Myrmecina pumila, Shattuck, Steve, 2009

Shattuck, Steve, 2009, A revision the Australian species of the ant genus Myrmecina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 2146, pp. 1-21 : 13

Myrmecina pumila sp. n.

( Figs 5 , 23–25 , 47 )

Types. Holotype worker from Bellenden Ker Range, Cableway Base Stn, 17°16'S 145°54'E, 100m, Queensland, 17–24 Oct. 1981, Earthwatch, Qld Museum, rainforest, sieved litter (ANIC, ANIC32-047349); 1 worker paratype from Crater National Park, 17°26'S 145°31'E, ca. 1000m, Queensland, 2 July 1971, R. W. Taylor & J. E. Feehan, rainforest, berlesate (ANIC, ANIC32-001269); 1 paratype worker from Danbulla Forestry Reserve, Queensland, J. Holt, May 1976 (ANIC, ANIC32-047262); 1 paratype worker from Danbulla Forestry Reserve, Queensland, P. J. M. Greenslade, 9 April 1976, litter (ANIC, ANIC32-047263); 1 paratype worker from Malanda Falls Environmental Park, 17°21'S 145°35'E, Queensland, Jan. 1998, A. D. Cutter, leaf litter (ANIC, ANIC32- 011657).

Diagnosis. Antero-medial surface of pronotum immediately behind the collar with at most very weak sculpturing and sometimes nearly smooth, this region differing significantly from the more heavily sculptured posterior regions of the pronotum and mesonotum; sculpturing on pronotum running longitudinally and generally with the central carina (or carinae) running nearly the length of the mesosoma; body smaller (HW <0.60mm, MTL <0.30mm); head elongate (CI <95). This species is most similar to eruga and silvalaeva in the pattern of sculpturing on the pronotum but differs from eruga in being smaller and with a more elongate head and from silvalaeva in the longitudinal (rather than transverse) carinae on the dorsum of the mesosoma.

Worker description. Antennal scapes smooth or with very low ridges. First segment of funiculus coneshaped. Sides of head behind compound eyes smooth. Sculpturing on dorsal surface of mesosoma shallow “V”s, the dorsal surface of pronotum immediately behind the collar and central mesonotum essentially smooth. Carinae extending continuously from the dorsal surface onto the lateral surfaces of the mesosoma. Metanotal spines weakly developed and essentially absent. Propodeal spines long. Erect hairs abundant, straight. Colour dark brown-black, antennae, mandibles, legs and tip of gaster yellow.

Measurements. Worker (n = 8) — CI 90–95; HL 0.53–0.60; HW 0.50–0.56; MTL 0.25–0.29; SI 81–92; SL 0.44–0.50; WL 0.62–0.72.

Additional material examined ( ANIC). Queensland: Bellenden Ker Range, Cableway Base Stn (Earthwatch, Qld Museum); Crater Nat. Pk (Taylor,R.W. & Feehan,J.E.); Danbulla Forestry Reserve (Greenslade,P.J.M.; Holt,J.); Gadgarra Greenslade,P.J.M.); Josephine Falls, Mt.Bartle Frere (Halliday,R.B.); Lake Barrine Nat. Forest, Yungaburra (Cutter,A.D.); Malanda Falls Environmental Park (Cutter,A.D.); McNamee Creek (Taylor,R.W. & Feehan,J.).

Comments. . This species is known from a restricted area of northern Queensland measuring less than 50km by 70km. It occurs in rainforest where it has been collected from leaf litter samples.

Figures

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 23 – 28. Myrmecina pumila sp. n. worker. Fig. 23, front of head; Fig. 24, lateral view of body; Fig. 25, dorsal view of body. Myrmecina rugosa Forel worker. Fig. 26, front of head; Fig. 27, lateral view of body; Fig. 28, 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.