Myrmecia is a genus of small to large venomous ants commonly known as bulldog ants or jack jumper ants. The genus was first established by Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius in 1804 and is placed in the subfamily Myrmeciinae of the family Formicidae. There are currently 94 described species in this genus, 93 of which are valid and identifiable.[1] Almost all species are endemic to Australia and can be found nowhere else, with an exception of a single species found in New Caledonia.
| Species name | Image | Authority | Year | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myrmecia aberrans | Forel[2] | 1900 | Specimens of this species are only known from workers collected in South Australia. The average length is around 12mm, with reddish-yellow mandibles, clypeus and antennae. Its head, mesonotum and parts of its thorax, postpetiole and gaster are black. In contrast to other species, the mandibles are noticeably short. | ||
| Myrmecia acuta | Ogata & Taylor[3] | 1991 | Relatively small species that is found in Western Australia. It has a close resemblance to M. swalei, but it can be distinguished by its higher density of pilosity, its pointed labral process and its more inflated mesosoma. Its body is bicoloured, but most of it is dark brown or black. The mesosoma and postpetiole are reddish brown, and its mandibles are yellow. The mandibles are longer than the head. | ||
| Myrmecia analis | Mayr[4] | 1862 | M. analis is a large species that is found in Western Australia and some of the eastern states, based on collected workers and queens. Males are unknown. Workers measure 18to and dealated queens 20to. The head, node, postpetiole and thorax is coloured red, and the mandibles and legs are reddish yellow. The scapes and gaster are brown and black respectively. | ||
| Myrmecia apicalis | Emery[5] | 1883 | |||
| Myrmecia arnoldi | Clark | 1951 | M. arnoldi is only known from workers collected in Western Australia. It is a large species, measuring 18to with a black head and gaster, a brown femora, node, postpetiole and thorax, and yellow mandibles. The antennae, mandibles, tarsi and tibiae are yellow or reddish yellow. | ||
| Myrmecia athertonensis | Forel[6] | 1915 | |||
| Myrmecia auriventris | Mayr[7] | 1870 | M. auriventris is only known from colonies observed in Queensland. Workers vary in length, measuring 18to. The males measure 15.5mm and queens are unknown. The colour and pilosity between males and workers are similar, but the two castes can be distinguished from the workers by the size of the mandibles and its finer body sculpture. The gaster, head, mesonotum, postpetiole and pronotum are black. The metanotum, epinotum and node is red, and the antennae, coxae, mandibles and parts of the femora and tarsi are reddish yellow. | ||
| Myrmecia banksi | Taylor | 2015 | |||
| Myrmecia borealis | Ogata & Taylor | 1991 | |||
| Myrmecia brevinoda | Forel[8] | 1910 | M. brevinoda is a giant Myrmecia species that is known from New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. It is also the only known species that was introduced outside its natural geographical range, with colonies found in New Zealand. M. brevinoda may exhibit polymorphism among workers; workers of this species are among the largest ants in the world, measuring 13to. The queens measure 27to and males are 20to long. The ant is yellowish red, with the antennae, legs and mandibles lighter yellowish. The gaster is black. It resembles M. forficata in size and colour, but the two species can be distinguished by the form of the node. | ||
| Myrmecia browningi | Ogata & Taylor | 1991 | |||
| Myrmecia callima | Clark[9] | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia cephalotes | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia chasei | Forel[10] | 1894 | |||
| Myrmecia chrysogaster | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia clarki | Crawley[11] | 1922 | |||
| Myrmecia comata | Clark | 1951 | M. comata is only known from workers and larvae collected in Queensland and New South Wales. This species is similar to M. flavicoma, but can be distinguished by its colour and shape of the mandible teeth and node. Workers measure 18to in length. The colour of the head, node, postpetiole and thorax is reddish brown, the gaster is black, and antennae, legs and mandibles are yellowish brown.[12] | ||
| Myrmecia croslandi | Taylor[13] | 1991 | |||
| Myrmecia cydista | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia desertorum | Wheeler[14] | 1915 | M. desertorum is only known from workers and queens that are found throughout Australia. Workers measure 18to and queens are 24to. The ant is reddish yellow, but the head and gaster is blackish brown. The clypeus, labrum and mandibles are yellow. The queens can be distinguished from the workers by its coarser body and the long, abundant pilosity. | ||
| Myrmecia dichospila | Clark[15] | 1938 | |||
| Myrmecia dimidiata | Clark | 1951 | Specimens are only known from workers collected in Queensland. Workers measure 23to in length. The body is brownish red, with lighter antennae and legs. The mandibles are yellow, and part of the gaster is brown. | ||
| Myrmecia dispar | Clark | 1951 | |||
| Myrmecia elegans | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia erecta | Ogata & Taylor | 1991 | |||
| Myrmecia esuriens | Fabricius[16] | 1804 | Colonies are restricted to Tasmania, with all castes known. The workers measure 14to, the queens are 22to and males are 16mm. Most of the body is black, and the antennae, parts of the gaster, labrum legs, mandibles and postpetiole are ferruginous. Queens are ergatoids. | ||
| Myrmecia eungellensis | Ogata & Taylor | 1991 | |||
| Myrmecia exigua | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia fabricii | Ogata & Taylor | 1991 | |||
| Myrmecia ferruginea | Mayr[17] | 1876 | |||
| Myrmecia flammicollis | Brown[18] | 1953 | M. flammicollis is only known from workers collected in Far North Queensland. Workers are medium in size, measuring about 13mm, with a generally black body. The prothorax is orange-red, and the mandibles, antennal scapes and legs are reddish brown. The palpi, and parts of the antennae, mandibles and tarsi are yellow. This species is similar to Myrmecia petiolata, but is more slender and differs in colouration. | ||
| Myrmecia flavicoma | Roger[19] | 1861 | Specimens of this species are only known from workers collected in Queensland. The workers are large, measuring 21to. The head, node, thorax and postpetiole are red, the mandibles are yellow, and the antennae, clypeus and legs are reddish yellow. The gaster is black. | ||
| Myrmecia forceps | Roger[20] | 1861 | M. forceps colonies are found throughout New South Wales and Queensland. Workers measure 19to and dealated queens 25mm. Males are unknown. The worker caste and queens are similar in appearance, but queens are larger and more darker. The head, node and postpetiole are red, and the antennae, clypeus, mandibles and legs yellow or reddish yellow. The gaster is black. | ||
| Myrmecia forficata | Fabricius[21] | 1787 | |||
| Myrmecia formosa | Wheeler[22] | 1933 | |||
| Myrmecia froggatti | Forel | 1910 | |||
| Myrmecia fucosa | Clark[23] | 1934 | |||
| Myrmecia fulgida | Clark | 1951 | Workers are only known about this species, collected from colonies in Western Australia. Workers measure 24to with a brownish-red head, node, postpetiole and thorax. The antennae and legs are lighter, the gaster is black and the mandibles are yellow. | ||
| Myrmecia fulviculis | Forel[24] | 1913 | |||
| Myrmecia fulvipes | Roger | 1861 | |||
| Myrmecia fuscipes | Clark | 1951 | Specimens are only known from workers collected in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. Workers measure 20to with a red head, node, postpetiole and thorax. The mandibles are yellow but get darker around the apex and the antennae and legs are reddish yellow. The gaster is black. | ||
| Myrmecia gilberti | Forel | 1910 | |||
| Myrmecia gratiosa | Clark | 1951 | Specimens of this species are only known from workers collected in Western Australia. Collected workers measure 21to, and the antennae, head, legs, node, postpetiole and thorax are reddish yellow, and the labrum, tarsi, tibiae are lighter. The mandibles are pale yellow and the gaster is black. They are similar to M. vindex, but M. gratiosa is brightly coloured and the node is longer and slender. | ||
| Myrmecia gulosa | Fabricius[25] | 1775 | M. gulosa is found throughout the eastern states and territories of Australia. It is a large species, with workers measuring 14to. The queens are the largest at 27to and males 17to. The colour of the queen is similar to that of a worker, but can be distinguished by its larger size and abundant pilosity. Most of the body is yellowish red, but the posterior margin of the first segment of the gaster is black. All of the apical segments are also black. Unlike the males, whose mandibles are short, the mandibles of the worker and queen are almost as long as the head. | ||
| Myrmecia harderi | Forel | 1910 | |||
| Myrmecia haskinsorum | Taylor | 2015 | |||
| Myrmecia hilli | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia hirsuta | Clark | 1951 | |||
| Myrmecia imaii | Taylor | 2015 | |||
| Myrmecia impaternata | Taylor | 2015 | |||
| Myrmecia infima | Forel | 1900 | |||
| Myrmecia inquilina | Douglas & Brown[26] | 1959 | |||
| Myrmecia loweryi | Ogata & Taylor | 1991 | |||
| Myrmecia ludlowi | Crawley | 1922 | |||
| Myrmecia luteiforceps | Wheeler | 1933 | |||
| Myrmecia mandibularis | Smith[27] | 1858 | |||
| Myrmecia maura | Wheeler | 1933 | |||
| Myrmecia maxima | Moore[28] | 1842 | No type specimen is available. However, the description Moore provided undoubtedly describes a large Myrmecia species. He describes it as being "nearly an inch and a half long, having very sharp mandibles and a formidable sting, which produces very acute pain."[29] | ||
| Myrmecia michaelseni | Forel[30] | 1907 | |||
| Myrmecia midas | Clark | 1951 | Specimens of M. midas are only known from workers and queens from New South Wales and Queensland. The workers are 13to and the queens measure 18to. Workers and queens exhibit similar colours and pilosity, but the body of the queen is coarser. Most of the body including the head, node, postpetiole and thorax is red and the gaster is black. The antennae, mandibles and legs are brownish red. | ||
| Myrmecia minuscula | Forel | 1915 | |||
| Myrmecia mjobergi | Forel | 1915 | |||
| Myrmecia nigra | Forel | 1907 | |||
| Myrmecia nigriceps | Mayr | 1862 | Colonies are known in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. Workers measure 19to and dealated queens are 23to. The males are smaller, measuring 18to. The head and gaster are black, and the thorax, node, and postpetiole are either red or yellowish red. The antennae, clypeus, legs and mandibles are yellow or testaceous. | ||
| Myrmecia nigriscapa | Roger | 1861 | Colonies of M. nigriscapa are found nationwide, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Tasmania. Workers measure 17to and dealated queens are 23to. The males are smaller, measuring 16to. The head, node and thorax is red, and the legs, postpetiole and parts of the gaster are yellowish red. Most of the gaster and scapes are black, and the mandibles and clypeus are reddish yellow. | ||
| Myrmecia nigrocincta | Smith | 1858 | |||
| Myrmecia nobilis | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia occidentalis | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia pavida | Clark | 1951 | M. pavida is a large species that is only known from workers collected in Western Australia. Workers measure 19to, with a black head and gaster. The node, postpetiole and thorax are brown, and the antennae and tarsi is red. The clypeus and mandibles are yellow. | ||
| Myrmecia petiolata | Emery[31] | 1895 | |||
| Myrmecia picta | Smith | 1858 | |||
| Myrmecia picticeps | Clark | 1951 | M. picticeps is only known from workers collected in Western Australia. On average, workers measure 18to. The frontal carinae, head, node, postpetiole thorax is red and the gaster is black. The antennae, legs and mandibles are either yellow or yellowish red. | ||
| Myrmecia piliventris | Smith | 1858 | |||
| Myrmecia pilosula | Smith | 1858 | |||
| Myrmecia potteri | Clark | 1951 | |||
| Myrmecia pulchra | Clark[32] | 1929 | M. pulchra is only known from workers and queens collected in Victoria. It is a large species, with workers measuring 18to and the queens are 20to. The head and gaster is black, and the node, postpetiole and thorax is red. The antennae, clypeus, mandibles, parts of its legs and tarsi are testaceous, and the coxae, femora and tibiae are brown. | ||
| Myrmecia pyriformis | Smith | 1858 | |||
| Myrmecia queenslandica | Forel | 1915 | |||
| Myrmecia regularis | Crawley[33] | 1925 | |||
| Myrmecia rowlandi | Forel | 1910 | M. rowlandi is only known from workers collected in North Queensland. Workers range from 13to, with a black gaster, head, node, postpetiole and thorax. The legs are brownish black, its tarsi is reddish brown and the mandibles are yellowish red. The antennae are red. The notable morphological differences in the antennae, head, mandibles and node prevents M. rowlandi to be considered a subspecies of M. tarsata. | ||
| Myrmecia rubicunda | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia rubripes | Clark | 1951 | Collected specimens are only known from workers in Western Australia. Workers range from 19to with a black femora, gaster, head and postpetiole. The antennae, tarsi and parts of the tibiae are red, and the mandibles are yellow. The mandibles are slightly longer than the head. | ||
| Myrmecia rufinodis | Smith | 1858 | Colonies of M. rufinodis are found throughout South Australia and Victoria. Workers vary in length, measuring 16to. The males are 17to and queens are 22to. The gaster, head and thorax are either black or blackish brown. The antennae, mandibles and tarsi are yellow, and parts of the legs and postpetiole are reddish yellow. The queens are larger and more robust than the workers. The males are completely black and the apex of the mandibles are brownish red. The antennae and postpetiole is red. | ||
| Myrmecia rugosa | Wheeler | 1933 | |||
| Myrmecia simillima | Smith | 1858 | Colonies are found throughout New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Specimens are only known from workers and queens, measuring 19to and 22to respectively. The head, node, postpetiole and thorax are brown, and the gaster is black. The clypeus, legs, mandibles and scapes are reddish and the funiculus and tarsi are yellowish red. | ||
| Myrmecia subfasciata | Viehmeyer[34] | 1924 | |||
| Myrmecia swalei | Crawley | 1922 | |||
| Myrmecia tarsata | Smith | 1858 | M. tarsata is found throughout the eastern states and territories of Australia. Workers vary in length, measuring 14to. The males measure 18to and queens are 20to. Some queens have stubby rudimentary wings while others are ergatoids. The head and thorax are bluish black, and the antennae, gaster, mandibles and tarsi are yellow or reddish yellow. Queens and workers appear similar, but the pubescence on the queen is more abundant and the mandibles are shorter and broader. | ||
| Myrmecia tepperi | Emery[35] | 1898 | |||
| Myrmecia testaceipes | Clark | 1943 | |||
| Myrmecia tridentata | Ogata & Taylor | 1991 | |||
| Myrmecia urens | Lowne[36] | 1865 | |||
| Myrmecia varians | Mayr | 1876 | |||
| Myrmecia vindex | Smith | 1858 | M. vindex is spread throughout Western Australia, particularly from Perth to Albany. Workers vary in length, measuring 17to. The queens measure 22to and males are 15.5to. The head, legs, node, postpetiole and thorax are ferruginous, but the head is sometimes darker. The clypeus, labrum and mandibles are yellow, and the antennae and tarsi is testaceous. The gaster is black or brownish black. |