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Hardcopy keys to identifying ants to the genus Myrmica include: 1) Fisher BL, and Cover SP. 2007. Ants of North America. University of California Press. 2) Naumann K, Preston WB, and Ayre GL. 1999. An Annotated Checklist of the Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of British Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia. 96: 29-68. 3) Bolton B. 1994. Identification Guide to the Ant Genera of the World. Harvard University Press. (incudes photo illustrations) 4) Hölldobler B, and Wilson EO. 1990. The Ants. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. The Fisher and Cover text is the most up-to-date taxonomically and is not expensive. For the genus Myrmica, however, any of these will suffice. On-line keys and tools to identifying ants to the genus Myrmica : Bolton B, Alpert GD, Lubertazzi D. 2010. Key to the Extant Genera of the World. Requires up-to-date Java and takes a little bit of time to familiarize yourself organizationally. Click here For an exellent guide to understanding the specifics of ant anatomy for the purpose of identification (pdf format excerpt from Bolton B, 1994. Identification Guide to the Ant Genera of the World), Click here. |
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The following key is excerpted from an unpublished key to the Northeastern Nearctic species of Myrmica developed by André Francoeur, Professeur émérite, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Centre de données sur la biodiversité du Québec (with permission). Full key is not provided here. All errors in reproduction responsibility of R. Higgins entirely. Photos of characters will follow as time permits |
| 1a. Antennal scape seen in profile evenly downcurved basally; the dorsal surface not angulate at the bend; the curve either gradual without any sculpture or quite sudden with a posterolateral dark ridge before the bend................................................................................................................................................................2 |
| 1b. Antennal scape seen in profile abruptly downcurved basally; the dorsal surface of the bend almost or quite right-angular armed with thickening lamina or other outgrowths........................................................................................variety of Myrmica species including detritinodis/fracticornis/nearctica known to be in BC |
| 2a. Base of antennal scape without any outgrowth; head in full face view, median anterior margin of the clypeus entire....................................................................3 |
| 2b. Base of antennal scape with a posteriolateral dark ridge; head in full face view, median anterior margin of clypeus with a shallow or deep concavity; eyes large, longer than genal length............................................................................................................................................................................................lobifons group |
| 3a. In dorsal view frontal lobes thin and lamellar, poorly developed and directed upwards, not covering the antennal base (Higgins note: or slightly); margins of the lobes subparallel and convex along their length. Scape base seen laterally with dorsal surface straight, not compressed into shallow concavity. Anterior clypeal margin produced medially into a small and narrow indented or lamellate apron. Frontal triangle smooth and without rugae. Propodeal lobes right-angular apically. Introduced Palaearctic species of rubra group.............................................................................................................................................................................4 |
| 3b. In dorsal view frontal lobes thick and laterally developed over head dorsum into a distinct angular surface with rounded apex, partly covering the antennal base. Scape base seen laterally with dorsal surface straight or concave. Anterior clypeal margin without an indented or lamellate apron. Frontal triangle with or without invading rugae. Propodeal lobes angular or rounded apically......................................................................................................incompleta or puntiventris groups |
| 4a. In profile petiole node with dorsal surface sloping backwards from anteriodorsal angle, the dorsal surface curving evenly into the posterior face, the two not separated by a posteriodorsal angle (Higgins note: some workers with slight angle in this slope and a very few with strong angle. Best determined from nest series). Dorsum of post-petiole smooth or with varying amount of shagreening. Propodeal spines shorter than distance separating their tips (Higgins note: it has been mentioned by Wetterer and Radchenko 2010 that spine length is more a function of ant size than a species specific trait). Medial area of anterior margin of clypeus with minute indentation. Tends to nest in urban areas such as lawns or raised garden beds. Aggressive unless cold..............................................................................................................................Myrmica rubra (Linnaeus) |
| 4b. In profile petiolar node with the dorsal surface flat or somewhat convex behind the anterodorsal angle, the dorsal surface not sloping backwards, the dorsal surface separated from the posterior face by a posteriodorsal angle, usually distinct. Dorsum of postpetiole with rugae varying in size and number. Propodeal spines longer than the distance separating the tips. Medial area of anterior margin of clypeus with distinct spinules protruding from a black basal plate. Rarely established in public areas. (Higgins note: this European species has been found in N. America on several occasions but is not anywhere near as common as Myrmica rubra)...................................................................................................Myrmica ruginodis Nylander |
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