Manica

Four of the six species in this genus are found in western North America. One species is endemic to Japan and the other is Palearctic. Colonies are small and nests are usually found in openings in coniferous forests, commonly under stones or with open craters.

Identification
Nearly monomorphic ants; total length of workers around 5 - 8 mm. Similar to Myrmica Latreille, but differing as follows: Antennal funiculus with a 5-segmented club; propodeum without spines, armed instead with blunt tubercles. Promesonotal suture weak but distinct dorsally. Metanotal groove strongly impressed. Masticatory margins of mandibles each with two large teeth and 12 - 14 following denticles. Palpal formula 6:4. Body wholly yellowish brown, reddish brown, black, or with the head and gaster black and the mesosoma brown. Larvae without anchor-tipped hairs. Pupae are yellow.

Key to Manica of North America

Biology
Little has been published on the biology of species within this genus. Food habits, foraging ecology and other aspects of their ecology is poorly known. Probably a generalized scavenger and predator.

Castes
Workers, queens and males are present for all species. Microgyne queens are known for M. rubida.

Nomenclature

 *  MANICA [Myrmicinae: Myrmicini]
 * Manica Jurine, 1807: 276. Type-species: Formica rubida, by subsequent designation of Wheeler, W.M. 1911f: 166.
 * Manica junior synonym of Myrmica: Roger, 1863b: 28; Mayr, 1863: 431; Forel, 1915d: 9.
 * Manica revived from synonymy as subgenus of Myrmica: Emery, 1921f: 42; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 660.
 * Manica revived status as genus: Weber, 1947: 440.
 * Manica senior synonym of Neomyrma (and its junior synonym Oreomyrma): Emery, 1921f: 42; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 660.
 * NEOMYRMA [junior synonym of Manica]
 * Neomyrma Forel, 1914a: 275 [as subgenus of Aphaenogaster]. Type-species: Aphaenogaster (Neomyrma) calderoni (junior synonym of Myrmica bradleyi), by monotypy.
 * Neomyrma subgenus of Myrmica: Emery, 1915d: 69; Emery, 1916b: 120.
 * Neomyrma senior synonym of Oreomyrma: Wheeler, W.M. 1915a: 50; Forel, 1915c: 364; Forel, 1915d: 9; Donisthorpe, 1916b: 242.
 * Neomyrma junior synonym of Myrmica: Donisthorpe, 1916b: 242.
 * Neomyrma raised to genus: Bondroit, 1918: 97.
 * Neomyrma junior synonym of Manica: Emery, 1921f: 42.
 * OREOMYRMA [junior synonym of Manica]
 * Oreomyrma Wheeler, W.M. 1914d: 118 [as subgenus of Myrmica]. Type-species: Formica rubida, by original designation.
 * Oreomyrma junior synonym of Neomyrma: Wheeler, W.M. 1915a: 50; Donisthorpe, 1916b: 242.
 * Oreomyrma junior synonym of Manica: Emery, 1921f: 42.