Myrmica hecate Weber 1947

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 : 7-8

Myrmica hecate Weber 1947

First instar

Body: Whitish, sleNder iN profile, rather pheidoloid in shape (Fig. 5); thorax more slender than abdomen and forming a neck, which is curved ventrally; head bent ventrally & slightly curved; anus a slightly subterminal transverse slit with the lower lip bigger than the upper lip. Body about 2.24–2.30 mm long, 1.20–1.24 mm wide (n = 15). Length through spiracles 1.8 mm (n = 1). Width of anterior, median and posterior end of body 540.3 µm, 810.2 µm & 680.9 µm (n = 1), respectively. Body hair unbranched denticulate, 124.6–166.9 µm long (n = 12), distance between 2 adjacent hairs 89.9–112.7 µm (n = 10). Body with 10 spiracles; distance between two spiracles 192.6–230.1 μm (N = 10). Spiracle opeNiNg UNornamented; diameter of spiracle 17.1–18.1 µm (n = 3).

Head capsule: Cranium subquadrate shaped, 218.7–221.6 μm iN height, 324.7–326.8 μm iN width; cranium index (height/width x 100) = 67.35–67.80 (n = 4); head surface smooth with unbranched denticulate hairs; length of hair on the occipital border 62.2–64.6 μm (N = 3). ANteNnae positioned on the upper half of cranium, with three sensilla. Tentorial pits well-demarked.

Mouthparts: Clypeus not 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 90.9–94.7 μm iN width (N = 3), with the aneterior margin weakly bilobed, with about four sensilla on the anterior surface. Mandibles simple, sharp-pointed, with one medial tooth, roughly ectatommoid iN shape, 96.6–98.7 μm loNg (N = 3). Maxilla conical in shape. Galea present as a small hUmp cUlmiNatiNg with two seNsilla, 15.8 μm in length (n = 1); maxillary palpus paxilliform. LabiUm stroNgly hemispherical, 98.8–100.8 μm wide (n = 3). The medial opening of sericteries positioned at the base of hypopharynx. The hypopharynx covered with dense spinules.

Second instar

Body: Whitish, body profile pheidoloid shaped as iN the first iNstar (Fig. 6); head beNt veNtrally aNd slightly curved; anus a slightly ventral transverse slit. Body about 3.36– 3.42 mm long, 1.84–2.05 mm wide (n = 15). Length through spiracles measures about 3.0 mm (n = 1). Width of anterior, median and posterior end of body was found to be 874.4 µm, 1.2 mm & 1.2 mm (n = 1) respectively. Body hair unbranched denticulate and ranges aboUt 181.7–200.6 μm iN leNgth (N = 12), distaNce between 2 adjacent hairs 155.7–189.3 µm (n = 10). Body with 10 spiracles. Each spiracle possess unornamented opening; maximal diameter including peritreme 21.7 µm (n = 10); maximal diameter of the opening 4.1 µm (n = 2); distance betweeN two spiracle 272.4 μm (N = 3).

Head capsule: Cranium subquadrate shaped, 327.5–329.4 μm iN height, 329.9–331.8 μm iN width (n = 5); cranium index = 99.27-99.54; head surface smooth with unbranched denticulate hairs; four hairs present on the genal region; two hairs present on the vertex; six hairs circling the occipital area; length of hairs on the occipital border 78.41–79.27 μm (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 113.9–116.2 μm iN width (N = 3), with the aneterior margin markedly bilobed, with about six sensilla on the anterior surface. Mandibles simple, sharp-pointed, with one medial tooth, roughly ectatommoid in shape, 126.4–130.4 µm long (n = 3). Maxilla conical in shape. Galea, simple, skewed peg-formed, 20 μm in length (n = 1), with two sensilla at the top. Maxillary palpus paxilliform. Labium stout and hemispherical, 136.9–139.5 μm in width (n = 3). The medial opening of sericteries positioned at the base of hypopharynx. The hypopharynx covered with dense spinules.

Third instar

Body: Whitish, pheidoloid iN profile, less cUrved; anus slightly ventral in position (Figs. 6 & 7). Body 4.46–4.52 mm long, 2.21–2.30 mm wide (n = 15). Length through spiracles 4.0 mm (n = 1). Width of anterior, median and posterior end of body 945.2 µm, 1.2 mm & 1.4 mm, respectively (n = 1). Body hair unbranched denticulate in shape (Fig. 8), about 212 μm long; distance between 2 adjacent hairs 279.5–321.6 µm (n = 10). Body with 10 spiracles. Each spiracle with unornamented openings (Fig. 9); maximal diameter including peritreme 22.1–22.7 µm (n = 2); maximal diameter of the opening 4.1–4.3 µm (n = 2). Distance between two spiracles 446.8–486.5 μm (n = 10).

Head capsule: Cranium subquadrate shaped, 378.7–380.8 μm in height, 338.6–340.1 μm in width (n = 4); cranium index = 111.84-111.96 (Fig. 10); head surface smooth with unbranched denticulate hairs; four hairs present on the genal region, two hairs present on the vertex; seven hairs circling the occipital area (n = 3); hair on the occipital border 80.2–82.6 μm long. Tentorial pits well-demarked.

Mouthparts: Clypeus clearly delimited from the cranium by a suture; a distinct row of four simple hairs present along the distal clypeal border. Labrum 117.8–119.4 µm wide (n = 3), with the anterior margin markedly bilobed, with about six sensilla on the anterior surface. Mandibles simple, sharp-pointed, roughly ectatommoid in shape, withone medial tooth, 180.9–182.2 µm long (n = 3). Maxilla conical in shape. Galea present as a small hump culminating with two sensilla, 32.3 μm long (n = 1). Maxillary palpus paxilliform (Fig. 11 & 12). Labium stout and strongly hemispherical, 140.5–142.6 μm wide (n = 3). The medial opening of sericteries positioned at the base of hypopharynx.

Pupa

Pupae exarate, with no coccon, 6.0 mm long, milky-white when young; eyes becoming black and body gradually darkened to a deep brown as they develop into imagos.