Mayriella

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Evolutionary Relationships

Cardiocondyla

Ocymyrmex

Nesomyrmex

Xenomyrmex

Terataner

Atopomyrmex

Cataulacus

Carebara

Diplomorium

Melissotarsus

Rhopalomastix

Calyptomyrmex

Tetramorium

Cyphoidris

Dicroaspis

Aretidris

Vollenhovia

Dacetinops

Indomyrma

Crematogaster

Meranoplus

Lophomyrmex

Adlerzia

Recurvidris

Stereomyrmex

Trichomyrmex

Eutetramorium

Royidris

Malagidris

Vitsika

Huberia

Podomyrma

Liomyrmex

Metapone

Kartidris

Mayriella

Tetheamyrma

Dacatria

Proatta

Dilobocondyla

Secostruma

Acanthomyrmex

Myrmecina

Perissomyrmex

Pristomyrmex

some Lordomyrma

Propodilobus

Lasiomyrma

[some Lordomyrma

Ancyridris

some Lordomyrma

Paratopula

Poecilomyrma

Romblonella

Rotastruma

Gauromyrmex

Vombisidris

Temnothorax

Harpagoxenus

Formicoxenus

Leptothorax

Based on Ward et al. (2014) and Blaimer et al. (2018).

Mayriella is an Indo-Australian ant genus. There are presently nine described species. Workers are small and, for those for which nests have been found, form colonies of 50 - 100 individuals.

Identification

Workers of Mayriella may be separated from other members of the Myrmicinae by the presence of a 10-segmented antenna with a 2-segmented club; well developed antennal scrobes; the clypeus with the mediolateral regions concave and the anterior margin with a bidentate process (these structures combining to form an extension of the scrobes which receive the terminal segments of the antennae when the antennae are retracted); and elongate compound eyes which are narrowed anteroventrally. These characters, especially the shape of the eyes and the configuration of the clypeus, are distinctive within the subfamily and it is unlikely these ants will be confused with close relatives. (Shattuck and Barnett 2007)

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Keys including this Genus

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

Distribution

Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

Afrotropical Region Australasian Region Indo-Australian Region Malagasy Region Nearctic Region Neotropical Region Oriental Region Palaearctic Region
Species 0 5 2 0 0 0 4 1
Total Species 2839 1735 3036 932 834 4378 1708 2836

Biology

Species of Mayriella show strong preference for moist, forested areas. Most specimens have been collected from rainforest or wet sclerophyll woodlands with relatively few collections from dry sclerophyll or scrub habitats (and these are restricted to Australia). Nests are normally found in soil under stones or with a small mound of loose dirt at the entrance. They have also been found nesting in rotten logs and occasionally arboreally. The number of workers in nests averages between 50 and 100 and about one-half of the nest series containing queens contain more than one, suggesting that species are polygynous. Foraging workers are most commonly collected from litter samples. Nests appear to be locally abundant although patchily distributed on a larger scale. For example, in the Brindabella Ranges near Canberra, ACT, Mayriella ebbei is infrequently encountered and is known from only a few localities. However, near Baroomba Rocks (located on the eastern slope of the Brindabella Ranges) M. ebbei occurs commonly under rocks in an area covering several hundred square meters. This population appears limited to this small area as nests could not be found in areas with similar geography and vegetation located several kilometers away. However, observations are limited and additional data will be required to determine if these habits are widespread and/or occur in other species. Additionally, while Taylor (1961) made similar observations for Mayriella abstinens, these were based on the introduced population found in New Zealand and should be confirmed for naturally occurring populations of the genus. (Shattuck and Barnett 2007)

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: 50-100 (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Nest site: hypogaeic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Diet class: ? (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Morphology

Worker Morphology

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 • Eyes: 11-100 ommatidia • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: dentiform; present • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: none or weak • Sting: present • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: absent

Karyotype

All Karyotype Records for Genus

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Taxon Haploid Diploid Karyotype Locality Source Notes
Mayriella abstinens 18 Australia Imai et al., 1977

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • MAYRIELLA [Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini]
    • Mayriella Forel, 1902h: 452. Type-species: Mayriella abstinens, by monotypy.

References

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