Myrmecia varians

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.

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.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 * . 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.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1953. Revisionary notes on the ant genus Myrmecia of Australia. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 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.