Poecilomyrma myrmecodiae

The type collection was "a small series of workers found in a Myrmecodia bulb."

Identification
Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Poecilomyrma myrmecodiae is a large species with a black head infuscated posteriorly, a red mesosoma and petiole, an infuscated postpetiole, a black gaster and dark appendages. The species is similar in size to Poecilomyrma senirewae, with which it is sympatric, but can be differentiated by the dark head. The larger size, relatively longer limbs and more deeply furrowed sculpture sets it apart from Poecilomyrma sp. FJ05, with which it is also sympatric. Characters in the key separate it from other similarly colored taxa. An ergatoid queen (CASENT0194604) was collected in a small nest from a Hydnophytum (Rubiaceae) ant plant, and is characterized by similar long flexous pilosity and more margined carinae and rugae as described for the putative ergatoid P. senirewae as discussed under that species. The type series consists of 21 workers collected from a Hydnophytum bulb by Mann. The species, as defined here, appears restricted to the central and southeastern mountain ranges of Viti Levu.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Fiji.

Nomenclature

 *  myrmecodiae. Poecilomyrma senirewae subsp. myrmecodiae Mann, 1921: 448 (w.) FIJI IS. Raised to species: Sarnat & Economo, 2012: 112.

Description
Worker major. Length 5 mm.

A small series of workers found in a Myrmecodia bulb differ from typical senirewae in color, the head, postpetiole, and legs being black and the petiole infuscated at apical balf, resembling the worker minor of senirewae, but differing in being as large as the worker major of that form and with a shorter head, more convex at sides.

Type Material
Sarnat and Economo (2012) - FIJI, Viti Levu, Mt. Victoria [Mt. Tomanivi] (W. M. Mann). Syntypes: 24 workers (, examined); 6 workers ( type no. 2100, examined).