Myrmecologische Nachrichten 5: 37-41; printable
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.25849/myrmecol.news_005:037
- Open Access: CC BY 4.0
- Year: 2003
- Title: On the geographic distribution of queen polymorphism in Myrmecina graminicola (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
- Journal: Myrmecological News
- Volume: 5
- Pages: 37-41
- Type of contribution: Original Article
- Supplementary material: No
- Abstract: Queen polymorphism, i.e. the occurrence of normally alate/dealate females (gynomorphs) and more or less workerlike intermorphs, both representing functional queens within one species, has been described in the ant Myrmecina graminicola. To date, in Europe this phenomenon has been reported only for populations in southern Germany (S-Hesse and NW-Bavaria), although a few instances of probably intermorphic specimens have been mentioned from Switzerland and Italy as well. Here, we report on new data from Germany (Northrhine-Westfalia), Austria (Carinthia, Styria, Lower Austria), Spain (Tarragona, Gerona) and Italy (Mantova): Intermorphs were found as functional queens in five regions (NorthrhineWestfalia, Carinthia, Styria, Lower Austria, Tarragona); in a total of four regions intermorphs were found along with gynomorphs (Northrhine-Westfalia, Styria, Lower Austria, Tarragona); and in two regions (Gerona, Mantova), only a few isolated intermorphic specimens were found, demonstrating that this form occurs there, too. Whether queen polymorphism is a character of the species throughout its range, or whether it is restricted to certain areas in Europe, remains unknown. Open access, licensed under CC BY 4.0. © 2003 The Author(s).
- Key words: Formicidae, Myrmecina graminicola, queen polymorphism, geographic distribution, intermorph, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Europe.
- Publisher: The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics
- ISSN: Print: 1994-4136 - Online: 1997-3500