Nothomyrmecia macrops

The only species of the genus, this ant was a myrmecological mystery for many decades after its description in 1934. The original type specimens were the only samples collected until the ant was rediscovered in more recent times. Besides some vague locality data and Clark's statement about a 2,500 km stretch of southern Australia: "beyond those collected by Miss Baesjou very few species of ants have been seen from the great stretch of country lying between Albany, Western Australia, and Port Lincoln, South Australia" it was not clear where the types were even found.

Identification
Near Myrmecia from which it is readily separated by the form of the head, mandibles, clypeus, eyes and the lack of ocelli as well as the postpetiole which is not constricted behind to form a second node. (Clark 1934)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  macrops. Nothomyrmecia macrops Clark, 1934a: 19, fig. 1 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Taylor, 1978a: 979 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C., Wheeler, J. & Taylor, 1980: 131 (l.); Imai, Taylor, et al. 1991: 133 (k.). Combination in †Prionomyrmex: Baroni Urbani, 2000: 479; in Nothomyrmecia: Ward & Brady, 2003: 375. See also: Jaisson, Fresnau, et al. 1992: 425; Hölldobler & Taylor, 1983: 382; Ward & Taylor, 1981: 177.

Worker
Length, 9.7-11 mm.

Testaceous, basal half of first segment of gaster darker. Mandibles, clypeus, antennae and legs pale yellow.

Mandibles very finely and densely punctate, with a row of large punctures along inner border at base of teeth. Clypeus and head very finely and superficially reticulate. Pronotum finely rugose, the rugae forming feeble transversely arched ridges. Mesonotum finely reticulate with a few large shallow punctures. Epinotum transversely and finely rugose. Node smooth in front, finely reticulate and with a few large punctures behind. Postpetiole gaster, antennae and legs microscopically punctate.

Hair yellow, erect, moderately long and abundant throughout, shorter and suberect on antennae and legs. Pubescence white, very fine and adpressed, abundant throughout but not hiding the sculpture.

Head as long as broad, much broader behind than in front, broadest just behind the eyes, sides convex, occipital border strongly concave, angles strongly rounded. Mandibles shorter than head, external borders straight to apical third then rounded inward and downward; inner border straight to basal fourth then abruptly reduced to base, furnished with ten or twelve small sharp teeth, about equally spaced along the edge, with minute denticles between them, basal angle sharp, apex long and pointed. Clypeus feebly convex above, produced and convex in front. Frontal carinae erect, almost parallel, extending backward level with middle of eyes, not covering the antennal insertions in front. Eyes large and convex, placed at middle of sides slightly on top, occupying fully one-third of sides. No ocelli. Scapes extending beyond occipital border by one-fifth their length, slightly thickened toward the apex; second segment of funiculus one-fourth longer than first, third and fourth, these equal in length, fifth to tenth becoming gradually shorter, apical as long as the two preceding together. Thorax two and three-quarters times longer than broad. Pronotum slightly broader than long, strongly convex in all directions. Mesonotum almost as long as broad, almost circular, strongly convex transversely. Epinotum longer than broad, convex in all directions; in profile the dorsum and declivity strongly convex without traces of a boundary. Node slightly broader than long, bluntly pointed in front, convex in all directions; in profile longer than high, dome shaped but slightly higher in front than behind, one-third longer than the stalk in front; ventral surface with a long broad bluntly pointed tooth in front directed downward. No traces of a constriction between the postpetiole and gaster. Postpetiole twice as broad as long, bell-shaped; ventral surface with a long sharp, hook-shaped, semitransparent tooth directed backward. First segment of gaster one-third broader than long, broader behind than in front, sides strongly convex. Sting very long and stout. Legs robust.

Type Material


Western Australia, Russell Range (Miss A. E. Baesjou). Described from two examples captured by Miss Baesjou near the Russell Range, inland from Israelite Bay.

Additional References

 * [[Media:Taylor et al 1991.pdf|Imai, H. T.; Taylor, R. W.; Kubota, M.; Ogata, K.; Wada, M. Y. 1991 [1990]. Notes on the remarkable karyology of the primitive ant Nothomyrmecia macrops, and of the related genus Myrmecia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche (Camb.) 97: 133-140 PDF]]