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Meranoplus biliran
| Meranoplus biliran | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Meranoplus |
| Species: | M. biliran |
| Binomial name | |
| Meranoplus biliran Schödl, 1998
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Nothing is known about the biology of Meranoplus biliran.
Identification
Schödl (1998) - This easternmost species in the treated area is different from all other congeners by the very distinct shape of the dorsal alitrunk in addition to the micro-sculpturation of the gastral surface.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Philippines (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
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Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- biliran. Meranoplus biliran Schödl, 1998: 374, figs. 14, 28, 31 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Biliran I.).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 8 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Philippines: Biliran I., 1927 (C.F. Baker); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depositories: USNM (holotype); BMNH, MCZC, NHMW, USNM (paratypes).
- Distribution: Philippines (Biliran).
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype: TL: 3.25, HL: 0.85, HW: 0.88, CI: 104 SL" 063 SI- 72. PML: 0.73, PW: 1.1, PMI: 152, AL: 0.83.
Paratypes: TL: 3.0 - 3.38, HL: 0.83 - 0.88, HW: 0.85 - 0.9, CI- 100 - 106 SL- 0.63 - 0.65, SI: 71 - 76, PML: 0.7 - 0.75, PW: 1.1 - 1.13, PMI: 147 - 155, AL: 0.83 - 0.88 (7 measured).
Mandibles striate, armed with four teeth. Mid-portion of clypeus distinctly rugulose-reticulate; anterior clypeal margin rather serrate than provided with a row of denticles. Frontal triangle reduced to a narrow, striate, arcuate furrow between posterior clypeal margin and anterior frontal margin. Sometimes a small triangle may be visible. Head above the antennal scrobes rectangular; posterior 4/5 almost parallel-sided, sides of head only anteriorly narrowed towards clypeus. Head ventrally to the antennal scrobes of similar shape, genae not protruding below the distinctly overhung antennal scrobes. Antennal scrobes shagreened throughout and posteriorly transversally striate, anterior-most glossy. Genae reticulate-rugulose. Compound eyes situated well behind middle of lateral sides of head. Maximum diameter of eye 0.17-0.19, with 14-15 ommatidia in the longest row.
Promesonotum rectangular, distinctly wider than long. Lateral margins of the promesonotal shield foliaceous, distinctly overhanging sides of alitrunk; propodeum overhung by hind margin of mesonotum. Anterior corners of pronotum acutely retangular; the sides of the shield somewhat parallel-sided, sinuate and slightly constricted at about the level of the (invisible) promesonotal suture; at the same level with a small translucent fenestra on each side. Lateral mesonotal margins produced into acute, stout, posteriorly directed projections. Posterior corners of mesonotum with a blunt, stout spine on each side, pointing in a ca. 45 angle from the shield. Posterior margin of mesonotum sinuate, with paramedian blunt teeth. Lateral margins partly lamellate and translucent in that area. Declivity of propodeum shiny, with a faint shagreening, lateral sides above somewhat reticulate; lateral, acute propodeal spines situated at about middle of propodeal length. A suture between dorsal alitrunk and propodeum is apparent on the declivity beneath posterior mesonotal margin, when viewed from behind.
Petiole tapered from base to crest, its anterior face without structure, the posterior face carinulate. Postpetiole nodiform. Caster dull, entire dorsum of first gastral tergite (and remainder of gaster) shagreened, if examined with higher magnification seen as a minute reticulum.
Dorsum of head, promesonotum and postpetiole evenly and rather densely reticulate-rugulose, width of meshes ca. 50 - 80 μm. Dorsal surfaces and appendages covered with whitish, stiff, erect (head) to suberect (alitrunk and gaster) pubescence. Pilosity consisting of shorter (ca. 150-200 μm) hairs, and longer, surpassing hairs (ca. 300 - 400 μm). Colour uniformly dark brown to piceous; translucent areas on sides of promesonotal shield brighter. Antennal scapes and tibiae markedly striate.
Type Material
Holotype worker. "Biliran Is PI \ CF Baker collection 1927" (National Museum of Natural History); paratypes: 8 workers: "Isl. Biliran Philippines Baker" (USNM, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna, The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology). type locality: Biliran Island, Philippines.
References
- Schödl, S. 1998. Taxonomic revision of Oriental Meranoplus F. Smith, 1853 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien. B. Bot. Zool. 100: 361-394 (page 374, figs. 14, 28, 31 worker described)