Myrmecia pyriformis

Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London: British Museum : 144

4. Myrmecia pyriformis . Pl. X. figs. 1-6. B.M.

Worker. Length 8 1/2 - 9 lines.-Black, with an obscure tinge of red: the anterior part of the face and the mandibles ferruginous; the legs obscure ferruginous, with the tarsi brighter, varying in different individuals in brightness; the abdomen shining black, the nodes nearly black. Head longitudinally rugose; the prothorax with a transverse rugose striation, the rest of the thorax transversely striated; the first node of the abdomen rugose.

Female. Length 10 lines.-Of the same colour as the worker: differing only in having the thorax oblong-ovate, not strangulated in the middle, and with the mesothorax and scutellum rugosestriate; wings hyaline, nervures pale rufo-testaceous.

Male. Length 8 lines.-Black, with the antennae, mandibles and tarsi ferruginous; the head and thorax densely pubescent, the pubescence pale and glittering. Abdomen with a fine grey pile, and a thinly scattered pale pubescence; the thorax wider than the head, which is narrowed posteriorly; the antennae as long as the head, thorax and nodes of the abdomen. Hob. Australia (Melbourne; Hunter River).

This species very closely resembles the M. forficata , but is certainly distinct, if the sexes are correctly assimilated, and all being taken at the same time and place render it probable; all the sexes are larger than those of M. forficata ; the male is strikingly distinct, and the head of the worker and female is of a squarer form and not narrowed behind.