Manica bradleyi

This species occurs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California and western Nevada and the Transverse Ranges in southern California. Ranging from 4,000 feet to 10,000 feet in elevation, it commonly makes round crater nests in the soil and occasionally nests under stones in open areas.

Distribution
This taxon was described from the United States. This ant is found in California and Nevada.

Biology
This ant is the host of Manica parasitica in California.

Nomenclature

 *  bradleyi. Myrmica bradleyi Wheeler, W.M. 1909e: 77 (w.) U.S.A. Cole, 1957c: 210 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1960b: 6 (l.). Combination in Myrmica (Oreomyrma): Wheeler, W.M. 1914d: 120; in M. (Neomyrma): Emery, 1915d: 69 (footnote); in M. (Manica): Emery, 1921f: 43; in Manica: Weber, 1947: 440; Creighton, 1950a: 108. Senior synonym of calderoni: Wheeler, W.M. 1915a: 50.
 * calderoni. Aphaenogaster (Neomyrma) calderoni Forel, 1914a: 275 (w.) U.S.A. Combination in Myrmica (Neomyrma): Emery, 1915d: 69 (footnote). Junior synonym of bradleyi: Wheeler, W.M. 1915a: 50.

Description
Worker. - Length 4-7mm. Allied to Manica rubida Latreille and Manica invidia Bolton. Head rectangular, as broad as long, with subparallel sides and straight posterior border. Mandibles moderately convex, pointed, with minutely denticulate blades. Clypeus somewhat convex in the middle, with nearly straight anterior border. Frontal area distinct. Antennal scapes simple, curved and feebly compressed at the base; funicular joints all longer than proad; club 5-jointed. Thorax rather slender, with pronounced mesoepinotal constriction; pro- and mesonotum evenly rounded i profile; propodeum unarmed, base slightly convex, passing through a distinct, but obtuse angle into the somewhat shorter, straight and sloping declivity. Petiole slender, fully three times as long as broad, in profile with a well-developed, cylindrical peduncle, armed with a small, acute, antero-ventral tooth, and surmounted by a low rounded node just behind the middle. Anterior slope of node concave, posterior more convex. Post-petiole fully one and one-half times as long as broad, subcampanulate; in profile with its upper surface rising in a gentle curve towards the posterior edge of the segment and then abruptly descending. Gaster elliptical, rather large.