Myrmecia simillima

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Biology
Populous and exceedingly ferocious colonies under large stones and Eucalyptus logs (Wheeler 1933 p. 34). Two colony-founding queens were found under stones, with eggs scattered on the earthen floor. A third foundress was found in a cell under a large stone with a compact cluster of young ant larvae devouring a fresh saw-fly larva; since such a larva feeds on the leaves of eucalypts, it could only have been secured by the queen on one of her foraging excursions. This is conclusive evidence for non-claustral ICF (Life History).

Castes
Both brachypterous and ergatoid queens have been described ([[Media:Myrmecia simillima Freeland pers.comm.1985.jpg|John Freeland unpublished 1]], [[Media:Myrmecia simillima BQ Freeland pers.comm 1985.jpg|John Freeland unpublished 2]], Clark 1951). This has implications for mating behaviour (probably close to natal colony), and limited dispersal distance (hence DCF).



Nomenclature

 * crudelis. Myrmecia crudelis Smith, F. 1858b: 147 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of simillima: Brown, 1953j: 12. See also: Crawley, 1926: 374; Clark, 1951: 35.
 *  simillima. Myrmecia simillima Smith, F. 1858b: 144 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Forel, 1907h: 265 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971d: 253 (l.). Junior synonym of forficata: Mayr, 1876: 95. Revived from synonymy as subspecies of forficata: Dalla Torre, 1893: 20; Forel, 1907h: 265; Forel, 1910b: 3; Forel, 1915b: 5. Revived status as species: Clark, 1927: 37; Wheeler, W.M. 1933i: 34; Clark, 1951: 89. Senior synonym of affinis: Forel, 1907h: 265; Clark, 1951: 89; of crudelis, nigriventris (and its junior synonym spadicea), paucidens, rogeri, tricolor: Brown, 1953j: 12. See also: Crawley, 1926: 376.
 * affinis. Myrmecia affinis Mayr, 1862: 725 (diagnosis in key) (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of simillima: Forel, 1907h: 265; Clark, 1951: 89.
 * nigriventris. Myrmecia nigriventris Mayr, 1862: 727 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Subspecies of tricolor: Forel, 1910b: 7; Emery, 1911d: 20; Clark, 1951: 45. Senior synonym of spadicea: Forel, 1910b: 7; Clark, 1951: 45. Junior synonym of simillima: Brown, 1953j: 12.
 * spadicea. Myrmecia spadicea Mayr, 1862: 724 (diagnosis in key) (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of tricolor: Emery, 1911d: 20; of nigriventris: Forel, 1910b: 7; Clark, 1951: 45.
 * tricolor. Myrmecia tricolor Mayr, 1862: 724 (diagnosis in key) (w.) AUSTRALIA. Clark, 1951: 44 (q.). Junior synonym of simillima: Brown, 1953j: 12.
 * paucidens. Myrmecia paucidens Forel, 1910b: 5 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Tasmania). Junior synonym of simillima: Brown, 1953j: 12.
 * rogeri. Myrmecia tricolor var. rogeri Emery, 1914b: 181 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Viehmeyer, 1924a: 222 (q.). Raised to species: Clark, 1951: 32. Junior synonym of simillima: Brown, 1953j: 12.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1953. Revisionary notes on the ant genus Myrmecia of Australia. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 111: 1-35.
 * Emery C. 1911. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125.
 * Emery C. 1914. Formiche d'Australia e di Samoa raccolte dal Prof. Silvestri nel 1913. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 8: 179-186.
 * Forel A. 1910. Formicides australiens reçus de MM. Froggatt et Rowland Turner. Rev. Suisse Zool. 18: 1-94
 * Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1916. The marriage-flight of a bull-dog ant (Myrmecia sanguinea F. Smith). Journal of Animal Behavior 6: 70-73.