Species: Myrmecocystus semirufus

Current Valid Name:

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2023)

Myrmecocystus melliger var. semirufus Emery, 1893k PDF: 667 (w.m.) U.S.A. (California). Nearctic. Primary type information: Primary type material: lectotype worker (by designation of Snelling, 1976 PDF: 49). Primary type locality: lectotype U.S.A.: California, San Jacinto (no collector’s name) (by restriction of Wheeler, 1908g PDF: 355). Primary type depository: AMNH. Secondary type information: Secondary type material: 1 paralectotype worker. Secondary type locality: same as for lectotype. Secondary type depository: MSNG. Type notes: 1) Other original syntype locality: U.S.A.: Colorado, Denver (no collector’s name). 2) Creighton, 1950a PDF: 449, cites Denver as type locality. 3) Snelling, 1976 PDF: 49, says other specimens from the San Jacinto series are in USNM. AntCat AntWiki HOL

Taxonomic history

Lectotype designation: Snelling, 1976 PDF: 49.

Wheeler & Wheeler, 1968a PDF: 213 (l.); Snelling, 1976 PDF: 46 (q.)

Combination in Myrmecocystus (Endiodioctes): Snelling, 1976 PDF: 46.

Subspecies of Myrmecocystus melliger: Pergande, 1894 PDF: 162; Wheeler, 1908g PDF: 355 (redescription); Wheeler, 1910a PDF: 571; Wheeler, 1912e PDF: 176; Emery, 1925d PDF: 239; Cole, 1936a PDF: 38; Cole, 1937b PDF: 138; Cole, 1938c PDF: 371; Cole, 1942 PDF: 386; Smith, 1951c PDF: 856.

Status as species: Creighton, 1950a PDF: 449; Cole, 1954g PDF: 285; Smith, 1958c PDF: 152; Smith, 1967a PDF: 369; Snelling, 1969b PDF: 4; Snelling, 1976 PDF: 46 (redescription); Smith, 1979: 1448; Snelling & George, 1979: 234; Allred, 1982: 489; Wheeler & Wheeler, 1986g PDF: 73; Bolton, 1995b: 275; Ward, 2005 PDF: 65.

// Distribution

Distribution:

  Geographic regions (According to curated Geolocale/Taxon lists):
    Americas: Mexico, United States
  Biogeographic regions (According to curated Bioregion/Taxon lists):
    Nearctic

Distribution Notes:

Taxonomic Treatment (provided by Plazi)

Treatment Citation: Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 936, pp. 1-68

Myrmecocystus semirufus EmeryHNS 1893k

E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)]

Specimen Habitat Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 3 times found in sonoran desert, 1 times found in desert scrub, 2 times found in desert wash, 2 times found in pinyon-cedar woodland, 1 times found in pinyon/juniper woodland, 1 times found in Sarcobatus scrub, 1 times found in Bunch grass prairie, 1 times found in Cottonwood draw, 1 times found in Willow grove, 1 times found in dry wash, ...

Found most commonly in these microhabitats: 2 times crater nests in sand, 2 times ground forager(s), 2 times sand dunes, 1 times nest in ground, 1 times crater nest, 1 times at Eriogonium inflatum, 1 times worker at nest entrance in sand, 1 times under rock, 1 times stray foragers on ground, 1 times ground nest, 1 times forager, ...

Collected most commonly using these methods: 5 times hand collecting, 3 times direct collection, 1 times Malaise, 1 times search.

Elevations: collected from 300 - 2290 meters, 1037 meters average

Collect Date Range: collected between 1891-11-27 00:00:00.0 and 2016-06-30 00:00:00.0

Type specimens: syntype of Myrmecocystus semirufus: casent0905690

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Citing AntWeb

Species: Myrmecocystus semirufus Emery, 1893

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