Myrmecina amamiana

Japanese Name

Sujibuto-kadofushi-ari

Terayama, M. (1996) Taxonomic studies of the Japanese Formicidae, part 2. Seven genera of Ponerinae, Cerapachyinae and Myrmicinae. Nature and Human Activities, 1, 9-32.

Total length of workers around 3 mm. General body color black; mesopleuron, petiole and postpetiole reddish brown; legs, antennae and mandibles yellowish brown. Eyes rather large and convex, each consisting of over 10 facets; the longest diameter as long as or longer than the length of the 10th antennal segment. Bases of antennal scapes simple in structure, without covering lamellae. Anterior margin of clypeus with a small median process which may vary in size. Propodeal spines more or less upwardly curved. Subpetiolar process with rounded apex pointing forwards. Rugulae on head and mesosoma broad, longitudinal, with smooth, shining interspaces; the spaces between the eyes and the ventral extensions of the longitudinal carinae running from the occipital region on each side with several longitudinal rugulae.

The species is similar to M. graminicola nipponica in size and coloration, but distinguished by the broad longitudinal rugulae on the head and mesosoma, and the convex eyes. Found on the floor of broadleaf forests, nesting in the soil or under stones.

Amami-oshima I., Tokunoshima I.