Myopias

Myopias is a moderately large genus (more than 30 described species) restricted to Southeast Asia and Australia. Relatively little is known about its habits, but at least some are specialist predators of millipedes.

Identification
Schmidt and Shattuck (2014) - Workers of Myopias are distinctive and unlikely to be mistaken for any other genus. Diagnostic characters of the genus (in combination) include: linear mandibles, blunt medial clypeal projection (absent in some species), round propodeal spiracles, nodiform petiole, strong gastral constriction, and simple tarsal claws. The clypeal projection and simple tarsal claws separate Myopias from Leptogenys, the morphologically most similar (and phylogenetically closest) genus. Buniapone and Paltothyreus also have blunt medial clypeal projections, but they differ in many other characters and are unlikely to be confused with Myopias.


 * Key to Eurasian and Australian Genera of Ponerinae

Distribution
The range of Myopias extends from Sri Lanka in the west and China in the north to Australia and Tasmania, with the greatest species diversity in Indonesia and New Guinea (Willey & Brown, 1983).

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Biology
Schmidt and Shattuck (2014) - Myopias is a poorly known genus, probably due to its cryptic nesting and foraging habits. Most of what is known about its ecology and behavior comes from anecdotal observations. Nests are generally constructed in rotting wood, though some species are subterranean nesters (Wheeler, 1923b; Willey & Brown, 1983). Reported colony sizes are typically less than 100 workers, and often much less (Wilson, 1959a; Willey & Brown, 1983; Gobin et al, 2006). At least some species are polygynous, and ergatoid queens (in conjunction with normal dealate queens) occur in at least two species (Myopias concava and an undescribed Indonesian species; Willey & Brown, 1983; Gobin et al., 2006). Workers of Myopias emeryi are obligately sterile (Gobin et al., 2006). Males have apparently never been reported for any Myopias species, which could simply be a reflection of the paucity of observations of any kind for this genus, or may suggest an unusual reproductive strategy. The feeding habits of most species are unknown, but some species are specialist predators of millipedes (Wilson, 1959a; Willey & Brown, 1983) and M. delta is a specialist predator of ants (especially myrmicines but also other ponerines). Gobin et al. (2003b) identified subepithelial glands in M. emeryi and Myopias maligna which may function in hydrocarbon production. Abdominal glands within a number of Myopias species were examined by Billen et al. (2013), leading to the discovery of several glands which were previously unknown in ants.

Nomenclature
Myopias (mi-op" i-as) Gr. myopias 'a short-sighted person' (Wheeler, G.C. 1956)


 *  MYOPIAS [Ponerinae: Ponerini]
 * Myopias Roger, 1861a: 39. Type-species: Myopias amblyops, by monotypy.
 * Myopias junior synonym of Pachycondyla: Snelling, R.R. 1981: 389.
 * Myopias revived from synonymy: Willey & Brown, 1983: 249.
 * Myopias senior synonym of Trapeziopelta, Bradyponera: Willey & Brown, 1983: 249.
 * BRADYPONERA [junior synonym of Myopias]
 * Bradyponera Mayr, 1886c: 362. Type-species: Ponera nitida (junior primary homonym in Ponera, replaced by Trapeziopelta mayri), by monotypy.
 * [Bradyponera Smith, F. 1873: viii. Nomen nudum, attributed to Mayr.]
 * Bradyponera junior synonym of Pachycondyla: Snelling, R.R. 1981: 389 (error).
 * Bradyponera junior synonym of Trapeziopelta: Emery, 1911d: 93 (provisional synonym); Donisthorpe, 1932c: 468.
 * Bradyponera junior synonym of Myopias: Willey & Brown, 1983: 249].
 * TRAPEZIOPELTA [junior synonym of Myopias]
 * Trapeziopelta Mayr, 1862: 715. Type-species: Ponera maligna, by monotypy.
 * Trapeziopelta senior synonym of Bradyponera: Donisthorpe, 1932c: 468.
 * Trapeziopelta junior synonym of Pachycondyla: Snelling, R.R. 1981: 390.
 * Trapeziopelta revived status as genus: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1985: 256.
 * Trapeziopelta junior synonym of Myopias: Willey & Brown, 1983: 249; Bolton, 1994: 164.

Worker
Small to large (TL 2.8–16.9 mm) ants with the standard characters of Ponerini. Mandibles usually narrow and moderately curved (triangular in Myopias delta), with only a few teeth, often without a distinct basal angle, and with a strong basal groove. Clypeus very shallow, the frontal lobes reaching or surpassing the anterior clypeal margin, which usually has a small blunt anterior projection. Eyes very small to moderate in size (rarely absent), located far anterior of the head midline. Mesopleuron not divided by a transverse groove (though sometimes with a row of foveae giving the impression of a groove). Metanotal groove shallow to deep. Propodeum broad dorsally. Propodeal spiracles small and round. Metatibial spur formula (1s, 1p). Petiole nodiform, widening posteriorly and dorsally. Gaster with a strong girdling constriction between pre- and postsclerites of A4. Presence of stridulitrum on pretergite of A4 variable. Head and body foveolate or smooth and shining, sometimes with lateral striations on the mesosoma. Head and body with scattered pilosity and little to no pubescence. Color variable, yellow to black.

Queen
Similar to worker but usually slightly larger (sometimes smaller, as in M. chapmani), alate and with the other caste differences typical for ponerines (Willey & Brown, 1983). Ergatoid queens occur in at least some species.

Male
Undescribed and apparently unknown.

Larva
Larvae of some Myopias species have been described by Wheeler & Wheeler (1964, 1976).