Myrmecina eruga, Shattuck, S. O., 2009

Shattuck, S. O., 2009, A revision the Australian species of the ant genus Myrmecina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 2146, pp. 1-21 : 10-12

publication ID

22782

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C666693E-9FDE-4897-A20D-CBCE9B4F6D78

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6223605

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0E4CA71F-20FF-40AE-A9EB-A5D72684CEEB

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:0E4CA71F-20FF-40AE-A9EB-A5D72684CEEB

treatment provided by

Christiana

scientific name

Myrmecina eruga
status

sp. n.

Myrmecina eruga   ZBK   HNS sp. n.

(Figs 5, 17-19, 50)

Types. Holotype worker from Mt. Webb Nat. Pk , 15°04'S 145°07'E, Queensland , 27-30.iv.1981, A. Calder & J. Feehan, rainforest, litter ( ANIC, ANIC 32-047352 ) GoogleMaps ; 11 paratype workers, same data as holotype ( ANIC, BMNH, MCZC, ANIC 32-047249 ) ; 3 paratype workers, same data as holotype ( ANIC, ANIC 32-047246 ) ; 6 paratype workers, same data as holotype ( ANIC, ANIC 32-047250 ) ; 3 paratype workers, same data as holotype ( ANIC, ANIC 32-047251 ) ; 9 paratype workers, same data as holotype ( ANIC, ANIC 32-047252 ) .

Diagnosis. Antero-medial surface of pronotum immediately behind the collar with at most very weak sculpturing and sometimes nearly smooth, this region differing significantly from the more heavily sculptured posterior regions of the pronotum and mesonotum; sculpturing on pronotum running longitudinally and generally with the central carina (or carinae) running nearly the length of the mesosoma; body larger (HW> 0.65mm, MTL> 0.35mm); head squarer (CI> 95). This species is most similar to pumila   ZBK   HNS and silvalaeva   ZBK   HNS in the pattern of sculpturing on the pronotum but differs from pumila   ZBK   HNS in being larger and with a squarer head and from silvalaeva   ZBK   HNS in the longitudinal (rather than transverse) carinae on the dorsum of the mesosoma. It shares the pattern of sculpturing on the head with rugosa   HNS , but differs in the pronotal sculpturing.

Worker description. Antennal scapes with low longitudinal ridges. First segment of funiculus cone-shaped. Sides of head behind compound eyes smooth with weak irregular sculpturing centrally. Sculpturing on dorsal surface of mesosoma ill-defined and running longitudinally, the dorsal surface of pronotum immediately behind the collar very weakly sculpturing (sometimes nearly smooth). Dorsal and lateral surfaces of mesosoma separated by an indistinct angle or ridge which interrupts or breaks the mesosomal sculpturing. Metanotal spines moderately short. Propodeal spines long. Erect hairs abundant, straight. Colour dark brown-black, antennae, mandibles and legs yellow-brown.

Measurements. Worker (n = 10) - CI 95-101; HL 0.72-0.79; HW 0.71-0.79; MTL 0.37-0.42; SI 83-90; SL 0.61-0.69; WL 0.83-0.96.

Additional material examined ( ANIC except where noted). Queensland: 20km N of Cairns (Lowery,B.B.); 3km NE Mt. Webb (Calder,A. & Feehan,J.); 4.5km NNW Cape Tribulation (Ward,P.S.) ( ANIC, QMBA); Alexandra Bay (Feehan & Taylor); Bellenden Ker Range, Cableway Base Stn (Earthwatch, Qld Museum); Cape Richards, Hinchinbrook I. (Taylor,R.W.); Cape Tribulation area (Calder,A. & Weir,T.); Hinchinbrook Is., Gayundah Ck. (Monteith, Davies, Thompson & Gallon) ( ANIC, QMBA); Mt. Webb Nat. Pk (Calder,A. & Feehan,J.); nr. Cape Tribulation (Taylor,R.W. & Feehan,J.); Spear Creek (Davies & Raven); W Seymour Range, nr. Innisfail (Taylor,R.W.).

Comments. This species is restricted to rainforest and Melaleuca forests of northern Queensland coastal areas where it has been found in leaf litter samples and nesting in rotten logs and under rocks.

ANIC

Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Canberra City, CSIRO, Australian National Insect Collection

BMNH

United Kingdom, London, The Natural History Museum [formerly British Museum (Natural History)]

MCZC

USA, Massachusetts, Cambridge, Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology

QMBA

Australia, Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland Museum

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Myrmecina

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