Myrmecina silvangula, Shattuck, Steve, 2009

Shattuck, Steve, 2009, A revision the Australian species of the ant genus Myrmecina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 2146, pp. 1-21 : 15-18

Myrmecina silvangula sp. n.

( Figs 5 , 7 , 35–37 , 47 )

Types. Holotype worker from Thornton Range, 16°14'S 145°26'E, 100m, Queensland, 24 June 1971, R. W. Taylor & J. Feehan, rainforest, berlesate (ANIC, ANIC32-047351); 2 paratype workers, same data as holotype (MCZC, ANIC32-047239; ANIC, ANIC32-047240); 1 paratype worker from Thornton Range, 16°15'S 145°26'E, 150m, Queensland, 23 June 1971, R. W. Taylor & J. Feehan, rainforest, berlesate (ANIC, ANIC32- 047238).

Diagnosis. Carinae on pronotum and anterior mesonotum “V”-shaped; sides of head behind compound eyes smooth; antennal scapes with low longitudinal ridges; body smaller (HW <0.70). This species can be separated from all other known Australian species by the combination of “V”-shaped sculpturing on the dorsum of the mesosoma and the small body size.

Worker description. Antennal scapes with low ridges. First segment of funiculus cone-shaped. Sides of head behind compound eyes smooth. Sculpturing on dorsal surface of mesosoma broadly “V”-shaped anteriorly, narrowly “V”-shaped medially and parallel posteriorly. 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 = 6) — CI 93–100; HL 0.57–0.64; HW 0.56–0.60; MTL 0.28–0.32; SI 85–92; SL 0.48–0.55; WL 0.65–0.80.

Additional material examined ( ANIC). Queensland: Alexandra Bay (Feehan & Taylor); Cooper Ck., nr. Daintree (Taylor,R.W. & Feehan,J.); Mt. Sorrow slopes, Cape Tribulation (Monteith,G.B.); Thornton Range (Taylor,R.W. & Feehan,J.).

Comments. This species has been collected from leaf litter in rainforests from a restricted area of northern Queensland.

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.