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Myrmecina davisoni
| Myrmecina davisoni | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Myrmecina |
| Species: | M. davisoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Myrmecina davisoni MacGown, 2023 | |
Fisher & Cover (2007) reported that M. davisoni (listed as Myrmecina sp.) was found in colonies of Myrmecina americana. The present discovery of a mixed colony of M. americana workers without a queen and M. davisoni with a queen and workers gives further credibility that M. davisoni is parasitic on M. americana.
Photo Gallery
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Identification
MacGown (2023) - Workers of Myrmecina davisoni are small (TL ≈ 2.70 mm), shiny reddish brown, have reduced carinae and other sculpture, lack a small pre-propodeal process found in many Myrmecina species, and possess a distinct ventral process on the postpetiole that projects anteriorly (Fig. 4A). Myrmecina davisoni is easily differentiated from the other North American species, Myrmecina americana, Myrmecina cooperi and Myrmecina harrisoni, by its lack of sculpture on the entire body, which gives it a shiny, glossy appearance. Myrmecina americana also differs from M. davisoni by lacking a forward projecting process on the venter of the postpetiole and being concave instead (Fig. 4B).
MacGown (2023), Figure 4. (A) Lateral view of the posterior region of propodeum and the waist of Myrmecina davisoni. Note the overall lack of sculpture, blunt propodeal process projected posteriorly, and anteriorly directed ventral postpetiolar process and (B) lateral view of the posterior region of propodeum and the waist of M. americana showing strong sculpture, acute propodeal spine projected slightly upward, and venter of postpetiole concave, lacking a forward projecting process.
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Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 34.8° to 34.8°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: MacGown, 2023
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States (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. |
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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. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- davisoni. Myrmecina davisoni MacGown, 2023: 112, figs. 2A, 4A, 5, 6 (w.) UNITED STATES.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype: HW 0.62, HL 0.66, EL 0.08, AntL-I 0.51, AntL-II–XII 0.81, AntL-X–XII 0.41, AntL-XII 0.26, MDL 0.37, PrW 0.41, MesL 0.76, PW 0.18, PL 0.20, PPW 0.22, PPL 0.20, FfeL 0.51, MFeL 0.51, HFeL 0.52. Paratype: HW 0.63, HL 0.66, EL 0.07, AntL-I 0.50, AntL-II–XII 0.88, AntL-X–XII 0.45, AntL-XII 0.26, MDL 0.38, PrW 0.43, MesL 0.78, PW 0.20, PL 0.20, PPW 0.23, PPL 0.19, FFeL 0.52, MFeL 0.51, HfeL 0.52.
Holotype: Small (TL approximately 2.72 mm). Entire body reddish brown except gastral tergites I and II, which are dark brown. Head, mesosoma, waist, and appendages shiny with reduced sculpture in the form of weak carinae on head and mesosoma; gaster finely shagreened. Head, mesosomal dorsum, waist dorsum, gaster, antennae, and legs with abundant, long, semierect, curved, whitish setae.
Head in full face view slightly longer than wide, rounded rectangular; posterior corners of head slightly rounded, posterior margin concave; sides of head with a strong ridge extending from mandibles to the posterior corners of the head; several low, carina present between antennal fossae extending longitudinally from level of antennal insertions toward posterior edge of head, most not reaching edge, several similar carina present on side of head beneath eye and encircling eye; strong sculpture such as rugoreticulation not present on head, but fine micro reticulation present; numerous, semi erect, curved, whitish setae of approximately the same length present across entire head with those along edges curved anteriorly, setae on face curving inward toward midline, setae on clypeal edge curving anteriorly and toward midline of clypeus, setae closest to clypeuslonger than others on head; eyes located on sides of head near mid-point, small, with 15 facets: clypeus broadly rounded with a median tooth; antennal fossae covering antennal insertions; antennae with 12 antennomeres, scape (antennomere I) long, angled near base, slightly narrowed basally then widening; antennomeres II–IX each slightly wider than long, antennomere II and IX approximately the same size, antennomeres III–VIII slightly smaller than II or IX and subequal to one another, antennomeres X–XII each successively larger and forming a club with apical antennomere (XII) slightly longer than X– XI; scape with numerous semi erect, whitish setae, all curving toward apex; funiculus with numerous semi erect, curved, whitish setae directed apically with those on apical flagellomere being denser and shorter than elsewhere on funiculus; mandible long, curved, somewhat scoop-shaped, teeth along margin reduced, slightly serrate, and apical tooth elongate.
Mesosoma entire, in dorsal view widest at humeral area and narrowing to propodeum; promesonotal and metanotal sutures weakly impressed, only obvious on lower mesopleural region; entire mesosoma smooth and shiny, lacking notable sculpture except for several irregular raised carinae on mesopleuron and metapleuron; six irregular, longitudinal carinae on dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum; and strong carinae encircling the entire mesosoma in lateral view and in dorsal view from humeral area to and surrounding propodeal teeth; interspaces smooth; mesosomal dorsum with numerous semi erect, curved, whitish setae; propodeal spines triangular, lacking a smaller anterior spine (often present in Myrmecina species); propodeal spiracle circular. Waist smooth, shiny, lacking sculpture; petiole about as wide as long, somewhat barrel shaped, with a low, raised triangular process dorsally, with a few erect, whitish setae dorsally; postpetiole slightly wider than long, with a strong ventral process projecting anteriorly, dorsum with numerous erect, curved, whitish setae. Legs shiny, with numerous semi-erect, whitish setae; fore, mid, and hind femur subequal, basal region of each femur narrowed then widened. Gaster weakly shagreened, with numerous, semi erect, curved, whitish setae of approximately the same length present.
Queen
Paratype Dealate: Larger than worker (TL 3.97 mm). Head except cheeks, mesosomal dorsum, waist dorsum, and first two tergites and sternites of gaster dark brown; the rest of the body and appendages a lighter reddish brown. Head, mesosoma, waist, and appendages shiny with reduced sculpture in the form of weak carinae on head and mesosoma; gaster finely shagreened.
Head, mesosomal dorsum, waist dorsum, gaster, antennae, and legs with abundant, long, semierect, curved, whitish setae. Head in full face view about as wide as long, widest posteriorly; posterior corners of head slightly rounded, posterior margin concave; sides of head with a strong ridge extending from mandibles to the posterior corners of the head; numerous low, raised sharp edged carina present between antennal fossae extending longitudinally from level of antennal insertions toward posterior edge of head, reaching posterior corners, but most not extending past ocelli; several similar carina present on side of head beneath eye and encircling eye; strong sculpture such as rugoreticulation not present on head, but fine micro reticulation present; numerous, semi erect, curved, whitish setae of approximately the same length present across entire head with those along edges curved anteriorly, setae on face curving inward toward midline, setae on clypeal edge curving anteriorly and toward midline of clypeus, setae closest to clypeus longer than others on head; eyes located on sides of head near mid-point, large, with 100+ facets: three ocelli present; clypeus broadly rounded with a median tooth; antennal fossae covering antennal insertions; antennae with 12 antennomeres, scape (antennomere I) long, angled near base, slightly narrowed basally then widening; antennomeres II–IX each slightly wider than long, antennomere II and IX approximately the same size, antennomeres III–VIII slightly smaller than II or IX and subequal to one another, antennomeres X–XII each successively larger and forming a club with apical antennomere (XII) slightly longer than X–XI; scape with numerous semi erect, whitish setae, all curving toward apex; funiculus with numerous whitish, semi erect, curved setae directed apically with those on apical flagellomere being denser and shorter than elsewhere on funiculus; mandible long, curved, somewhat scoop-shaped, teeth along margin reduced, slightly serrate, and apical tooth elongate.
Mesosoma ovate in dorsal view, widest at wing bases then narrowing to propodeum; mesoscutellum positioned above metanotum, together distinctly raised above dorsal surface of propodeum (in lateral view); entire mesosoma shiny, irregular raised carinae present on pronotum, anterior edges of mesopleuron, metapleuron, and a few short longitudinal carinae at scutellar sulcus; in lateral view strong a carina SS encircling the entire mesosoma ventrally to and surrounding propodeal teeth; interspaces smooth; mesosomal dorsum with numerous semi erect, strongly curved, whitish setae. pronotum not visible in dorsal view, asymmetrically hexagonal in lateral view; propodeal spines triangular, lacking a smaller anterior spine; propodeal spiracle circular. Waist smooth, shiny, lacking sculpture; petiole about as wide as long, somewhat barrel shaped, with low, raised triangular process dorsally, with a few erect, whitish setae dorsally; postpetiole slightly wider than long, with a strong ventral process projecting anteriorly, dorsum with numerous erect, curved, whitish setae. Legs shiny, with numerous semi-erect, whitish setae; fore, mid, and hind femur subequal, basal region of each femur narrowed then widened. Gaster weakly shagreened, with numerous, semi erect, curved, whitish setae of approximately the same length present.
Type Material
- Holotype worker — [United States] Alabama, Lauderdale, Wildwood Park, Florence, 34.80911 -87.69828, 27 Apr 2017, P. G. Davison & T. I. Heinkel, Plot 2, colony in artificial plaster cavity under leaf litter beneath oak trees (holotype deposited in MEM). Specimen code MEM 455,106.
- Paratype worker — Same data as holotype except with unique specimen code: MEM 455,107.
- Paratype dealate queen — Same data as holotype except with unique specimen code: MEM 455,108.
Etymology
This species is named in honor of Paul Davison, naturalist and professor of biology at the University of North Alabama. Paul’s enthusiasm and passion for nature and education is unquenchable.