Myrmecina pauca

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Huang et al. (2008) - This new species is similar to Myrmecina graminicola but can be distinguished from the latter by its 11-segmented antennae, scape cylindrical at base, more strong longitudinal rugulae on the dorsum of alitrunk, especially the broad sulcus running throughout the middle of the dorsum. Furthermore, the 11-segmented antennae can separate the new species from all known Myrmecina species in the world.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  pauca. Myrmecina pauca Huang, Huang & Zhou, 2008: 275, figs. 1-6 (w.q.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.98, HL 0.67, HW 0.67, CI 100, SL 0.46, SI 68, PW 0.48, AL 0.74, EL 0.11, PL 0.22, PH 0.22, PNW 0.20, PPL 017, PPH 0.22, PPW 0.24.

Paratypes. TL 2.78-2198, HL 0.65-0.67, HW 0.63-0.67, CI 94-100, SL 0.46-0.50, SI 68-77, PW 0.46-0.50, AL 0.72-0.74, EL 0.09-0.11, PL 0.20-0.22, PH 0.20-0.22, PNW 0.20-0.22, PPL 0.15-0.17, PPH 0.20-0.22, PPW 0.24-0.26 (5 specimens measured).

Head rectangular, with slightly concave posterior margin and convex sides. Occipital carina well developed, extending to ventral surface. Antennae 11-segmented, scapes reaching to occipital corners, cylindrical at base, distinctly thinner than at apex in posterodorsal view. Clypeus with median portion somewhat depressed, anterior margin slightly concave, with a small median clypeal tooth and a pair of lateral angles. Mandibles stout, subtriangular, masticatory margin armed with two large teeth at apex and followed by a series of indistinct blunt denticles. Eyes moderate large, situated laterally and anterior to the midpoint of lateral sides of head, consisted of about 10 ommatidia, maximum diameter 0.11 mm. Dorsum of alitrunk with distinct lateral margins, nearly flattened, slightly convex in profile view, narrowing posteriorly in dorsal view, lateral sides vertical and slightly concave, anteroventral pronotal corner forming an obtuse angle. Anterolateral corners of propodeum with distinct triangular teeth, declivity concave. Propodeal spines large, slightly longer than their basal width, posteriorly pointed, with slightly up-curved tips. Legs with femora and tibiae incrassate in the middle. Petiole cylindrical, longer than broad, with truncate and concave anterior surface, without distinct anterior peduncle, petiolar node with a distinct cross ridge. Postpetiole transverse, broader than long and shorter than petiole in dorsal view. Subpetiolar process small, tooth-like. Gaster broadly oval.

Mandibles, clypeus, legs, declivity of propodeum, anterior surface of petiole and gaster smooth and shining. Antennal scape with fine and longitudinal rugulae. Head longitudinally and irregularly rugulose, with reticulate-punctulate ground sculpture, except an oval frontal area feebly reticulate but still lustrous. Dorsum of alitrunk with strong longitudinal rugulae, the median one running throughout the dorsum and the others along the side of it diverging anteriorly. Lateral sides of pronotum with four to five longitudinal rugulae, but the rugulae at the sides of mesonotum and propodeum a little more irregular. Petiole and postpetiole broadly and longitudinally rugulose above and at sides. Body covered with abundant pale golden erect or suberect hairs, pubescence absent except on the flagella of antennae. Body blackish brown. Mandibles, clypeus, genae, antennae, legs, ventral surface of petiole and postpetiole, and apex of gaster yellowish-brown.

Queen
Paratype. TL 3.35-3.59, HL 1.05-1.10, HW 1.05-1.12, CI 100-102, SL 0.88-0.90, SI 80-84, PW 0.73-0.83, AL 1.12-1.14, EL 0.29-0.31, PL 0.30-0.35, PH 0.29-0.33, PNW 0.29-0.33, PPL 0.20-0.22, PPH 0.24-0.26, PPW 0.26-0.28.

Similar to worker. Head with three ocelli, coarsely rugose. Eyes large and protruding, consisting of decades of facets. Pronotum narrow, transverse and rugulose, forming anterior surface of alitrunk. Mesonotum forming the majority of dorsum of alitrunk, with several longitudinal carinae in the middle portion near the posterior margin, and three shining areas, one in the front, and the other two in sides of posterior border. Metanotum with a shining patch in the middle and a series of short longitudinal carinae near the anterior margin. Sutures on alitrunk well developed. Propodeal spines short, stout and triangular, with pointed apex.

Type Material
The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China and the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, USA, respectively.

Holotype. Worker, Bamianshan Nature Reserve, Guidong County, Hunan Province, China (26°02′N, 113°45′E), 14 June 2004, collected by HUANG Jian-Hua.

Paratypes: 3 workers, from the same nest of holotype; 1 worker, Yuankou Nature Reserve, Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China (24°58′N, 111°06′E), 23 Sep. 2003, collected by HUANG Jian-Hua; 1 worker, Taoyuandong Nature Reserve, Yanling County, Hunan Province, China (26°30′N, 114°06′ E), 24 Sep. 2003; 1 female, Hengshan Nature Reserve, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, China (27°17′N, 112°41′E), 8 Sep. 2003, collected by HUANG Jian-Hua; 1 female, Heimifeng Forest Park, Wangcheng County, Hunan Province, China (28°25′N, 113°02′E), 12 Sep. 2003, collected by HUANG Jian-Hua; 1 female, Hongmenchong Nature Reserve (Mujiao Town), Tongdao County, Hunan Province, China (26°18′N, 109°54′E), 25 July 2004, collected by HUANG Jian-Hua.

Etymology
The species is named from the Latin word “paucus” (few), referring to its reduced number of antennal segments.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Huang J. H., Y. Huang, and S. Y. Zhou. 2008. A new species of the genus Myrmecina Curtis, 1829 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Hunan Province, China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 33: 275-278.