Myrmecina, Curtis, 1829

Aswaj, Punnath, Anoop, Karunakaran & Priyadarsanan, Dharma Rajan, 2021, Description of two new species of ants of the genus Myrmecina Curtis, 1829 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from the Eastern Himalayas, Zootaxa 4990 (1), pp. 160-171 : 163

Identification key to the Indian Myrmecina based on the worker caste (modified after Sheela et al. 2020)

1. In dorsal view, pronotum with transverse striations........................................................... 2

- In dorsal view, pronotum with longitudinal striations or rugae.................................................. 3

2. In profile view, anterodorsal part of propodeum with a pair of distinct denticles; propodeal spine curved upward apically; first gastral tergum smooth and shiny, anterior margin concave, sides sharply defined......... Myrmecina urbanii Tiwari, 1994

- In profile view, anterodorsal part of propodeum without denticles; propodeal spine slightly bent outward apically; first gastral tergum with dense punctation, anterior margin transverse, sides not sharply defined........ Myrmecina vidyae Tiwari, 1994

3. First gastral tergum smooth and shiny..................................................................... 4

- First gastral tergum sculptured........................................................................... 5

4. Body mainly reddish-brown; in profile view, anterior pair of denticles on propodeal dorsum large and prominent; anterior clypeal margin without a median process....................................... Myrmecina narendra Sheela, 2020

- Body mainly black; anterior pair of denticles absent on propodeal dorsum; anterior clypeal margin with a median process............................................................................. Myrmecina striata Emery, 1889

5. In dorsal view, longitudinal rugae on mesosoma diverging towards anterolateral portion of pronotum; first gastral tergum punctate.................................................................... .. Myrmecina camellia Sheela, 2020

- In dorsal view, longitudinal rugae on mesosoma extending towards anterior portion of pronotum; first gastral tergum punctulate or reticulate.......................................................................................... 6

6. Body mainly yellow with a dark tinge ( Fig. 2 C ); anterior margin of clypeus without a median tooth ( Fig. 3 A ); first gastral tergum with micro-punctures (punctulate) anteriorly, coarsely reticulate medially ( Fig. 3 D )..... Myrmecina bawai sp. nov.

- Body mainly blackish brown ( Fig. 4 C ); anterior margin of clypeus with a distinct median tooth ( Fig. 5 A ); first gastral tergum entirely reticulate ( Fig. 5 D )..................................................... Myrmecina reticulata sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Myrmecina bawai sp. nov. worker, holotype; A) Head in full face view; B) Body in dorsal view; C) Body in profile view.

FIGURE 3. Myrmecina bawai sp. nov. worker, holotype; A) Clypeus and mandibles; B) Mesosoma in dorsal view; C) Denticle on propodeal dorsum, propodeal spine, petiole and postpetiole in profile view; D) First gastral tergum in dorsal view.

FIGURE 4. Myrmecina reticulata sp. nov. worker, holotype; A) Head in full face view.; B) Body in dorsal view; C) Body in profile view.

FIGURE 5. Myrmecina reticulata sp. nov. worker, holotype; A) Clypeus and mandible; B) Mesosoma in dorsal view; C) Denticle on propodeal dorsum, propodeal spine, petiole and postpetiole in profile view; D) First gastral tergum in dorsal view.