Myrmecina reticulata

The only known collection site for this species sits in the tropical semi-evergreen and evergreen forest, being a shaded spot with about 80% canopy cover in the Dampa Tiger Reserve at an elevation of 409 m above sea level. The annual rainfall ranges from 2000 mm to 2500 mm and temperature ranges from 12 °C to 25 °C during winter and 22 °C to 35 °C during summer. A single worker specimen of M. reticulata was collected using a Winkler extractor from sifted leaf litter taken from one square meter which accounted for 1000 ml of leaf litter. We were able to capture three additional ant genera: Meranoplus, Lasius and Carebara from the same trap.

Identification
Myrmecina reticulata belongs to Myrmecina gracilis complex as it has small eyes (<0.12 mm), flattened mesosoma, long and posteriorly directed propodeal spine, first tergum with concave anterior margin in dorsal view and sculptured dorsum.

The species is unique in having the following characters:
 * head and mesosoma with longitudinal rugae
 * anterior margin of clypeus with a prominent median tooth like process
 * propodeal dorsum has a distinct short and triangular denticle located anteriorly
 * propodeal spines longer than broad at base, anterodorsal margin medially elevated, slightly sloping to sides and curved up apically
 * sternopostpetiolar process not well developed, blunt
 * first gastral tergum reticulate
 * body blackish brown

Myrmecina reticulata is close to Myrmecina bawai in the following characters:
 * meosoma in dorsal view with parallel longitudinal rugae
 * anterior pair of denticles present on the propodeal dorsum
 * first gastral tergum in dorsal view sculptured.

However, M. reticulata can be easily separated from M. bawai by the following characteristics:
 * body mainly blackish brown in M. reticulata (dorsum of head, mesosoma and gaster yellow with a dark tinge. All other body parts yellow in M. bawai)
 * anterior margin of the clypeus with a distinct median tooth in M. reticulata (anterior margin of the clypeus without a median tooth in M. bawai)
 * propodeal spines long, distinctly broader than long in M. reticulata (propodeal spine short, nearly as broad as long in M. bawai)
 * sternopostpetiolar process not well developed, blunt in M. reticulata (sternopostpetiolar process well developed, triangular with acute anteroventral corner in M. bawai)
 * first gastral tergum in dorsal view, reticulate anteriorly, coarsely reticulate posteriorly in M. reticulata (first gastral tergum anteriorly with micro-punctures, coarsely reticulate medially in M. bawai)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  Myrmecina reticulata Aswaj et al., 2021: 166, figs. 4-5 (w.) INDIA.

Type Material

 * Holotype: worker: “India: Mizoram, Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mamit district, (23.6948°N, 92.4283°E, 409 m), 25.iv.2019, Winkler extraction method, Coll. Punnath Aswaj and Karunakaran Anoop” (NBAIR/ HYM-FOR/9424).