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Fig. 7, graph of scape length versus head width for M. silvampla, silvangula, silvarugosa, livelaeva and silvatransversa.

FIGURES 5 – 6. Fig. 5, graph of head length versus head width for M. ampla, eruga, orbicula and pumila; Fig. 6, graph of head length versus head width for M. difficulta and the remaining Australian species.

FIGURES 29 – 34. Myrmecina silvalaeva sp. n. worker. Fig. 29, front of head; Fig. 30, lateral view of body; Fig. 31, dorsal view of body. Myrmecina silvampla sp. n worker. Fig. 32, front of head; Fig. 33, lateral view of body; Fig. 34, dorsal view of body.

FIGURES 47 – 52. Distribution of material examined during this study. Fig. 47, M. alpina, M. pumila, M. silvalaeva, M. silvampla, M. silvangula, M. silvarugosa and M. silvatransversa; Fig. 48, M. australis; Fig. 49, M. difficulta; Fig. 50, M. eruga (circles) and M. rugosa (square); Fig. 51, M. inaequala; Fig. 52, M. wesselensis.