Subfamily MYRMICINAE
Tribe CREMATOGASTRINI
Myrmecina americana Emery

Myrmecina americana is a very common soil dwelling ant found in forests in the Southeast. In rich forests this species can easily be found nesting in soil under logs and at bases of trees.

The genus Myrmecina can easily be distinguished from other genera in the area by the combination of several characteristics including the sharp carina found on each side of the ventrolateral margin of head, which run from near the inner ventral base of mandible to below the eye and ascend the occipital surface posteriorly; the sessile petiole; and the bispinose propodeum. At this time this is the only recognized species of Myrmecina in eastern North America, however, there appears to be an undescribed cryptic species present as well. This other species differs by having a smooth and shiny head and alitrunk dorsum and a large, blunt ventral tooth on the postpetiole, whereas M. americana is heavily sculptured and has a tiny, sharp ventral tooth on the post petiole (Stefan Cover, Harvard MA, pers. comm.).