Key to Australian Myrmecina Species

The following key to Australian Myrmecina is based on Shattuck (2009).

1

 * First segment of funiculus expanded laterally, with strongly convex sides and appearing essentially spherical => Myrmecina australis


 * First segment of funiculus narrower, with nearly straight sides and essentially cone-shaped => 2

2

 * Sculpturing on pronotum forming continuous transverse carinae which form shallow arches to deep “V”s => 3


 * Sculpturing on pronotum running longitudinally and generally with the central carina (or carinae) running nearly the length of the mesosoma, or occasionally sculpturing ill-defined and irregular => 4

3

 * Sides of head behind compound eyes with 2–3 longitudinal carinae running the length of the head => Myrmecina silvarugosa


 * Sides of head behind compound eyes smooth => 5

4

 * Sides of head behind compound eyes with 2–3 longitudinal carinae running the length of the head => Myrmecina alpina


 * Sides of head behind compound eyes smooth => 6

5

 * Dorsal surface of pronotum immediately behind the collar with at most very weak sculpturing (sometimes nearly smooth) => Myrmecina silvalaeva


 * Dorsal surface of pronotum continuously sculptured, the area immediately behind the collar not differing significantly from more posterior regions => 7

6

 * Dorsal surface of pronotum immediately behind the collar with at most very weak sculpturing (sometimes nearly smooth) => 8


 * Dorsal surface of pronotum continuously sculptured, the area immediately behind the collar not differing significantly from more posterior regions => 9

7

 * Antennal scapes smooth; body larger (head width > 0.8mm) => Myrmecina silvampla


 * Antennal scapes with low longitudinal ridges; body smaller (head width < 0.7mm) => 10

8

 * Body larger (head width > 0.65mm, mid-tibial length > 0.35mm); head squarer (cephalic index (HW/HLx100) > 95) => Myrmecina eruga


 * Body smaller (head width < 0.60mm, mid-tibial length < 0.30mm); head more elongate (cephalic index (HW/HLx100) < 95) => Myrmecina pumila

9

 * Dorsal surface of pronotum with irregular, ill-defined sculpturing => Myrmecina rugosa


 * Dorsal surface of pronotum with continuous longitudinal carinae => 11

10

 * Majority of carinae on pronotum and mesonotum gently curved across width of mesosoma => Myrmecina silvatransversa


 * Majority of carinae on pronotum and mesonotum “V”-shaped => Myrmecina silvangula

11

 * Erect hairs on gaster (and most on mesonotum) strongly curved so their tips are nearly parallel with the surface of the body (known only from the Wessell Islands, Northern Territory) => Myrmecina wesselensis


 * Erect hairs on gaster (and longer ones on mesonotum) only weakly curved with their tips at a strong angle with body (coastal Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales) => 12

12

 * Carinae extending continuously from the dorsal surface onto the lateral surfaces of the mesosoma and not interrupted as they cross the angle separating the dorsal and lateral surfaces => Myrmecina difficulta


 * Dorsal and lateral surfaces of mesosoma separated by an indistinct angle or ridge which interrupts or breaks the mesosomal sculpturing => Myrmecina inaequala