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Myrmica intermedia
| †Myrmica intermedia Temporal range: Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene Baltic amber, Baltic Sea region | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Myrmicini |
| Genus: | Myrmica |
| Species: | †M. intermedia |
| Binomial name | |
| †Myrmica intermedia (Wheeler, W.M., 1915) | |
Photo Gallery
Radchenko (2023), Figure 2. Myrmica rudis, worker, neotype: (A) body, right side lateral view; (B) body, left side dorso-lateral view; (C) hind tibia; Myrmica intermedia, workers: neotype (D) body, left side lateral view; (E) body, right side dorso-lateral view; specimen GPIH 4942: (F) head, dorsal view; (G) body, dorsal view; specimen F-650: (H) body, dorso-lateral view; (I) antenna. Scale bars: A, B, D, E, G–I – 1 mm, C, F – 0.5 mm.
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Identification
Radchenko (2023) - Meso- and metatibiae without spur; head, mesosoma and waist coarsely sculptured; upper lateroventral corners of head slightly pointed; eyes located somewhat in front of midlength of sides of head; scape gradually, but quite strongly curved at base, without any angle, lobe or carina; mesosoma long and low; petiole long and low; propodeal spines directed mainly backward (seen in profile) and very slightly divergent (seen from above).
For differences from Myrmica longispinosa and Myrmica rudis, see those species.
It differs from Myrmica dictyosa by the mesopleura and propodeum with sinuous longitudinal rugae, while in the latter species the entire mesosoma is very coarsely reticulate. Like Myrmica longispinosa and Myrmica rudis, M. intermedia differs from Myrmica electrina and Myrmica saxonica by the longer and more slender mesosoma and long and low petiole. By the eyes located in front of midlength of sides of head, it differs from Myrmica eocenica and Myrmica damzeni. In addition, it is distinguished from M. eocenica by the absence of spurs on the meso and metatibiae and by the much less divergent propodeal spines, and from M. damzeni by a much more abundant erect or suberect pilosity on the body and appendages.
Until now, only the holotype specimen was known, but Radchenko (2023) found two more workers (including the neotype) from Baltic amber, and one was found for the first time from Rovno amber.
The designated neotype and two other specimens agree well with the original description and drawing of M. intermedia (Wheeler 1915, Fig. 24). It is important that in one of the examined specimens, the maxillary and labial palps are clearly visible and are 6- and 4-segmented, respectively. This fact confirms our previous proposal to transfer M. intermedia to the genus Myrmica (Radchenko et al. 2007), despite the absence of spurs on the meso- and metatibiae.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
This taxon was described from Baltic amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene) and is known from Rovno amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Priabonian, Late Eocene).
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- †intermedia. †Nothomyrmica intermedia Wheeler, W.M. 1915h: 61, fig. 24 (w.) BALTIC AMBER (Eocene). Combination in Myrmica: Radchenko, Dlussky & Elmes, 2007: 1496. See also: Radchenko & Elmes, 2010: 653.
Type Material
- Neotype worker (designated by Radchenko, 2023), complete specimen, Baltic amber, No. JDC 9268 (SIZK); worker, complete specimen, Baltic amber, No. GPIH 4942, (CCGG 6790) (AntWeb CASENT0917563); worker, complete specimen, Rovno amber, F-650 (CMKHU).
Type locality: Poland, Baltic amber; Ukraine, Rivne Prov., Rovno amber; both late Eocene, Priabonian age, 37.8–33.9 Ma.