Myrmecina magnificens Wong & Guenard, 2016

Wong, Mark K. L. & Guenard, Benoit, 2016, First confirmed record of the ant genus Myrmecina (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Malay Peninsula: description of a new species and a key to Myrmecina species from Sundaland, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 50, pp. 129-140 : 131-135

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/JHR.50.8652

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8B72E213-BFDC-4334-AD6E-C2ED1067C231

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DA28E247-B301-4642-8250-729C0F05AC66

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:DA28E247-B301-4642-8250-729C0F05AC66

treatment provided by

Journal of Hymenoptera Research by Pensoft

scientific name

Myrmecina magnificens Wong & Guenard
status

sp. n.

Myrmecina magnificens Wong & Guenard sp. n.

Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4 , 5 View Figure 5

Holotype.

Worker from SINGAPORE, Seletar Trail, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, 1.395141°N, 103.802595°E, 47m, 02.IX.2015, leaf litter, leg. Mark K. L. Wong, label “MW020915-L1.1” (ANTWEB1009004) deposited in LKCNHM.

Paratypes.

Four workers in total (ANTWEB1009005, ANTWEB1009006, ANTWEB1009007, ANTWEB1009008), all with the same collection data as holotype (deposited at SBSHKU).

Measurements and indices.

Holotype: HL 0.98 mm; HW 1.12 mm; MaL 0.63 mm; SL 0.90 mm; EL 0.20 mm; WL 1.37 mm; PNW 0.71 mm; PNH 0.62 mm; MW 0.65 mm; PSL 0.24 mm; PTL 0.36 mm; PTW 0.32 mm; PTH 0.35 mm; TL 4.42 mm (stinger not included); PPL 0.23 mm; PPW 0.34 mm; PPH 0.39 mm; CI 114, SI 80, MaI 56, PI 88, PPI 149.

Paratypes (n=4): HL 0.94-0.98 mm; HW 1.06-1.11 mm; MaL 0.55-0.63 mm; SL 0.89-0.91 mm; EL 0.20-0.21 mm; WL 1.22-1.36 mm; PNW 0.70-0.74 mm; PNH 0.57-0.62 mm; MW 0.61-0.65 mm; PSL 0.23-024 mm; PTL 0.34-0.36 mm; PTW 0.29-0.31 mm; PTH 0.31-0.33 mm; TL 4.36-4.57 mm (stinger not included); PPL 0.22-0.24 mm; PPW 0.32-0.35 mm; PPH 0.34-0.36 mm; CI 113-116, SI 80-86, MaI 51-57, PI 83-87, PPI 141-151.

Worker description.

Head. Head in full-face view slightly shorter than wide (CI 113-116) and maximum HW occurs behind the eyes, sides convex, occipital corners triangular, occipital margin strongly convex (Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ). Thin lamella finely rugulose present on the anterolateral margin of the clypeus (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ). Eyes relatively large with EL approximately 1/5 of HL. Antennal scape long (SI 80-86); antenna with 12 segments, last three segments forming indistinct club. Clypeus short, anterior clypeal margin broadly convex with two angular projections on either sides. Mascitory margin of mandible with two apical teeth followed by a series of extremely reduced blunt denticles (n=5).

Mesosoma. In profile view, dorsal outline of promesonotum flat to broadly convex, sloping along anterodorsal part of propodeum (Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ). In profile view, propleuron angular and forming a distinct acute tooth. Two distinct propodeal spines both slightly longer than broad and pointing anteriorly (Fig. 4 View Figure 4 ). Propodeal declivity strongly concave before terminating at a right angle with a rounded edge.

Metasoma. In profile view (Fig. 4 View Figure 4 ), anterodorsal face of petiolar node broadly convex, posterodorsal face of petiolar node flat to weakly concave; overall dorsal outline of petiolar node triangular. Ventral outline of petiolar node rounded. Dorsal outline of postpetiole flat to weakly convex, sternopostpetiolar process well-developed and triangular, almost as long as broad and pointing anteriorly. Petiolar node is longer than postpetiole. In dorsal view (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ), petiolar node is broader than long and exhibits trapezoid shape; petiolar node is distinctly broader at posterior margin than at anterior margin. Postpetiole is broader than long and exhibits rectangular shape; width of postpetiole is similar at both the anterior and posterior margins.

Sculpture. Sculpturing on head and thorax running longitudinally. Sculpture on head parallel on its middle portion and divergent on the sides and posterior portions. Groove on head with latitudinal sculptures present on most of its length. In profile view, sculpture on thorax presenting a complex pattern with parallel or and convergent sculptures (Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ). Parallel sculptures present on the entire length of the petiole and postpetiole. Gaster smooth and shiny. In dorsal view, thorax entirely sculptured with a single median carina separating in two symmetrical portions the dorsal sculptures (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ). Other sculptures converging posteriorly to reach the median carina on the dorsum of the thorax.

Pubescence. Almost all of body covered in abundant erect long hairs (0.2-0.25 mm) with the exception of the propodeal junction and ventral surface of the petiole where pubescence is absent.

Coloration. Most of head, mesosoma and gaster black; antenna, clypeus and mandibles dark red to dark brown; legs, posterior portion of propodeum light amber to light brown; pubescence and margins of gastral tergites yellow to light gold.

Castes. Male and gyne castes unknown.

Etymology.

The species epithet is derived from the English word ‘magnificent’, referencing the beautiful appearance of this species, which makes it truly magnificent to behold. The species epithet is a noun, and thus invariant.

Distribution.

Southeast Asia. Only known from Singapore.

Ecology.

Almost nothing is known about the ecology of M. magnificens . All specimens were collected from a selectively logged lowland primary rainforest. Based on the collection methods used to collect several workers (N=5), we suspect that M. magnificens probably forages within the leaf litter and topsoil. This is based on our collection of the species via a Berlese extraction of sifted leaf litter and topsoil, as well as from a subterranean pitfall trap baited with tuna and buried at a depth of 5 cm underground. No other conspecifics were found in similar traps buried at greater depths (i.e. 15, 20, 25 cm) within the same locality.

Diagnosis.

With the exception of M. sulcata for which body size was not recorded in the species description, the new species M. magnificens can quickly be distinguished from other Myrmecina species in the Sundaland region by its large overall size (TL 4.2-4.6 mm) and its distinctly long and forward-pointing propodeal spines. While M. nesaea , M. semipolita , M. sulcata and M. undulata also possess relatively long propodeal spines, their spines are posteriorly oriented. The other two species, M. bandarensis and M. butteli have relatively short propodeal spines, and are also notably smaller in their overall sizes (TL 1.9-2.2 mm), which by comparison would be approximately half that of M. magnificens .

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Myrmecina