Myrmecina silvarugosa, Shattuck, Steve, 2009

Shattuck, Steve, 2009, A revision the Australian species of the ant genus Myrmecina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 2146, pp. 1-21 : 18

Myrmecina silvarugosa sp. n.

( Figs 5 , 7 , 38–40 , 47 )

Types. Holotype worker from Mt. Lewis, 16°34'S 145°17'E, Queensland, 20 June 1971, Taylor & Feehan, rainforest (ANIC, ANIC32-047234).

Diagnosis. Majority of carinae on pronotum and mesonotum gently curved across width of mesosoma; sides of head behind compound eyes with 2–3 longitudinal carinae running the length of the head. The combination of arched mesonotal sculpturing and elongate carinae on the sides of the head behind the eyes will separate this species from all others in Australia.

Worker description. Antennal scapes smooth or with weak ridges. First segment of funiculus coneshaped. Sides of head behind compound eyes with 2–3 longitudinal carinae running the length of the head. Carinae on pronotum and mesonotum transverse, gently curved, extending across width of mesosoma. Carinae extending continuously from the dorsal surface onto the lateral surfaces of the mesosoma. Metanotal spines short. Propodeal spines long. Erect hairs abundant, straight. Colour dark brown-black, antennae, mandibles and legs yellow-brown.

Measurements. Worker (n = 4) — CI 96–100; HL 0.63–0.66; HW 0.61–0.65; MTL 0.32–0.33; SI 82–87; SL 0.53–0.56; WL 0.71–0.78.

Additional material examined. Queensland: 2.5km N Mt. Lewis via Julatten (Yeates,D.K. & Thompson,G.I.) ( ANIC); Mary Creek site 4 (Burwell,C.) ( QMBA); Mt. Lewis Barracks, via Julatten (Monteith,G & Cook,D.) ( ANIC).

Comments. This high-elevation species is restricted to mountain-tops above 1000m in a small area within Queensland’s wet tropics where it occurs in rainforests. This species is sympatric with alpina , another highelevation species, and these are the only Australian species with carinae on the sides of the head behind the eyes.

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 35 – 40. Myrmecina silvangula sp. n. worker. Fig. 35, front of head; Fig. 36, lateral view of body; Fig. 37, dorsal view of body. Myrmecina silvarugosa sp. n. worker. Fig. 38, front of head; Fig. 39, lateral view of body; Fig. 40, 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.