Myrmica rupestris Forel 1902

Bharti, Himender, Kaur, Pawanpreet & Bharti, Meenakshi, 2019, Description of the Ant Larvae of Two Species of the Genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Indian Himalayas, Asian Myrmecology (e 011004) 11, pp. 2-11 : 8-9

Myrmica rupestris Forel 1902

First instar

Body: Whitish, sleNder iN profile, rather pogNomyrmecoid in shape (Fig. 13); thorax more slender than abdomen and forming a neck, which is curved ventrally; head bent ventrally & more curved; anus slightly subterminal transverse slit with the lower lip bigger than the upper lip. Integument covered with minute spinules. Body about 1.74–1.95 mm long x 1.05–1.12 mm wide (n = 20). Length through spiracles 1.6 mm (n = 1).Width of anterior, median and posterior end of body 492.8 µm, 524.8 µm & 615.0 µm (n = 1) respectively. Body hair unbranched denticulate, 127.2–195.7 μm long (n = 10), distance between 2 adjacent hairs 84.5–124.1 µm (n = 10). Body with 10 spiracles, distance between two spiracle 92.7–171.9 μm (n = 10). Spiracle opening unornamented; diameter of spiracle 10.6–12.5 µm (n = 3), diameter of opening of spiracle 3.2–3.6 µm (n = 3).

Head capsule: Cranium subpyriform shaped, 379.7–397.6 μm in height, 311.7–318.8 μm in width (N = 5); craNiUm iNdex = 121.81-124.71 μm,; head surface smooth with unbranched denticulate hairs; length of hair on the occipital border 76.9–77.5 μm, a total of 12 hairs were observed on the head which include four hairs on the genal region, four on the vertex, and eight circling the occipital area (n = 3). Tentorial pits well-demarked.

Mouthparts: Clypeus clearly delimited from the cranium; upper surface of clypeus smooth without sensilla; a distinct row of four simple hairs present along the distal clypeal border. Labrum weakly bilobed, with about six sensilla on the anterior surface. Mandibles simple, sharp-pointed with one medial tooth, roughly ectatommoid in shape, 88.2–88.6 μm long (n = 2). Maxilla conical in shape. Galea present as a small hump culminating with two sensilla, galea 29.9 μm (n = 1) in length; maxillary palpus paxilliform. Labium pronounced and strongly hemispherical, 140.8 μm wide. The medial opening of sericteries positioned at the base of hypopharynx. The hypopharynx covered with dense spinules.

Second instar

Body: Whitish, sleNder iN profile, rather pogoNomyrmecoid in shape (Fig. 14); thorax more slender than abdomen and forming a neck, which is curved ventrally; head bent ventrally and slightly curved; anus a slightly ventral transverse slit. Body about 2.37–2.41 mm long, 1.29–1.33 mm wide (n = 20). Length through spiracles measures 1.7 mm (n = 1). Width of anterior, median and posterior end of body was found to be 505.4 µm, 721.5 µm & 777.2 µm (n = 1) respectively. Body hair unbranched denticulate and ranges about 197.6–227.3 μm in length (n = 10), distance between 2 adjacent hairs 137.5–167.6 µm (n = 10). Body with 10 spiracles and distance between two spiracle 190.6–245.9 μm (n = 10). Each Spiracle possess unornamented opening; maximal diameter including peritreme 13.3–13.9 µm (n = 3); maximal diameter of the opening of spiracle 3.9– 4.1 µm (n = 6).

Head capsule: Cranium subpyriform shaped, 437.5–442.7 μm in height, 331.3–340.2 μm in width (n = 5); cranium index = 130.12-132.05 μm; head sUrface smooth with UNbraNched deNticulate hairs;;four hairs present on the genal region; four hairs present on the vertex, eight hairs circling the occipital area; Length of hairs on the occipital border 90.6-91.9 um (n = 3).

Mouthparts: Clypeus delimited from the cranium by a suture; upper surface of clypeus smooth, without sensilla; a distinct row of four simple hairs present along the distal clypeal border. Labrum markedly bilobed, with about six sensilla over the anterior surface. Mandibles simple, sharp-pointed, with one medial tooth roughly ectatommoid in shape, 102.1–106.5 μm long (n = 2). Maxilla conical in shape; Galea present as a small hump culminating with two sensilla and 40.7 μm long (n = 1); maxillary palpus paxilliform. Labium stout and strongly hemispherical, 131.4 μm wide.

Third instar

Body: Whitish, sleNder iN profile, rather pogoNomyrmecoid in shape (Fig. 15); head bent ventrally & less cUrved as compared to first iNstar of M. rupestris ; anus slightly ventral in position (Fig. 16). Integument covered with minute spinules. Body 3.40–3.58 mm long, 1.56–1.62 mm wide (n = 20). Length through spiracles 3.0 mm (n = 1). Width of anterior, median and posterior end of body 877.4 µm, 890.3 µm & 1.2 mm respectively. Body hair unbranched denticulate (Fig. 17), about 260.9–283.7 μm long (n = 10); distance between 2 adjacent hairs 147.6–202.5 µm (n = 10). Body with 10 spiracles. Each spiracle with unornamented opening; the opening of spiracle about 6.0 µm and distance between two spiracles 355.2 μm (Fig. 18).

Head capsule: Cranium subpyriform shaped, 445.4-450.2 μm in height, x 352.7-357.0 μm in width (n = 5); cranium index = 136.10-136.46 μm, (Fig. 19); aNteNNae preseNt oN the Upper half of cranium; head surface smooth with unbranched denticulate hairs; four hairs present on the genal region, four hairs present on the vertex;eight circling the occipital area (n = 1);hairs on the occipital border 96.5–98.7 μm long (n = 3), Tentorial pits well-demarked.

Mouthparts: Clypeus clearly delimited from the cranium by a suture; upper surface of clypeus smooth, without sensilla; a distinct row of four simple hairs present along the distal clypeal border. Labrum markedly bilobed, with about six sensilla over the anterior surface. Mandibles simple, sharp-pointed, roughly ectatommoid in shape, with one medial tooth, 124.7–127.3 μm long (n = 3). Maxilla conical in shape. Galea present as a small hump culminating with two sensilla, 29.6 μm long (n = 1); maxillary palpus paxilliform. Labium stout and strongly hemispherical, 132.7 μm wide (n = 1) (Fig. 20). The opening of sericteries positioned at the base of hypopharynx.

Pupa

Pupae exarate, with no cocoon, 5.7 mm long, milky-white when young; eyes becoming black and body gradually darkened to a deep brown as they develop into imagos.