Myrmecina macrops

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Myrmecina macrops
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Myrmecina
Species complex: macrops
Species: M. macrops
Binomial name
Myrmecina macrops
Okido, Ogata & Hosoishsi, 2020

Myrmecina macrops F29ab.jpg

The species inhabits soil and litter. It has been collected from a pitfall trap.

Identification

Okido, Ogata, and Hosoishi (2020) - A member of the Myrmecina macrops complex (Myrmecina breviata, Myrmecina gymnocephala, M. macrops, and Myrmecina inflata). This species is different from others in the complex by its developed propodeal spine, and the pronotum and mesonotum with wavy rugae.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, Malaysia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • macrops. Myrmecina macrops Okido, Ogata & Hosoishsi, 2020: 64, fig. 29 (w.q.) MALAYSIA.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 2.80, HL 0.66, HW 0.69, CI 105, SL 0.56, SI 81, PW 0.48, ML 0.75. Paratype. TL 2.57-2.77, HL 0.62-0.67, HW 0.65-0.70, CI 104-105, SL 0.53-0.59, SI 81-86, PW 0.45-0.50, ML 0.69-0.73 (5 measured).

Head subrectangular, as long as broad in full-face view; median portion of occipital margin flattened or slightly concave; occipital corners widely rounded, not projected posteriorly in profile. Masticatory margin of mandible bent at midlength (third small tooth or sixth tooth); apical tooth strong, third tooth robust, followed by about 4 small teeth and a stout basal tooth bearing blunt apex; small teeth unclear. Dorsal surface of clypeus slightly concave; median portion of anterior margin weakly projected with a median process; the process frequently unclear; lateral portion simple, lacking sharp ridge in front of antennal insertions. Anterior dorsal surface of labrum with paired small denticles distinctly, very closed to each other without fusion. Frontal carinae present, running back to about mid point level of eyes but very unclearly. Eyes extremely large and moderately convex, varying in size with maximum diameter 0.18 mm and 8-9 ommatidia; malar space as long as diameter of eye in profile. Antennal scape long, extending beyond posterolateral corner of head; antennal flange weakly developed.

Dorsal outline of mesosoma convex in profile. Pronotum without denticles; anterior ventrolateral portion angulate. Eumetanotal spine present but small, frequently unclear. Propodeal spine triangular, just reaching vertical posteriormost limit of propodeum in profile. Propodeal lobe low. Propodeal spiracle small, situated near base of propodeal spine, distance between posterior margin of spiracle and posterior margin of propodeum much longer than diameter of spiracle. Petiole short, as long as high in profile, and slightly longer than broad in dorsal view; small but distinct dorsal crest located almost at midlength in profile; subpetiolar process projecting forward with acute apex. Postpetiole slightly broader than petiole in dorsal view; lateral margin straight; dorsal outline slightly convex or flattened in profile; ventral outline projected rectangularly, frequently undeveloped.

Anterior margin of gaster not concave in dorsal view.

Head distinct foveolate, but variable from opaque to foveolate on the whole surface; ventrolateral portion smooth and shining. Mandibles smooth and shining sometimes with yellow spots on dorsal surface. Clypeus smooth and shining. Mesosoma with wavy rugae distinctly. Petiole and postpetiole with wavy longitudinal rugae. Head with more or less dense pilosity on dorsum. Mesosoma with more or less dense pilosity on dorsum. Pilosity of pronotum slightly shorter than propodeal spine, but variable in length, sometimes longer than propodeal spine. Pilosity of petiole and postpetiole longer than that of mesosoma. Petiole with or without hairs on ventral surface. Postpetiole with about 4 hairs on ventral surface. Body dark reddish brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker, MALAYSIA: Sepilok Forest, Sabah, Borneo, 4. vii. 1998 (K. Eguchi) (Universiti Malaysia Sabah). Paratypes. 9 workers and 1 queen (dealate) with same data as holotype (Kagoshima University, Faculty of Science, Entomological Laboratory and Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University).

Determination Clarifications

This species corresponds to “Myrmecina sp. M” of Ito et al. (2001).

References