Myrmhopla

This is currently a subgenus of Polyrhachis. Please see Polyrhachis for further information.

Species Groups
Myrmhopla is diverse and most species are, for convenience, placed into one of the following species groups

flavoflagellata species group
Kohout (2008) species-group worker diagnosis:

Worker. Mostly small to medium-sized ants (HL 1.15-1.85) with general characteristics of the genus. Anterior clypeal margin arcuate and entire, or medially truncate, or with a deeply emarginate median flange. Head disproportionally large compared to rest of body with eyes relatively flat, situated close to posterolateral corners. Mesosoma rather flat, laterally immarginate, humeri armed with short, triangular teeth. Propodeal spines relatively short, more-or-less horizontal, or distinctly elevated. Petiole with a pair of lateral spines that are either acute and posteriorly directed (as in e.g. P. flavoflagellata), or reduced to obtuse, laterally directed stumps (as in P. stylifera). Dorsum of petiole with a pair of short but distinct, acute intercalary spines (as in P. flavoflagellata and P. muara) or blunt tuberculae (as in P. stylifera) or smoothly rounded (as in P. storki). Head and body closely and finely punctate; gaster very finely shagreened. Hairs virtually absent from most of body, except a few, rather short, erect hairs on front of head and around gastral apex. Closely appressed, silvery or golden pubescence present in various densities over most dorsal surfaces. Mostly black, with only base of gaster and appendages sometimes light to dark reddish brown.

key to flavoflagellata species group
Key to workers of the flavoflagellata group (Kohout, 2008)

1.
Lateral petiolar spines reduced to blunt, stumplike, lateral projections (Cambodia).....stylifera Karavaiev

Lateral petiolar spines relatively long, acute, dorsoposteriorly diverging..... 2

2.
Anterior clypeal margin with deeply emarginate median flange; dorsum of petiole without intercalary teeth or spines.....storki Kohout

Anterior clypeal margin entire or simplytruncate with a shallow median emargination; dorsum of petiole with a pair of distinct intercalary spines..... 3

3.
Propodeal spines distinctly dorsoposteriorly elevated from their bases (Fig. 2); bicoloured, body black, base of gaster and appendages mostly light reddish-brown.....flavoflagellata Karavaiev

Propodeal spines more-or-less horizontal (Fig. 4); virtually unicoloured, body black, appendages black or very dark reddish-brown.....muara Kohout

Nomenclature

 *  MYRMHOPLA [subgenus of Polyrhachis]
 * Myrmhopla Forel, 1915b: 107 [as subgenus of Polyrhachis]. Type-species: Formica armata, by original designation.
 * Myrmhopla senior synonym of Cephalomyrma, Florencea: Hung, 1967b: 402.
 * CEPHALOMYRMA [junior synonym of Myrmhopla]
 * Cephalomyrma Karavaiev, 1935a: 115 [as subgenus of Polyrhachis]. Type-species: Polyrhachis (Cephalomyrma) stylifera, by monotypy.
 * Cephalomyrma junior synonym of Myrmhopla: Hung, 1967b: 402.
 * FLORENCEA [junior synonym of Myrmhopla]
 * Florencea Donisthorpe, 1937a: 624 [as subgenus of Polyrhachis]. Type-species: Polyrhachis (Florencea) kirkae (junior synonym of Polyrhachis nigriceps), by original designation.
 * Florencea junior synonym of Myrmhopla: Hung, 1967b: 402.

Additional References

 * [[Media:Kohout-2008.pdf|Kohout, R.J. 2009a. A new species of the Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) flavoflagellata-group from Borneo. Asian Myrmecology 2 (2008): 11-16. PDF]]