Myrmecia apicalis

This extremely rare species has not been collected since its original discovery. A study of this species would be a signicant development in the study of ants.

Distribution
This taxon was described from New Caledonia.

Biology
Dr. Emery, dealing with the ants in the Zoology of New Caledonia (1914), in a footnote expressed a doubt as to this species having been captured there. This doubt must remain until further examples have been obtained. The fact that it has no near allies in Australis warrants the supposition that the locality is correct. That it has not been seen since taken by Bougier is no criterion. Many of the species of Myrmecia are by no means common. Only single examples of several species have been found, and then at long intervals. This particularly applies to species living in heavily-timbered country. It is interesting to note that this is not the only typically Australian genus represented in New Caledonia. Notable amont the other genera are Amblyopone with one species and Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) with four species.

Castes
Known from workers only.

Description
Type in K. Museum, Paris

Redescribed from a cotype received many years ago from the late Dr. Emery.

Length: 13 mm

Black, mandibles and labrum yellow, antennae and legs ferruginous, posterior margin of first and second, and whole of two apical segments testaceous.

Head very finely striate longitudinally, striae obsolete behind. Pronotum and mesonotum smooth and shining with faint traces of fine longitudinal striae, stronger and more clearly defined on sides of pronotum; epinotum and declivity striate-rugose transversely. Node, postpetiole, and gaster smooth, microscopically punctate.

Hair white, very sparse, short and erect, longer on mandibles and apical segments of gaster, very short and suberect on antennae and legs. Pubescence white, very fine and adpressed, forming a distinct covering on postpetiole and first segments of gaster, yellowish, more abundant, and longer on apical segments of gaster.

Head as long as broad, sides and occipital border convex. Mandibles as long as head, outer border concave, inner border with fourteen teeth, third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth large and broad, twelfth forming a strong angle, two small teeth between angle and base. Scapes exceed occiptial border by one-fourth their length, first and third segments of funiculus equal length, one-fourth shorter than second. Thorax two and one-half times longer than broad; pronotum almost twice as broad as long, strongly convex in all directions, mesonotum circular, as long as broad, strongly convex above, epinotum one-fourth longer than broad. Node as long as broad, broadest behind; in profile slightly higher than long, dome-shaped, stalk short, ventral spine short and slender. Postpetiole one-third broader than long, broadest behind middle, constriction deep and wide. First segment of gaster one-sixth broader than long.