Myrmecia swalei

Myrmecia swalei forms very small colonies in open soil with a single, well hidden entrance.

Identification
Heterick (2009) - Myrmecia swalei strongly resembles the M. chasei complex in appearance but can easily be distinguished by its reduced mandibular teeth.

Distribution
Heterick (2009) - This species is quite common in more coastal parts of the south-west (WA, SWBP), but can be found near the south coast at least as far east as Bremer Bay.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 * . Myrmecia harderi r. swalei Crawley, 1922b: 429 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Australia: Western Australia, Albany (H. Swale).
 * Type-depository: OXUM.
 * Clark, 1943: 134 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971d: 253 (l.).
 * Combination in Promyrmecia: Clark, 1943: 133;
 * combination in Myrmecia: Taylor & Brown, 1985: 16.
 * Status as species: Clark, 1943: 133 (redescription); Clark, 1951: 176 (redescription); Taylor & Brown, 1985: 16; Taylor, 1987a: 46; Ogata, 1991a: 362; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1642 (in key), 1665; Bolton, 1995b: 273; Heterick, 2009: 123.
 * Distribution: Australia.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Ogata K. and Taylor R.W. 1991. Ants of the genus Myrmecia Fabricius: a preliminary review and key to the named species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmeciinae), Journal of Natural History, 25: 1623-1673
 * 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.