Myrmecia chasei

Identification
Heterick (2009) - Myrmecia chasei and Myrmecia ludlowi have the same coloration as Myrmecia elegans, but are more robust ants with hairy tibiae. The separation of the two species by Ogata and Taylor (1991) is based purely on the colour of the mandibles (yellow in chasei, dark brown in ludlowi), but specimens seen by this author are not so easily distinguished, many having intermediate light to medium brown mandibles. Both species (if indeed they are separable species) are found in the Darling Range, including the Perth area.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Castes
Queen-worker difference in body size appears to be larger in M. chasei than in other species of Myrmecia. Queens are 22-24 millimetres long, while workers are 12-15.5 millimetres long (Wheeler 1933 p. 59).



Nomenclature

 * . Myrmecia chasei Forel, 1894e: 235 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Australia: Western Australia, Perth (Chase).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * Clark, 1943: 116 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971d: 247 (l.).
 * Combination in Promyrmecia: Clark, 1943: 115;
 * combination in Myrmecia: Taylor & Brown, 1985: 7.
 * Status as species: Forel, 1907h: 267; Emery, 1911d: 21; Clark, 1943: 115 (redescription); Clark, 1951: 212 (redescription); Taylor & Brown, 1985: 7; Taylor, 1987a: 42; Ogata, 1991a: 361; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1640 (in key); Bolton, 1995b: 270; Heterick, 2009: 123.
 * Senior synonym of mediorubra: Clark, 1943: 115; Clark, 1951: 212; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 7; Taylor, 1987a: 42; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1630; Bolton, 1995b: 270.
 * Distribution: Australia.
 * mediorubra. Myrmecia pilosula subsp. mediorubra Forel, 1910b: 7 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Australia: Western Australia, King George Sound (no collector’s name).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * Wheeler, W.M. 1933i: 59 (w.).
 * Combination in M. (Promyrmecia): Wheeler, W.M. 1933i: 58.
 * Subspecies of pilosula: Emery, 1911d: 21; Viehmeyer, 1914b: 28.
 * Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1933i: 58.
 * Junior synonym of chasei: Clark, 1943: 115; Clark, 1951: 212; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 7; Taylor, 1987a: 42; Ogata & Taylor, 1991: 1630; Bolton, 1995b: 272.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Forel A. 1894. Quelques fourmis de Madagascar (récoltées par M. le Dr. Voltzkow); de Nouvelle Zélande (récoltées par M. W. W. Smith); de Nouvelle Calédonie (récoltées par M. Sommer); de Queensland (Australie) (récoltées par M. Wiederkehr); et de Perth (Australie. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 38: 226-237.
 * Heterick B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 76: 1-206.
 * 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.