Myrmecia

Myrmecia
Myrmecia gulosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmeciinae
Tribe:	Myrmeciini
Genus:	Myrmecia Fabricius, 1804
Type species
Formica gulosa, now Myrmecia gulosa
Diversity
93 species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Myrmecia gulosa Specimen Label
Synonyms
Halmamyrmecia Wheeler, W.M., 1922 Pristomyrmecia Emery, 1911 Promyrmecia Emery, 1911

Heterick (2009) - Myrmecia are principally predators, but also garner nectar and plant juices (Shattuck 1999). The sting of at least some of these species can be dangerous, even life threatening to people who have a sensitivity to hymenopteran (i.e. bee, ant and wasp) venoms (Street et al. 1994).

At a Glance

• Jumping ants

Photo Gallery

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  X-ray micro-CT scan 3D model of Myrmecia (worker) prepared by the Economo lab at OIST.

See on Sketchfab. See list of 3D images.

Identification

This genus has been divided into a number of species groups.

See images of species within this genus

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

• Key to Australian Myrmecia Species
• Key to Myrmecia pilosula complex species
• Key to Myrmecia of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province

Distribution

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

	Afrotropical Region	Australasian Region	Indo-Australian Region	Malagasy Region	Nearctic Region	Neotropical Region	Oriental Region	Palaearctic Region
Species	0	93	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total Species	2841	1736	3045	932	835	4379	1741	2862

Biology

Vision and activity schedules

With more than 3000 facets in each eye, Myrmecia have the second largest eyes in the ant world (Greiner et al. 2007) and are unusually responsive to moving visual targets. Workers of different species range from diurnal, diurnal-crepuscular, crepuscular-nocturnal to nocturnal. However the activity times of conspecific winged sexuals do not always match. This behavioural diversity correlates with interspecific and caste-specific differences in compound eyes and ocelli (Narendra et al. 2010). Ajay Narendra has studied vision and navigation in the nocturnal Myrmecia pyriformis (see references therein).

Range of head and eye sizes in workers, queens and males of Myrmecia croslandi, M. tarsata, M. nigriceps and M. pyriformis. From Narendra et al. 2010

Mating biology

Studied in four species by Narendra et al. 2011 - Sexuals walk out of natal nests, climb the nearest tree and fly off from the tips of branches (Myrmecia croslandi), or walk away (Myrmecia tarsata) or fly from the vicinity of the nest (Myrmecia nigriceps and Myrmecia pyriformis). Mating in all species occurred on hilltops. We recorded 18 matings in M. croslandi, six in M. tarsata and 23 in M. nigriceps. We did not witness mating in M. pyriformis, but are confident that alates did not leave the nest during the night.

Human Health Concerns

The stings of one species group of Myrmecia (the M. pilosula group) can cause a strong anaphylactic reaction in some people. The severity of this reaction can develop over time, with initial stings causing no particular reaction while subsequent stings can have serious consequences. People with known sensitivities to these ants often carry an EpiPen or similar device to counteract the affects of a sting.

Association with Other Organisms

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Species Uncertain

• Unknown species of Myrmecia are hosts for the eucharitid wasps Austeucharis sp. and Chalcura affinis (parasites) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database).
• An unknown species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Chalcura affinis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).

All Associate Records for Genus

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Taxon	Relationship	Associate Type	Associate Taxon	Associate Relationship	Locality	Source	Notes
Myrmecia desertorum	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus testaceus	myrmecophile	Australia
Myrmecia forficata	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis fasciiventris	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Myrmecia forficata	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis myrmeciae	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Myrmecia forficata	host	nematode	Mermithidae (unspecified "Mermix")	parasite	Australia (Victoria)	Wheeler, 1933; Laciny, 2021
Myrmecia gulosa	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis fasciiventris	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Myrmecia nigriceps	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Myrmecia nigriscapa	associate (details unknown)	fungus	Purpureocillium lilacinum	associate (details unknown)		Quevillon, 2018
Myrmecia nigriscapa	host	fungus	Beauveria bassiana	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Myrmecia pavida	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Myrmecia pilosula	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis implexa	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Myrmecia pilosula	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Myrmecia pilosula	host	gregarine	species unknown	parasite	Australia	Crosland, 1988
Myrmecia pyriformis	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Myrmecia rufinodis	host	gregarine	species unknown	parasite	Australia	Crosland, 1988
Myrmecia tarsata	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Myrmecia vindex	host	eucharitid wasp	Austeucharis sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest

Flight Period

All Flight Records for Genus

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Taxon	Month	Source	Notes
Myrmecia brevinoda	Mar	antkeeping.info
Myrmecia tarsata	Nov	antkeeping.info

Life History Traits

• Queen type: winged or dealate; ergatoid; brachypterous (Peeters, 1997)
• Worker-produced males: present (Haskins and Haskins, 1950; Frumhoff & Ward, 1992)
• Mean colony size: 15-1586 (Greer et al., 2021)
• Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
• Nest site: hypogaeic (Greer et al., 2021)
• Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
• Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
• Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Myrmecia queen.

Queen-worker dimorphism in size is moderate to pronounced, according to species (Peeters 1997). Myrmecia chasei exhibits the largest size dimorphism between winged queens and workers. Several species evolved non-flying queens. Brachypterous (i.e. short-winged) queens and ergatoid (permanently wingless) queens disperse on foot (Clark 1951; Haskins & Haskins 1955). Gamergates (mated, egg-laying workers) were found in one colony of Myrmecia pyriformis that was collected without the dealate queen (Dietemann et al. 2004), but a larger sample of colonies needs to be studied.

In Myrmecia gulosa, 14 colonies contained an average of 992 +/- 551 workers (average+/-standard deviation, range 134–1859), and usually one dealate queen. Workers are polymorphic in size (14-23 mm, from tip of mandibles to gaster end), and this is associated with differences in ovariole numbers (Dietemann et al. 2002). Queens are not much larger than the major workers, but have disproportionately more ovarioles and a 10-fold higher egg-laying rate. (See References.)

Ovarian differences in the queen (left), major (bottom right) and minor workers of Myrmecia gulosa. Photograph by Christian Peeters

Larva

Wheeler and Wheeler describe the larvae of several species of Myrmecia in 1971.

Morphology

Worker Morphology

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• Antennal segment count: 12 • Antennal club: absent • Palp formula: 6,4 • Total dental count: 9-18 • Spur formula: 2 pectinate, 2 pectinate; 2 (1 simple-barbulate, 1 barbulate-pectinate), 2 simple, 2 (1 simple, 1 pectinate); 2 simple, 2 (1 simple, 1 pectinate) • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: monomorphic, polymorphic • Sting: present • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: present

Karyotype

Species Uncertain

• Myrmecia sp. cf. fulvipes: n = 6, 2n = 12, karyotype = 8M+4ST (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977) (as cf. fulvipes).
• Myrmecia sp.2: 2n = 68 (Indonesia) (Imai et al., 1985).

All Karyotype Records for Genus

• See additional details at the Ant Chromosome Database.

 Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

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Taxon	Haploid	Diploid	Karyotype	Locality	Source	Notes
Myrmecia arnoldi		53		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia arnoldi		55		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia arnoldi		57		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia arnoldi		59		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia arnoldi		60		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia arnoldi		60		Australia	Meyne et al., 1995
Myrmecia arnoldi		64		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia arnoldi		66		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia banksi		10		Australia	Imai et al., 1994; Hirai et al., 1994; Hirai et al., 1996; Taylor, 2015
Myrmecia banksi		9		Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Imai et al., 1994; Taylor, 2015	putative mutant individual
Myrmecia brevinoda		84		Australia	Imai et al., 1977
Myrmecia cephalotes		66		Australia	Imai et al., 1977
Myrmecia chasei		47		Australia	Meyne et al., 1995; Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia croslandi	1	2		Australia	Taylor, 1991; Meyne et al., 1995; Hirai et al., 1994; Hirai et al., 1996; Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia croslandi	2	3	1M+1M+1A	Australia	Taylor, 1991; Meyne et al., 1995; Hirai et al., 1994; Hirai et al., 1996; Imai et al., 1992; Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia croslandi	2	3	1M+1SM +1M	Australia	Taylor, 1991; Meyne et al., 1995; Hirai et al., 1994; Hirai et al., 1996; Imai et al., 1992; Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia croslandi	2	4	2SM +1A+1A	Australia	Taylor, 1991; Meyne et al., 1995; Hirai et al., 1996; Imai et al., 1992; Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia forficata		50	44M+6A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977
Myrmecia forficata		51		Australia	Imai et al., 1977
Myrmecia forficata		52		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia forficata		52		Australia	Meyne et al., 1995
Myrmecia forficata		54		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia gulosa		38		Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Meyne et al., 1995; Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia haskinsorum		12		Australia	Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia haskinsorum		15		Australia	Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia haskinsorum		17		Australia	Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia haskinsorum		18		Australia	Imai et al., 1994; Meyne et al., 1995; Hirai et al., 1996	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia haskinsorum		20		Australia	Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia haskinsorum		23		Australia	Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia haskinsorum		24		Australia	Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia imaii		6		Australia	Imai et al., 1994	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia imaii		8	8A	Australia	Imai et al., 1994; Hirai et al., 1994; Hirai et al., 1996	Complex ''pilosula''
Myrmecia mandibularis	27	56		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia mandibularis	28	56		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia michaelseni		27		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia occidentalis		64		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia pavida		44		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia piliventris		6		Australia	Imai & Taylor, 1986; Imai et al., 1988a
Myrmecia piliventris	17	34		Australia	Imai & Taylor, 1986; Imai et al., 1988a
Myrmecia piliventris	2	4	4ST	Australia	Imai & Taylor, 1986; Imai et al., 1988a
Myrmecia piliventris	32	64		Australia	Imai & Taylor, 1986; Imai et al., 1988a
Myrmecia pilosula		10		Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Crossland & Crozier, 1986; Crosland et al., 1988	as ''Myrmecia ruginoda'' or ''Ponera ruginoda''
Myrmecia pilosula		16		Australia	Crossland & Crozier, 1986
Myrmecia pilosula		18		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988
Myrmecia pilosula		19		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia pilosula		2		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988; Imai et al., 1988b; Imai & Taylor, 1989
Myrmecia pilosula		20		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988
Myrmecia pilosula		21		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988
Myrmecia pilosula		22		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988
Myrmecia pilosula		22		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia pilosula		23		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia pilosula		23		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988; Imai et al., 1988a
Myrmecia pilosula		23		Australia	Imai et al., 1994
Myrmecia pilosula		23		Australia	Meyne et al., 1995
Myrmecia pilosula		24		Australia	Imai et al., 1994
Myrmecia pilosula		24		Australia	Crossland & Crozier, 1986
Myrmecia pilosula		24		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988; Imai et al., 1988a
Myrmecia pilosula		25		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988; Imai et al., 1988a
Myrmecia pilosula		26		Australia	Imai et al., 1994
Myrmecia pilosula		26		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988; Imai et al., 1988a
Myrmecia pilosula		27		Australia	Hirai et al., 1994
Myrmecia pilosula		27		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988
Myrmecia pilosula		27		Australia	Imai et al., 1994
Myrmecia pilosula		30		Australia	Crossland & Crozier, 1986; Crosland et al., 1988
Myrmecia pilosula		31		Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Crossland & Crozier, 1986; Crosland et al., 1988; Imai et al., 1988a	as ''Myrmecia ruginoda'' or ''Ponera ruginoda''
Myrmecia pilosula		32		Australia	Meyne et al., 1995
Myrmecia pilosula		32		Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Crossland & Crozier, 1986; Crosland et al., 1988; Imai et al., 1988a	as ''Myrmecia ruginoda'' or ''Ponera ruginoda''
Myrmecia pilosula		32		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia pilosula		4		Australia	Imai et al., 1988b; Imai & Taylor, 1989
Myrmecia pilosula		9		Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Crossland & Crozier, 1986; Crosland et al., 1988	as ''Myrmecia ruginoda'' or ''Ponera ruginoda''
Myrmecia pilosula	1			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Tridbinbilla
Myrmecia pilosula	1	19		Australia	Crosland et al., 1988
Myrmecia pilosula	10			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Mt Victoria
Myrmecia pilosula	10			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Lawson
Myrmecia pilosula	10			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Wentworth Falls
Myrmecia pilosula	11			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Mt Victoria
Myrmecia pilosula	11			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Lawson
Myrmecia pilosula	13			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Mt Victoria
Myrmecia pilosula	15			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Mt Victoria
Myrmecia pilosula	15			Australia	Crozier, 1966
Myrmecia pilosula	16			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Piccadilly Circus
Myrmecia pilosula	5			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from HMAS Albatross
Myrmecia pilosula	9			Australia	Crosland et al., 1988	Population from Wentworth Falls
Myrmecia pyriformis	41	81		Australia	Imai et al., 1977
Myrmecia simillima	35	70		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia tepperi		70		Australia	Browning, 1987
Myrmecia vindex		74		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996
Myrmecia vindex		76		Australia	Hirai et al., 1996

Phylogeny

Myrmeciinae	†Archimyrmex  (4 species) Myrmeciini Myrmecia  (93 species, 0 fossil species) Prionomyrmecini †Prionomyrmex  (4 species) †Avitomyrmex  (3 species) †Macabeemyrma  (1 species) Nothomyrmecia  (1 species, 0 fossil species) †Ypresiomyrma  (4 species)

See Phylogeny of Myrmeciinae for details.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• MYRMECIA [Myrmeciinae: Myrmeciini]
  • Myrmecia Fabricius, 1804: 423. Type-species: Formica gulosa, by subsequent designation of Shuckard, in Swainson & Shuckard, 1840: 173.
  • Myrmecia senior synonym of Promyrmecia (and its junior synonyms Halmamyrmecia, Pristomyrmecia): Brown, 1953c: 1.
• HALMAMYRMECIA [junior synonym of Myrmecia]
  • Halmamyrmecia Wheeler, W.M. 1922b: 195 [as subgenus of Myrmecia]. Type-species: Myrmecia pilosula, by original designation.
  • Halmamyrmecia junior synonym of Promyrmecia: Clark, 1927: 37; Clark, 1951: 119.
  • Halmamyrmecia junior synonym of Myrmecia: Brown, 1953j: 1.
• PRISTOMYRMECIA [junior synonym of Myrmecia]
  • Pristomyrmecia Emery, 1911d: 21 [as subgenus of Myrmecia]. Type-species: Myrmecia mandibularis, by original designation.
  • Pristomyrmecia junior synonym of Promyrmecia: Clark, 1927: 37; Clark, 1951: 119.
  • Pristomyrmecia junior synonym of Myrmecia: Brown, 1953j: 1.
• PROMYRMECIA [junior synonym of Myrmecia]
  • Promyrmecia Emery, 1911d: 19 [as subgenus of Myrmecia]. Type-species: Myrmecia aberrans, by original designation.
  • Promyrmecia raised to genus: Clark, 1943: 84.
  • Promyrmecia senior synonym of Halmamyrmecia, Pristomyrmecia: Clark, 1927: 37; Clark, 1943: 84; Clark, 1951: 119.
  • Promyrmecia junior synonym of Myrmecia: Brown, 1953j: 1.

References

• [1] Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1971d. Ant larvae of the subfamily Myrmeciinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pan-Pac. Entomol. 47: 245-256
• Archibald, S.B., Cover, S.P. & Moreau, C.S. 2006. Bulldog ants of the Eocene Okanagan Highlands and history of the subfamily. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99: 486-523.
• Ashmead, W. H. 1905c. A skeleton of a new arrangement of the families, subfamilies, tribes and genera of the ants, or the superfamily Formicoidea. Can. Entomol. 37: 381-384 (page 382, Myrmecia in Poneridae, Myrmeciinae)
• Beutel, R.G., Richter, A., Keller, R.A., Hita Garcia, F., Matsumura, Y., Economo, E.P., Gorb, S.N. 2020. Distal leg structures of the Aculeata (Hymenoptera): A comparative evolutionary study of (Sphecidae) and (Formicidae). Journal of Morphology 281, 737–753 (doi:10.1002/JMOR.21133).
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 132, Myrmecia in Myrmeciinae, Myrmeciini)
• Brown, W. L., Jr. 1953c. Characters and synonymies among the genera of ants. Part I. Breviora 11: 1-13 (page 1, Myrmecia senior synonym of Promyrmecia (and its junior synonyms Halmamyrmecia, Pristomyrmecia).)
• Brown, W. L., Jr. 1953j. Revisionary notes on the ant genus Myrmecia of Australia. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 111: 1-35 (page 1, Revision of genus)
• Brown, W. L., Jr. 1954e. Remarks on the internal phylogeny and subfamily classification of the family Formicidae. Insectes Soc. 1: 21-31 (page 23, Myrmecia in Myrmeciinae)
• Burchill, A.T., Moreau, C.S. 2016. Colony size evolution in ants: macroevolutionary trends. Insectes Sociaux 63, 291–298 (doi:10.1007/s00040-016-0465-3).
• Buxton, J.T., Robert, K.A., Marshall, A.T., Dutka, T.L., Gibb, H. 2021. A cross-species test of the function of cuticular traits in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 31: 31-46 (doi:10.25849/MYRMECOL.NEWS_031:031).
• Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
• Clark, J. 1934c. Ants from the Otway Ranges. Mem. Natl. Mus. Vic. 8: 48-73 (page 50, Myrmecia in Ponerinae, Myrmeciini)
• Clark, J. 1943. A revision of the genus Promyrmecia Emery (Formicidae). Mem. Natl. Mus. Vic. 13: 83-149 (page 83, Revision of genus)
• Clark, J. 1951. The Formicidae of Australia. Vol. 1. Subfamily Myrmeciinae. Melbourne: CSIRO, 230 pp. (page 16, Myrmecia in Myrmeciinae (in key))
• CLARK, J. 1951. The Formicidae of Australia. Vol. 1. Subfamily Myrmeciinae. CSIRO, Melbourne, 230 pp.
• Dalla Torre, K. W. von. 1893. Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. Vol. 7. Formicidae (Heterogyna). Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 289 pp. (page 19, Myrmecia in Ponerinae)
• DIETEMANN, V., HOELLDOBLER, B. & PEETERS, C. 2002. Caste specialization and differentiation in reproductive potential in the phylogenetically primitive ant Myrmecia gulosa. Insectes Sociaux 49: 289-298.]]
• Dietemann, V., Peeters, C., Hölldobler, B. 2004. Gamergates in the Australian ant subfamily Myrmeciinae. Naturwissenschaften. 91 (9): 432–435 (doi:10.1007/s00114-004-0549-1).
• Donisthorpe, H. 1943g. A list of the type-species of the genera and subgenera of the Formicidae. [part]. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 11(10): 617-688 (page 665, Myrmecia in Ponerinae, Myrmeciini)
• Emery, C. 1877b. Saggio di un ordinamento naturale dei Mirmicidei, e considerazioni sulla filogenesi delle formiche. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 9: 67-83 (page 81, Myrmecia in Myrmicidae, Myrmeciidae)
• Emery, C. 1895l. Die Gattung Dorylus Fab. und die systematische Eintheilung der Formiciden. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Geogr. Biol. Tiere 8: 685-778 (page 766, Myrmecia in Ponerinae, Myrmeciini [Myrmecii])
• Emery, C. 1911e. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125 (page 17, Myrmecia in Ponerinae, Myrmeciini)
• Fabricius, J. C. 1804. Systema Piezatorum secundum ordines, genera, species, adjectis synonymis, locis, observationibus, descriptionibus. Brunswick: C. Reichard, xiv + 15-439 + 30 pp. (page 423, Myrmecia as genus)
• Fernandez, F., Guerrero, R.J., Sánchez-Restrepo, A.F. 2021. Sistemática y diversidad de las hormigas neotropicales. Revista Colombiana de Entomología 47, 1–20 (doi:10.25100/socolen.v47i1.11082).
• Forel, A. 1893b. Sur la classification de la famille des Formicides, avec remarques synonymiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 37: 161-167 (page 162, Myrmecia in Ponerinae, Myrmeciini [Myrmecii])
• Forel, A. 1917. Cadre synoptique actuel de la faune universelle des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 51: 229-253 (page 235, Myrmecia in Ponerinae, Myrmeciini)
• HASKINS, C. & HASKINS, E. 1955. The pattern of colony foundation in the archaic ant Myrmecia regularis. Insectes Sociaux 2: 115-126.
• Heterick, B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76:1-206. 'PDF
• Larabee, F.J., Suarez, A.V. 2014. The evolution and functional morphology of trap-jaw ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 20: 25-36.
• Mayr, G. 1862. Myrmecologische Studien. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 12: 649-776 (page 714, Myrmecia in Ponerinae [Poneridae])
• Mayr, G. 1865. Formicidae. In: Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte "Novara" um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859. Zoologischer Theil. Bd. II. Abt. 1. Wien: K. Gerold's Sohn, 119 pp. (page 18, Myrmecia in Myrmicinae [Myrmicidae])
• Mayr, G. 1866b. Diagnosen neuer und wenig gekannter Formiciden. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 16: 885-908 (page 896, Myrmecia in Myrmicinae [Myrmicidae])
• Mera-Rodríguez, D., Jourdan, H., Ward, P.S., Shattuck, S., Cover, S.P., Wilson, E.O., Rabeling, C. 2023. Biogeography and evolution of social parasitism in Australian Myrmecia bulldog ants revealed by phylogenomics. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 186, 107825 (doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107825).
• Narendra,A., Reid,S.F., Greiner,B., Peters,R.A., Hemmi,J.M., Ribi,W.A., Zeil,J. 2011. Caste-specific visual adaptations to distinct daily activity schedules in Australian Myrmecia ants. Proc. R. Soc. B 278(1709): 1141-1149.
• Ogata, K. 1991a. Ants of the genus Myrmecia Fabricius: a review of the species groups and their phylogenetic relationships (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmeciinae). Syst. Entomol. 16: 353-381 (page 353, Revision of genus)
• Ogata, K.; Taylor, R. W. 1991. Ants of the genus Myrmecia Fabricius: a preliminary review and key to the named species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmeciinae). Journal of Natural History 25: 1623-1673 (page 1623, Revision of genus)
• Paul, J. 2001. Mandible movements in ants. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular, Integrative Physiology 131, 7–20 (doi:10.1016/s1095-6433(01)00458-5).
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Taxonomy

• Rabeling, C. 2020. Social Parasitism. In: Starr, C. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Social Insects. Springer, Cham. (doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_175-1).
• Smith, F. 1858b. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae. London: British Museum, 216 pp. (page 143, Myrmecia in Poneridae, Myrmicidae)
• Swainson W.; Shuckard, W. E. 1840. On the history and natural arrangement of insects. London: Longman, Brown, Green & Longman's, 406 pp. (page 173, Type-species: Formica gulosa, by subsequent designation)
• Wheeler, W. M. 1910b. Ants: their structure, development and behavior. New York: Columbia University Press, xxv + 663 pp. (page 134, Myrmecia in Ponerinae, Myrmeciini [Myrmecii])
• Wheeler, W. M. 1922i. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VII. Keys to the genera and subgenera of ants. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 631-710 (page 640, Myrmecia in Ponerinae, Myrmeciini)