Myrmica incompleta

This ant inhabits deciduous forests where it nests in moist soil and in mounds of moss.

Identification
The temperate M. incompleta is similar in appearance to the boreal Myrmica alaskensis; they are most easily separated geographically. Useful morphological characters to distinguish these two species are the clypeus, which bulges outward and has a concave margin in M. incompleta but is flattened and has a convex margin in M. alaskensis, and the rugae on the head, which are reticulate (net-like) in M. incompleta but parallel in M. alaskensis. (Ellison et.al. 2012)

Distribution
This taxon was described from Canada. It is also found in the United States. This species occurs throughout Canada and Alaska, and in the lower United States southward to New Jersey and westward to Nevada. It has been collected throughout New England.

Biology
Ant of deciduous forests. This species feeds on honeydew from root-feeding aphids and coccids. It is a host to larvae of the the myrmecophilous syrphid fly Microdon albicomatus.

Nomenclature

 *  incompleta. Myrmica incompleta Provancher, 1881b: 359 (w.q.m.) CANADA. [Also described as new by Provancher, 1883: 602.] Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953a: 116 (l.). Junior synonym of laevinodis: Provancher, 1887: 247; Dalla Torre, 1893: 111; Donisthorpe, 1915d: 110; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 789. Revived from synonymy and senior synonym of brevinodis (and its junior synonyms canadensis, subalpina): Francoeur & Béique, 1966: 141.
 * brevinodis. Myrmica rubra subsp. brevinodis Emery, 1895c: 312 (w.m.) U.S.A. Wheeler, W.M. 1907b: 74 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953a: 116 (l.). Raised to species: Wheeler, W.M. 1914b: 53 (in text); Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 502. Senior synonym of canadensis, subalpina: Weber, 1950b: 189. Junior synonym of incompleta: Francoeur & Béique, 1966: 141.
 * canadensis. Myrmica brevinodis var. canadensis Wheeler, W.M. 1916m: 587 (w.q.m.) CANADA. [First available use of Myrmica rubra subsp. brevinodis var. canadensis Wheeler, W.M. 1907b: 76; unavailable name.] Junior synonym of brevinodis: Weber, 1950b: 189.
 * subalpina. Myrmica brevinodis var. subalpina Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 503 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. [First available use of Myrmica rubra subsp. brevinodis var. subalpina Wheeler, W.M. 1907b: 77; unavailable name.] [Unresolved junior primary homonym of subalpina Ruzsky, above.] Junior synonym of brevinodis: Weber, 1950b: 189.

Additional References

 * Francoeur, A.; Béique, R. 1966a. Les Formicides (Hyménoptères) de Provancher. Can. Entomol. 98: 140-145 [1966-II-09]


 * [[Media:Provancher 1881b.pdf|Provancher, L. 1881b. Faune canadienne. (Continué de la page 333.). Nat. Can. (Qué.) 12: 353-362 PDF]]


 * Wheeler, W.M. 1916m. Hymenoptera of Connecticut. Formicoidea (pp. 577-601). In Britton, W.E. (director). Guide to the Insects of Connecticut. Part 3. The Hymenoptera, or Wasp-like Insects of Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey (State of Connecticut Public Document No. 47) 5. Bulletin 22: 824 pp. [(31.xii).1916.]