Myrmecina eruga

This species is restricted to rainforest and Melaleuca forests of northern Queensland coastal areas where it has been found in leaf litter samples and nesting in rotten logs and under rocks.

Identification
Shattuck (2009) - Antero-medial surface of pronotum immediately behind the collar with at most very weak sculpturing and sometimes nearly smooth, this region differing significantly from the more heavily sculptured posterior regions of the pronotum and mesonotum; sculpturing on pronotum running longitudinally and generally with the central carina (or carinae) running nearly the length of the mesosoma; body larger (HW > 0.65mm, MTL > 0.35mm); head squarer (CI > 95). This species is most similar to Myrmecina pumila and Myrmecina silvalaeva in the pattern of sculpturing on the pronotum but differs from pumila in being larger and with a squarer head and from silvalaeva in the longitudinal (rather than transverse) carinae on the dorsum of the mesosoma. It shares the pattern of sculpturing on the head with rugosa, but differs in the pronotal sculpturing. (Shattuck 2009)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  eruga. Myrmecina eruga Shattuck, 2009a: 10, figs. 5, 17-19, 50 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Antennal scapes with low longitudinal ridges. First segment of funiculus cone-shaped. Sides of head behind compound eyes smooth with weak irregular sculpturing centrally. Sculpturing on dorsal surface of mesosoma ill-defined and running longitudinally, the dorsal surface of pronotum immediately behind the collar very weakly sculpturing (sometimes nearly smooth). Dorsal and lateral surfaces of mesosoma separated by an indistinct angle or ridge which interrupts or breaks the mesosomal sculpturing. Metanotal spines moderately short. Propodeal spines long. Erect hairs abundant, straight. Colour dark brown-black, antennae, mandibles and legs yellow-brown.

(n = 10)—CI 95–101; HL 0.72–0.79; HW 0.71–0.79; MTL 0.37–0.42; SI 83–90; SL 0.61–0.69; WL 0.83–0.96.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Shattuck S. O. 2009. A revision the Australian species of the ant genus Myrmecina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2146: 1-21.