Myrmecina Curtis

Eguchi, K., Viet, B. T. & Yamane, S., 2011, Generic synopsis of the Formicidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera), Part I - Myrmicinae and Pseudomyrmicinae., Zootaxa 2878, pp. 1-61 : 20-21

Myrmecina Curtis , 1892

Taxonomy. The genus Myrmecina is assigned to the tribe Myrmecinini together with Acanthomyrmex, Pristomyrmex and Perissomyrmex (Bolton 2003). Workers of Vietnamese species have the following features.

Worker monomorphic; head in full-face view rectangular, with rounded posterior corners; preoccipital carina extending to ventral surface of head and then forming a longitudinal carina which runs anteriad; frontal carina inconspicuous; antennal scrobe absent; frontal lobe large, covering antennal insertion; median margin of clypeus raised above dorsal surface of mandibular bases, with truncate anterior margin, laterally with a submedian carina from anterior end of frontal lobe to anterior margin of clypeus; carina often forming a submedian tooth; median clypeal tooth often present but not accompanied by an isolated median seta; posteromedian portion of clypeus very broadly inserted between frontal lobes; lateral portion of clypeus often (but not always) modified into a narrow and low ridge or wall in front of antennal insertion; mandible triangular; masticatory margin with 2 distinct apical teeth followed by several teeth or denticles; antennae 11- or 12-segmented, with 3-segmented club; eye small to medium in size; mesosoma short, stout with slightly convex promesonotal dome; promesonotal suture absent dorsally; humeral angle distinct; anterior part of mesopleuron with a well developed flange projecting over base of fore coxa; metanotal groove weak or absent; propodeal spine more or less developed; an additional process or tooth sometimes present in front of each propodeal spine; propodeal lobe present only as a low carina; petiole sessile and lacking distinct node, in lateral view usually (but not always) dorsally with a triangular point or angles at or behind midlength of petiole; postpetiole in dorsal view rectangular; gastral shoulder distinct.

The worker of Myrmecina is easily separated from those of other Vietnamese myrmicine genera by the presence of longitudinal carina on the ventrolateral side of head and a sessile petiole.

Vietnamese species. Five species have been recognized by us from Vietnam: sp. eg-1 (Ba Be, Tay Yen Tu, Van Ban); sp. eg-2 (Ba Be); sp. eg-3 [= sp. 48 of HO: Eguchi et al., 2005] (Cuc Phuong, Pu Mat, Tay Yen Tu); sp. eg-4 (Nam Cat Tien); sp. eg-5 (Van Ban).

Bionomics. Colonies of Myrmecina species are found in litter and soil.