Myrmica Nylanderi , Foerst. Hym. Stud. Form. 53.
Myrmica cingulata, Schenck , Beschr. Nass. Ameis. 104.
Nyl. Form. Fr. et d'Alger. 93. 20.
Leptothorax Nylanderi , Mayr. Form. Austr. 175. 11.
Myrmica parvula, Schenck , Beschr. Nass. Ameis. 103. 140.
Leptothorax parvulus , Mayr. Form. Austr. 176. 12.
Stenamma albipennis, Curtis , Trans. Linn. Soc. xxi. 218.
Myrmica unifasciata, Smith , Brit. Form. 128. 11.
Curtis, Trans. Linn. Soc. xxi. 216. 12.
Hab. Britain; France; Germany; Austria.
Leptothorax Gredleri , Mayr. Form. Austr. 166. 1. Nyl. Form. Fr. et d'Alger. 90 (note).
Hab. Austria.
E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)]
This is a Holarctic genus of ground-nesting ants, with generalized foraging habits. Like most members of the genus, the California species are found predominantly in temperate habitats such as coniferous forests and montane meadows, but one rare species ( M. rugiventris (M. R. Smith)) occurs in chaparral, oak woodland and coastal scrub. A revision of the Nearctic species is in preparation by André Francoeur.
Species identification: keys in Creighton (1950a), Wheeler and Wheeler (1986g) and Mackay and Mackay (2002). Additional references: Bolton (1988a), Evans (1995, 1996a, 1996b), Francoeur (2005), Radchenko (1994a, 1994d), Seifert (1988b), Weber (1939b, 1947b, 1948a, 1950c).
Taxonomy. The genus Myrmica is assigned to the tribe Myrmicini (Bolton 2003). The Vietnamese species were recently revised by Radchenko & Elmes (2001) and Radchenko et al. (2006), and the workers have the following features.
Worker monomorphic; head in full-face view oval; preoccipital carina distinct dorsally and laterally; frontal carina and antennal scrobe absent; anteromedian margin of clypeus weakly convex, lacking an isolated median seta; posteromedian portion of clypeus broadly inserted between frontal lobes; antennae 12-segmented, without distinct club; eye medium sized, convex well laterad; palp formula 6,4; mandible triangular; masticatory margin with apical and 1-2 distinct preapical teeth followed by several smaller teeth or denticles; promesonotum in lateral view slightly raised; promesonotal suture absent or vestigial dorsally; metanotal groove more or less distinctly impressed dorsally; propodeal spine long and sharp; propodeal lobe well developed as a triangular or spinose projection; middle and hind tibiae usually each with a single pectinate spur; petiole pedunculate, with low node; subpetiolar process present as a small tooth anteroventrally; dorsal part of postpetiole in lateral view leaning posterodorsad; gastral shoulder absent; sting well developed, without any apical appendage; head and mesosoma usually strongly reticulate or rugoso-reticulate.
The worker of Myrmica is somewhat similar to those of Aphaenogaster (see under Aphaenogaster ) and Tetramorium . However, in the worker of Tetramorium , the tibial spurs of the middle and hind legs are simple or absent, and the apex of sting bears a small lamellate appendage.
Vietnamese species. Five species have been known from Vietnam: angulata Radchenko & Elmes (Sa Pa); schoedli Radchenko, Elmes & Bui (Sa Pa); serica Wheeler (Sa Pa); titanica Radchenko & Elmes (Sa Pa); yamanei Radchenko & Elmes (Sa Pa).
Bionomics. Myrmica species have so far been found exclusively in the mountains of Fan Si Pan above approximately1,700 m alt. They inhabit sparse to well-developed forests and nest in rotting logs, wood fragments, under stones, in soil around tree bases, etc. Workers forage on the ground and lower vegetation.
Zett. Lepel. S: t Farg. Dahlb. Losana.
Corpus parvae vel minutae staturae. Palpi minimi *); maxillares articulis 6, apice sensim acutiusculi; maxillares articulis 4, ultimo crassiori, subclavaeformi, ovato. Nodi petioli abdominalis (in nostris speciebus) bini, anterior subtus ad metasteruum spinula parva obtusiuscula. Abdominis segmentum primum maximam abdominis partem occupante.
Operaria: mare et femina minor, formatione capitis ejusque, partium ut feminae, praeter quod nulla habet stemmata. Thorax plus minus striatim aut rugose insculptus, capite semper nonnihil gracilior, postice parum angustior, dorso inter meso- et metathoracem saepissime paulum immerso; metathorax spinis utrinque (in nostris speciebus). Abdomen ovatum longitudine capitis vel saepissime parum longius, politum, segmento primo saltem 3 / 4 totius abdominis occupante. Aculeata.
Femina: operaria et plerumque - mare paullo major, capite thoraceque sicut in operaria plus minus striatim vel rugose insculptis. Antennae 12 vel 11 - articulatae (praeter radiculam), scapo tertiam partem totius antennae excedente; flagellum pedicello obconico, arliculis 3 vel 4 ultimis crassis clavara fere formantibus, ceteris moniliformibus versus apicem sensim parum incrassatis. Mandibulae latae validae apice denticulato. Ocelli distincti. Thorax masis tumidus quam in operaria. Alae longitudine corporis vel paullo longiores, area discoidali una et cubitalibus biuis vel una; area cubitali prima vel nervum dividentem includeute vel integra, area cubitali secunda ob nervos eandem formaturos evanescentes obsolete indicala vel nulla. Abdomen fere ut in operaria. Aculeata.
Mas: Caput minus et brevius quam feminae. Mandibulae vel parum denticulatae vel obtusae, semper debiliores quam in femina. Antennae articulis 13, 12 vel 10; scapus vel tertiae partis totius antennae vel brevior aut brevissimus. Oculi magis prominuli quam in operaria et femina; ocelli magni. Thorax gibbosus; prothorax angustus, humilis; mesothorax valde elevatus, per lineas impressiusculas binas saepe crenalas, a latere infero (pleurali) utrinque in discum mesonoti conniventer ductas ibique angulo sat aculo se jungentes, in portiones tres, unam mediam anticam et binas laterales posteriores, partitus; metathorax tantum tuberculis utrinque subangulatis vel nullis. Abdomen politum segmento primo vix 2 / 3 totius efficiente; genitalia fere abscondita.
Gen: Char: Antennae sufficiently exposed; head triangular, without spines; maxillary, palpi long, of six joints; jaws triangular; three cubital cells in the upper wings, the third incomplete, & c. Such are the characters assigned to this genus by modem authors. Whether the following species all belong to it or not I cannot de-tide, but judging from their differences I imagine that they form at least three groups.
In the first group I shall place two or three nearly allied species, one of which has already been described by Col. Sykes as a Myrmica , as that this may be considered the typical group. Of this I have what I imagine to be three species, but all very closely allied to each other.
with sting - abdominal pedicle with 2 knots, jaws triangular, maxillary palpi long.
Myrmica , Latr. Gen. Crust, et Ins. iv. 131.
The number of joints varying in the different divisions into which the genus is subdivided, the maxillary palpi from 6 to 1, the labial palpi from 4 to 2. Ocelli obsolete in the workers. Females and workers armed with stings; the petiole of the abdomen with two nodes. Pupae usually naked, not enclosed in cocoons, but casting off a thin pellicle on arriving at the perfect condition or imago.
Corpus parva vel minutae staturae. Palpi mtnimi, maxillares articulis sex, apice sensim acutiusculi; labiales articulis quatuor, ultimo crassiori, subclavatformi, ovato. Nodi segmenti primi (petioli abdominalis) bini, segmentum secundum maximam abdominis partem occupans. Operariae et feminae aculeo abscondito.
Diese Gattung tritt nicht nur geringer an Zahl der Arten' auf wie die Gattung Formica , sondern auch in Bezug auf die Individuen, welche bei weitem nicht so zahlreich angetroffen werden. Sie leben nicht in größeren Haufen zusammen, sondern fast immer unter Steinen, unter Moos oder in alten Baumstrunken. Obgleich die Arbeiter und Weibchen mit einem Giftstachel versehen sind, so gebrauchen sie ihn doch selten und man kann sie ohne Furcht ergreifen. Bei kühler Temperatur träge , bei warmer Witterung sehr lebendig, trifft man einzelne Arten fast an allen Lokalitäten an, während andere selten sind. Unter den in der Rheinprovinz und namentlich bei Aachen vorkommenden Arten fanden sich mehrere neue, welche hier zuerst folgen mögen .
Myrmecina , Curt. Brit. Ent. vi. t 266, 1830. Westw. Int. Class. Ins. Synop. 83,1840.
Myrmica is a genus of ants within the subfamily Myrmicinae.[2] It is widespread throughout the temperate regions of the Holarctic and high mountains in Southeast Asia.[2][3]
The genus consists of around 200 known species and additional subspecies,[2] although this figure is likely to rise as soon as the Chinese and Nearctic fauna lists are revised.[4][5]
The genus contains a number of inquiline species (commensal symbionts), other Myrmica species that manage to invade the nest of their host. Subsequently, they use hormones to manipulate the host colony in such a way that eggs of the host queen develop into workers, and parasite brood into sexuals. Hence, the parasite is not able to sustain a colony of its own, but uses host resources instead.[6][7]
Similarly, larvae of the butterfly genus Maculinea (a junior synonym of Phengaris, family Lycaenidae) and of the southern armyworm, live inside Myrmica nests where they are either directly fed by ants or prey upon ant brood. This parasitism is employed primarily by specific species such as Phengaris arion forming predatory relationships.[8]
Myrmica is a genus of ants within the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is widespread throughout the temperate regions of the Holarctic and high mountains in Southeast Asia.
The genus consists of around 200 known species and additional subspecies, although this figure is likely to rise as soon as the Chinese and Nearctic fauna lists are revised.