Myrmecia tarsata

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Biology
An incomplete colony excavated in 2007 (30km west of Dorrigo NSW) yielded over 500 workers, 160 cocoons and 173 larvae (C. Peeters unpublished data). Two cocoons contained partly-pigmented pupae of brachypterous queens, while other cocoons contained males.

Castes
McAreavey (1948) and Clark (1951, p. 28-31) described dimorphic flightless queens: ergatoid (permanently wingless) and brachypterous (short, non-functional wings).

Brachypterous queens generally retain unfused flight sclerites in the thorax. The short wings are often broken within hours of emergence, and wing scars give the impression of a queen capable of flying.



Nomenclature

 *  tarsata. Myrmecia tarsata Smith, F. 1858b: 145 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Roger, 1861a: 33 (q.); Clark, 1951: 30 (m.). See also: Crawley, 1926: 379; Clark, 1927: 34; Clark, 1951: 28.

Type Material


Holotype worker in. Labelled “N.H. Hunter R. 44/105” and with a det. label “tarsata Type Smith.” Specimen is very large, with swollen gaster.