Myrmica

Myrmica

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Myrmica: //ˈmɪr.mɪ.kə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Myrmica cerasi by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Myrmica cerasi by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Myrmica mexicana by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Myrmica mexicana by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Myrmica brevinodis var. subalpina by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Myrmica mexicana by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Myrmica is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, characterized by their adaptability to temperate regions, nesting habits, and complex social interactions with other organisms such as aphids and parasitic species.

Physical Characteristics

Workers 4-5 mm, males 5-7 mm, queens 4-8 mm; reddish to dark brown with dorsal thoracic segments fused; thoracic segmentation mostly obscured by coarse longitudinal or anastomosing rugae; 12-segmented antennae, palp formula 6,4.

Identification Tips

Look for reddish to dark brown coloration, size variations between workers and queens, and the unusual thoracic segmentation obscured by rugae.

Habitat

Nest in soil often at the base of grasses or sedges; some species nest in small diameter rotten wood, and others under flat stones.

Distribution

Found in Holarctic temperate and boreal regions, extending to high altitudes in Mexico.

Diet

Predators or scavengers of usually soft-bodied insects; gatherers of honeydew, extrafloral nectar, fruit juice; some tend aphids on plants.

Life Cycle

Queens may rear a brood of small larvae that diapause over winter, bringing the young to maturity in spring.

Reproduction

Mating flights occur from August through October; the development of colonies between mating and maturity is poorly understood.

Predators

Soft-bodied insects, other ant species.

Ecosystem Role

Predators of insect herbivores, contributing to the control of pest populations.

Collecting Methods

  • Sweep netting
  • Hand collecting from nests
  • Pitfall traps

Preservation Methods

  • Ethanol
  • Pinned specimens
  • Dry storage

Evolution

Taxonomically complex with many common but undescribed species; evolutionary relationships within the genus are under study.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Often mistaken for other small brown or reddish ant species; some species have been misidentified in the past due to lack of taxonomic clarity.

Tags

  • Ants
  • Myrmicinae
  • Holarctic
  • Insects
  • Entomology