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Myrmecia forceps

species of insect

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Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionApr 6, 2026
Entity authorityQ13868757
Source-derived summary

Myrmecia forceps is an Australian ant in the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia and commonly distributed in most of the southern regions of Australia. They were described by Roger in 1861.

Characteristics

M. forceps is a moderately big bull ant at 19-24 mm long. Queens are the biggest at 25 mm, while the males are smaller. Their heads and thoraces are brown, femora are in a lighter brown colour, mandibles, antennae, and several other features can be yellow or reddish yellow.

Evolution

Myrmecia forceps is known to mimic dominant local species, resulting in regional colour variation. On Kangaroo Island, Myrmecia forceps mimics the colouration and patterning of M. rufinodis, a ubiquitous species in the region. This is likely an instance of Müllerian mimicry.

Editorial summary

The public source identifies “Myrmecia forceps” as species of insect. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Myrmecia, forceps and species.

Editorial reviewA sound reference starting point where classification, measurement and the date of the underlying evidence remain visible. The current lead gives the account dated anchors—1861—that can be checked directly. The selected authority fields contribute no independent date. Its value is orientation rather than verdict, with Myrmecia, forceps and species providing the first useful test.
Editorial analysis

Why this record matters

A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Myrmecia forceps”, the useful work is to connect “species of insect” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.

Evidence profile

The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Apr 6, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q13868757. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1861.

Critical limits

Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.

How to read it

Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.

Best used for
  • Current terminology
  • Classification context
  • Finding cited technical literature
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Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.

Three-step research path

  1. Establish the record: confirm the title “Myrmecia forceps”, its source revision and the description used here.
  2. Expand the search: follow Myrmecia forceps primary sources, Myrmecia forceps archive and Myrmecia research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
  3. Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.

Questions for further research

  1. Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Myrmecia forceps”?
  2. Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
  3. Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
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Source & attribution

This entry incorporates text from Myrmecia forceps” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.