Myrmecina alpina

This is a high-elevation specialist known from a limited number of mountain-tops, the lowest collection site being just less than 1000m, and is confined to an area less than 20 square kilometres within Queensland’s wet tropics. It is found in rainforest where it has been collected in leaf litter samples. It is sympatric with silvarugosa, another high-elevation species, and these two species are the only Australian species with carinae on the sides of the head behind the eyes. (Shattuck 2009)

Identification
Shattuck (2009) - Sides of head behind compound eyes with 2–3 well defined longitudinal carinae running nearly the length of the head. The presence of these carinae will separate this species from all others in Australia with the exception of some higher-elevation populations of Myrmecina silvangula. The longitudinal rather than transverse sculpturing on the pronotum will separate this taxon from these workers.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  alpina. Myrmecina alpina Shattuck, 2009a: 3, figs. 1-4, 47 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Antennal scapes smooth to weakly ridged. First segment of funiculus cone-shaped. Sides of head behind compound eyes with 2–3 longitudinal carinae running the length of the head. Sculpturing on dorsal surface of mesosoma running longitudinally and generally with the central carina (or carinae) running nearly the length (the pronotum not differentiated from the mesonotum). Carinae extending continuously from the dorsal surface onto the lateral surfaces of the mesosoma. Metanotal spines short. Propodeal spines long. Erect hairs abundant, straight. Colour dark brown-black, antennae, mandibles and legs yellow-red.

(n = 5) - CI 95–99; HL 0.72–0.84; HW 0.69–0.80; MTL 0.38–0.45; SI 85–94; SL 0.65–0.72; WL 0.87–1.06.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Shattuck S. O. 2009. A revision the Australian species of the ant genus Myrmecina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2146: 1-21.