Myrmecia

Keys
Australian species

Myrmecia Species Groups

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.

Larva


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

Nomenclature

 *  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.

Additional References

 * Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1971d. Ant larvae of the subfamily Myrmeciinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pan-Pac. Entomol. 47: 245-256