W. M. Wheeler.
Neomyrma versus Oreomyrma.
Psyche 22:50, 1915.

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Psyche
[April
NEOMYRMA VERSUS OREOMYRMA.
A CORRECTION.
BY WILLIAM MORTON WHEELER.
In a recent paper (Revue Suisse de Zoologie, Vol. 22, 1894, p. 275) Fore1 described an ant from Lake Tahoe, Nev. (6,275 feet) under the name of Aphcenogaster calderoni and made it the type of a new subgenus, Neomyrma. On reading the description I suspected that he had redescribed an ant which I described several years ago (Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc., Vol. 17, 1909, p. 77) as Myrmica bradleyi from Alta Meadow, Tulare County, Cal. (altitude 9,500 feet), but I could not believe that so experienced a myrme- cologist would mistake a Myrmica for an Aphfenogaster. Mr. W. M. Mann, who was presented with one of the cotype specimens by Professor Forel, has loaned it to me for comparison with the types of M. bradleyi. As I fail to find the slightest difference between the two forms I must regard Forel's specific name as a synonym. His subgeneric name, however, is not so easily dis- posed of. In 1914 (PSYCHE, Vol. 22, pp. 118-122, 1 fig.), I revised the American species of Myrmica allied to the European M. rubida, and for the group including this and the four American species bradleyi Wh., mutica Emery, aldrichi Wh., and hunteri Wh., I erected the subgenus Oreomyrma. It is clear, therefore, that Oreomyrma and Neomyrma are synonymous. Since both were published during the same year, it is necessary to determine which has priority of publication. I find that the number of PSYCHE containing the name Oreomyrma appeared in August, and as the number of the Revue Suisse containing the description of Neomyrma (in an appendix to a discussion of the genus Camponotus!) was published in May, there can be no doubt that the latter must replace the former name as a subgenus of Myrmica. It should be noted, however, that the type of Forel's subgenus is Myrmica bradleyi Wh., whereas that of Oreomyrma is Myrmica rubida Latreille.
Pu&e 2250 I19 15). htlp:ffpsyclK.nilclub.ora/22122.0SO hlml



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