Myrmecia varians

Myrmecia varians
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmeciinae
Tribe:	Myrmeciini
Genus:	Myrmecia
Species group:	pilosula
Species:	M. varians
Binomial name
Myrmecia varians Mayr, 1876 Specimen Labels
Synonyms
Myrmecia rufonigra Crawley, 1921 Promyrmecia goudiei Clark, 1943 Promyrmecia marmorata Clark, 1951 Promyrmecia shepherdi Clark, 1943 Promyrmecia wilsoni Clark, 1943

Identification

Little separates M. varians from Myrmecia michaelseni and Myrmecia rugosa, but Ogata and Taylor (1991) use subtle differences in the length of the pronotal setae and the appearance of the mandibles to distinguish them.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Australian Myrmecia Species
• Key to Myrmecia of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province

Distribution

Heterick (2009) - Myrmecia varians, described from the eastern states, is represented by one specimen each from Nerren Nerren Stn, just outside the boundaries of the SWBP (McKenzie, Keighery et al. 2000) and from Westonia.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -12.66666985° to -36.93333°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Life History Traits

• Queen number: monogynous (Rissing and Pollock, 1988; Frumhoff & Ward, 1992)

Phylogeny

Myrmecia

gulosa group Myrmecia esuriens Myrmecia midas Myrmecia pulchra Myrmecia mjobergi Myrmecia regularis Myrmecia forficata Myrmecia brevinoda Myrmecia erecta Myrmecia pyriformis Myrmecia browningi Myrmecia sp. Myrmecia analis Myrmecia minuscula Myrmecia comata Myrmecia rowlandi Myrmecia flavicoma Myrmecia tarsata Myrmecia tridentata Myrmecia eungellensis Myrmecia fabricii Myrmecia athertonensis Myrmecia auriventris Myrmecia borealis Myrmecia gulosa Myrmecia forceps Myrmecia simillima Myrmecia arnoldi Myrmecia fulgida Myrmecia pavida Myrmecia vindex Myrmecia fuscipes Myrmecia (near nigriceps) Myrmecia desertorum Myrmecia nigriceps Myrmecia nigriceps Myrmecia inquilina nigrocincta group Myrmecia flammicollis Myrmecia petiolata Myrmecia nigrocincta picta group Myrmecia fucosa Myrmecia picta Myrmecia infima Myrmecia urens apicalis group Myrmecia apicalis pilosula group Myrmecia testaceipes Myrmecia acuta Myrmecia chasei Myrmecia clarki Myrmecia dispar Myrmecia occidentalis Myrmecia tepperi Myrmecia elegans Myrmecia varians Myrmecia banksi Myrmecia croslandi Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia haskinsorum Myrmecia pilosula Myrmecia pilosula Myrmecia (near pilosula)

Based on Mera-Rodríguez et al. (2023).

Nomenclature

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

• varians. Myrmecia varians Mayr, 1876: 94 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
  • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
  • Type-localities: Australia: Queensland, Peak Downs (no collector’s name), Queensland, Rockhampton (no collector’s name).
  • Type-depository: NHMW.
  • Clark, 1943: 127 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971d: 254 (l.).
  • Combination in Promyrmecia: Clark, 1943: 126;
  • combination in Myrmecia: Brown, 1953j: 14.
  • Status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 22; Emery, 1911d: 21; Forel, 1915b: 5; Clark, 1943: 126 (redescription); Clark, 1951: 181 (redescription); Brown, 1953j: 14; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata, 1991a: 361; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1640 (in key); Bolton, 1995b: 273; Heterick, 2009: 122.
  • Senior synonym of goudiei: Brown, 1953j: 15; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 273.
  • Senior synonym of marmorata: Brown, 1953j: 15; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 273.
  • Senior synonym of rufonigra: Clark, 1943: 126; Clark, 1951: 181; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 273.
  • Senior synonym of shepherdi: Brown, 1953j: 15; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 273.
  • Senior synonym of wilsoni: Brown, 1953j: 15; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 273.
  • Distribution: Australia.
• goudiei. Promyrmecia goudiei Clark, 1943: 129, pl. 15, figs. 48, 49 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA (Victoria).
  • Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens (numbers not stated).
  • Type-localities: Australia: Victoria, Sea Lake (J.C. Goudie), Victoria, Redcliffs (W.S. Creek), Victoria, Redcliffs, ix.1939 (J. Clark), Victoria, Hattah (J. Clark), Victoria, Lake Hattah (J.E. Dixon).
  • Type-depository: MVMA.
  • Status as species: Clark, 1951: 186 (redescription).
  • Junior synonym of varians: Brown, 1953j: 15; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 271.
• marmorata. Promyrmecia marmorata Clark, 1951: 188, fig. 157 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Victoria).
  • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
  • Type-locality: Australia: Victoria, Patho (H.A. Potter).
  • Type-depository: ANIC.
  • Junior synonym of varians: Brown, 1953j: 15; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 272.
• maxima. Formica maxima Moore, 1842: 52 (w.) AUSTRALIA.
  • Combination in Myrmecia: Ride & Taylor, 1973: 58.
  • Application for suppression of name: Ride & Taylor, 1973: 58.
• rufonigra. Myrmecia rufonigra Crawley, 1921: 87 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
  • Type-material: 2 syntype workers.
  • Type-locality: Australia: Queensland, Townsville, vii.1902 (F.P. Dodd).
  • Type-depository: OXUM.
  • Junior synonym of varians: Clark, 1943: 126; Clark, 1951: 181; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 273.
• shepherdi. Promyrmecia shepherdi Clark, 1943: 128, pl. 15, figs. 50-52 (w.q.m.) AUSTRALIA (New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria).
  • Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens, syntype males (numbers not stated).
  • Type-localities: Australia: New South Wales, Broken Hill (F.W. Shepherd), New South Wales, Dubbo (W.W. Froggatt); non-type locality syntypes South Australia, Finke River (G.F. Hill), Victoria, Nhill (J. Clark).
  • [Note: type-locality New South Wales by restriction of Clark, 1951: 186.]
  • Type-depository: MVMA.
  • Status as species: Clark, 1951: 184 (redescription).
  • Junior synonym of varians: Brown, 1953j: 15; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 273.
• wilsoni. Promyrmecia wilsoni Clark, 1943: 127, pl. 15, fig. 66 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
  • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
  • Type-locality: Australia: N Queensland, Mutchilba (A.D. Selby).
  • Type-depository: MVMA.
  • Status as species: Clark, 1951: 183 (redescription).
  • Junior synonym of varians: Brown, 1953j: 15; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 17; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1631; Bolton, 1995b: 273.

Type Material

• Myrmecia varians: Syntype, 1 worker, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, Geoffrey,Mrs., ANIC32-017883, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Myrmecia varians: Syntype, 1 worker, locality unknown, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
• Myrmecia varians: Syntype, 4 workers, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna.
• Myrmecia varians: Syntype, worker(s), Peak Downs, Queensland, Australia.
• Myrmecia rufonigra: Syntype, worker(s), Townsville, Queensland, Australia, Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
• Promyrmecia goudiei: Syntype, worker(s), queen(s), Sea Lake, Redcliffs, Hattah and Lake Hattah, Victoria, Australia, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.
• Promyrmecia marmorata: Holotype, worker, Patho, Victoria, Australia, Dixon,J.E., ANIC32-017878, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Promyrmecia marmorata: Paratype, 2 workers, Lake Hattah, Victoria, Australia, Dixon,J.E., ANIC32-017879, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Promyrmecia shepherdi: Syntype, 1 worker, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, Shepherd,F.W., ANIC32-017880, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Promyrmecia shepherdi: Syntype, 1 queen, Wimmera, Victoria, Australia, <collector unknown>, ANIC32-017881, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Promyrmecia shepherdi: Syntype, 1 male, South Australia, Australia, <collector unknown>, ANIC32-017882, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Promyrmecia shepherdi: Syntype, 1 worker, Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
• Promyrmecia shepherdi: Syntype, worker(s), queen(s), male(s), Broken Hill and Dubbo, New South Wales; Finke River and Murray Bridge, South Australia; Nhill, Vict., Australia, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.
• Promyrmecia wilsoni: Syntype, 1 worker, Mutchilba, Queensland, Australia, Selby,A.D., ANIC32-006654, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Promyrmecia wilsoni: Syntype, worker(s), Mutchilba, Queensland, Australia, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.

References

• 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 15, senior synonym of goudiei, marmorata, shepherdi and wilsoni)
• Brown, W. L., Jr. 1953j. Revisionary notes on the ant genus Myrmecia of Australia. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 111: 1-35.
• Clark, J. 1943. A revision of the genus Promyrmecia Emery (Formicidae). Mem. Natl. Mus. Vic. 13: 83-149 (page 127, queen described; page 126, Combination in Promyrmecia, senior synonym of rufonigra)
• Clark, J. 1951. The Formicidae of Australia. 1. Subfamily Myrmeciinae: 230 pp. CSIRO, Melbourne. [(31.xii).1951.]
• Heterick, B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76:1-206.
• Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
• Heterick, B.E. 2022. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part II: Distribution and biology. Records of the Western Australian Museum, supplement 86: 247-510 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2022.247-510).
• Mayr, G. 1876. Die australischen Formiciden. J. Mus. Godeffroy 12: 56-115 (page 94, worker described)
• 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).
• Moura, M.N., Cardoso, D.C., Cristiano, M.P. 2020. The tight genome size of ants: diversity and evolution under ancestral state reconstruction and base composition. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, zlaa135 (doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa135).
• Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1971d. Ant larvae of the subfamily Myrmeciinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pan-Pac. Entomol. 47: 245-256 (page 254, larva described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Brown W. L., Jr. 1953. Revisionary notes on the ant genus Myrmecia of Australia. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology

111: 1-35.

• Debuse V. J., J. King, and A. P. N. Hous. 2007. Effect of fragmentation, habitat loss and within-patch habitat characteristics on ant assemblages in semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia. Lanscape Ecology 22: 731-745.
• Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.