Myrmecina silvatransversa, 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 silvatransversa sp. n.

( Figs 5 , 7 , 41–43 , 47 )

Types. Holotype worker from 4km W of Cape Tribulation (site 8), 16°5'S 145°26'E, Queensland, 24 Sept. 1982, Monteith, Yeates & Thompson, rainforest, sieved litter (ANIC, ANIC32-047244).

Diagnosis. Majority of carinae on pronotum and mesonotum gently curved across width of mesosoma; sides of head behind compound eyes smooth. The combination of arched mesonotal sculpturing and smooth sides of the head behind the eyes will separate this species from all others in Australia.

Worker description. Antennal scapes with low ridges. First segment of funiculus cone-shaped. Sides of head behind compound eyes smooth. 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 reduced to low angles. Propodeal spines long. Erect hairs abundant, straight. Colour dark brown-black, antennae, mandibles and legs yellow-red.

Measurements. Worker (n = 1) — CI 95; HL 0.63; HW 0.60; MTL 0.32; SI 96; SL 0.58; WL 0.74.

Comments. This rare species is known from a single high-elevation rainforest leaf litter sample from 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 41 – 46. Myrmecina silvatransversa sp. n. worker. Fig. 41, front of head; Fig. 42, lateral view of body; Fig. 43, dorsal view of body. Myrmecina wesselensis sp. n. worker. Fig. 44, front of head; Fig. 45, lateral view of body; Fig. 46, 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.