Myrmica

A common and abundant element of Holoartic ant faunas, especially at higher latitudes.

Identification
Eguchi, Bui and Yamane (2011) - The worker of Myrmica is somewhat similar to those of Aphaenogaster (see under Aphaenogaster) and Tetramorium. However, in the worker of Tetramorium, the tibial spurs of the middle and hind legs are simple or absent, and the apex of sting bears a small lamellate appendage.

Species groups have proven useful to help organize the often difficult to determine species into more manageable subsets of species. Diagnostic treatments of these groups, and list of species assigned to each group, for many Myrmica species are found here: Myrmica Species Groups. This page does not provide coverage of the North American Myrmica fauna. Some contemporary, albeit preliminary, species group work for North American Myrmica species is found here: Myrmica Species Groups of North America

Fossils Jessen (2020) - All the known fossil Myrmica species originating from the Eocene were described from worker specimens. According to Radchenko et al. (2007) these fossil ants mostly have long propodeal spines, and their head and alitrunk show very coarse sinuous rugosity and reticulation. Only Myrmica paradoxa has short blunt propodeal teeth and a fine reticulation. In Myrmica species from Enspel, the alitrunk is, primarily, widely and slightly irregularly striated. There is no evidence of an additional reticulation on the alitrunk.

Species Group Keys

 * Key to Myrmica inezae species group
 * Key to punctiventris-group Myrmica species

Fossil Species Key

 * Key to Myrmica fossils

Fossils
Fossils are known from:, , , , , , ,.

Vietnam
Eguchi, Bui and Yamane (2011) - Myrmica species have so far been found exclusively in the mountains of Fan Si Pan above approximately 1,700 m alt. They inhabit sparse to well-developed forests and nest in rotting logs, wood fragments, under stones, in soil around tree bases, etc. Workers forage on the ground and lower vegetation.

Association with Other Organisms
Numerous European species are parasitized by Phengaris butterflies. Maturing caterpillars of various species move into the nests of certain Myrmica species and prey on ant brood. They are also able to solicit food from and be fed via trophallaxis.

In Missouri, USA, a Myrmica species (species uncertain) was found as a slave within a nest of.

An unknown species is host for the staphylinid beetle in China (Jiang et al., 2020).

Nomenclature

 *  MYRMICA [Myrmicinae: Myrmicini]
 * Myrmica Latreille, 1804: 179. Type-species: Formica rubra, by subsequent designation of Latreille, 1810: 437; see also Yarrow, 1955b: 113.
 * Myrmica senior synonym of Dodecamyrmica: Francoeur, 1981: 759.
 * Myrmica senior synonym of Paramyrmica, Sifolinia (and its junior synonym Symbiomyrma), Sommimyrma: Bolton, 1988a: 3; Bolton, 2003: 221.
 * Myrmica senior synonym of †Nothomyrmica: Radchenko, Dlussky & Elmes, 2007: 1495.
 * DODECAMYRMICA [junior synonym of Myrmica]
 * Dodecamyrmica Arnol'di, 1968: 1803 [as subgenus of Myrmica]. Type-species: Myrmica arnoldii, by original designation.
 * Dodecamyrmica junior synonym of Myrmica: Francoeur, 1981: 759.
 * †NOTHOMYRMICA [junior synonym of Myrmica]
 * †Nothomyrmica Wheeler, W.M. 1915h: 60. Type-species: †Macromischa rudis, by original designation.
 * [†Nothomyrmica Wheeler, W.M. 1908g: 413, and Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 167, nomina nuda.]
 * †Nothomyrmica junior synonym of Myrmica: Radchenko, Dlussky & Elmes, 2007: 1495.
 * PARAMYRMICA [junior synonym of Myrmica]
 * Paramyrmica Cole, 1957a: 37. Type-species: Paramyrmica colax, by original designation.
 * Paramyrmica junior synonym of Myrmica: Bolton, 1988a: 3.
 * SIFOLINIA [junior synonym of Myrmica]
 * Sifolinia Emery, 1907: 49. Type-species: Sifolinia laurae, by monotypy.
 * Sifolinia senior synonym of Symbiomyrma: Samsinak, 1964: 156.
 * Sifolinia junior synonym of Myrmica: Bolton, 1988a: 3.
 * SOMMIMYRMA [junior synonym of Myrmica]
 * Sommimyrma Menozzi, 1925d: 25. Type-species: Sommimyrma symbiotica, by original designation.
 * Sommimyrma junior synonym of Myrmica: Bolton, 1988a: 3.
 * SYMBIOMYRMA [junior synonym of Myrmica]
 * Symbiomyrma Arnol'di, 1930c: 267. Type-species: Symbiomyrma karavajevi, by monotypy.
 * [Symbiomyrma also described as new by Arnol'di, 1933a: 41.]
 * Symbiomyrma junior synonym of Sifolinia: Samsinak, 1964: 156.
 * Symbiomyrma revived from synonymy: Seifert, 1994: 15; Seifert, 1996: 236.
 * Symbiomyrma junior synonym of Myrmica: Bolton, 1988a: 3; Bolton, 1995b: 47; Bolton, 2003: 222; Radchenko & Elmes, 2003: 219.

Fossils
Queen

Jessen (2020) - BL < 7 mm, colour light brown; antenna, and tarsi dark brown. Mandibles elongate to subtriangular, with 5–6 teeth. Apical and sub-apical teeth bigger than the others. Clypeus anterior margin smooth, tapered in the middle. Antennal sockets widely separated. Antenna 12-segmented with distinct 3–4 segmented club, scape widely bended at base. Segments 3 to 7 of funiculus not slender, rather short and wide. Frontal carina diverging to both sides. The dark ring around the eyes is interpreted as a stronger sclerotized circumocular sulcus, clearly visible in light brown specimens. Scutum and scutellum remarkably flat. Scutum does not overlap pronotum anteriorly or laterally. Scutums anterior margin appears slightly arched and stepped. Scutellum is not oval-shaped with tapered ends. Scutellums posterior margin is strongly curved backwards. Front legs with combed tibial spurs. Steeply descending propodeum, almost vertically. As these specimens are less sclerotized, propodeal spines may break off easily. Only in one specimen they are preserved. Petiole with very short peduncle and dorsally rounded petiolar node. Postpetiole nodiform, constriction towards gaster weak or absent. Suture between dorsal and ventral sclerites of postpetiole distinct, partly open posteriorly (this could also have been caused by taphonomic effects).