Meranoplus arcuatus
Meranoplus arcuatus | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
Genus: | Meranoplus |
Species: | M. arcuatus |
Binomial name | |
Meranoplus arcuatus Schödl, 2007 |
Only known from the type locality and few samples in northeastern South Australia, with a wide gap in between.
Identification
Schödl (2007) - M. arcuatus differs from other species by the distinctly incurved propodeal spines in addition to the triangular petiole and the outline of the promesonotal shield.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -29.71666667° to -29.78333333°.
North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia (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. |
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. |
Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- arcuatus. Meranoplus arcuatus Schödl, 2007: 404, figs. 46, 47, 77, 82 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia, South Australia).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 17 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: Western Australia, Lake Marmion, 29°43’S, 121°31’E, 12.iii.1996, pitfall (J.A. Forrest); paratypes: 11 workers with same data, 6 workers nr Lake Marmion, 29°47’S, 121°35’E, 12.ii.1996, pitfalls (J.A. Forrest).
- Type-depositories: SAMA (holotype); ANIC, NHMW, SAMA (paratypes).
- Distribution: Australia.
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 5.25, HL 1.20, HW 1.38, FC 1.10, CS 1.29, SL 0.78, SI1 56, SI2 60, PML 1.15, PW 1.33, PMD 1.50, PMI2 113, ML 1.33, PTLL 0.38, PTLH 0.55, PTDW 0.40, PPLL 0.31, PPLH 0.55, PPI 57, PPDW 0.48, PT/PP 84.
Mandible with four teeth. In full face view the clypeal projection very similar to that of preceding species, with the anterior concavity somewhat broader and with anterolateral corners more blunt. Head moderately wider than long (CI 115), preoccipital margin almost straight. Frontal carinae markedly narrower than head width (FI 125), posteriorly almost parallel-sided, evenly curved towards clypeus. With head in profile antennal scrobe distinctly surpassing middle of lateral side of head, distinctly transversely carinulae at the rear, anteriorly with additional oblique carinulae, rather well defined posteriorly against remainder of head. Genae and ventrolateral sides of head rugoreticulate, preoccipital lobes coarsely reticulate. Eyes moderately large (EL 0.31, REL 0.26, with 15 ommatidia in the longest row), situated at about middle of lateral sides of head, the dorsal ocular margin confluent with the ventral scrobal margin. Frons anteriorly rugose, remainder of head coarsely rugoreticulate, interspaces glossy.
Promesonotal shield little wider than long (PMI 115), overhanging lateral sides of mesosoma and propodeal declivity, near lateral margin with translucent fenestra at level of promesonotal projections. Propodeal spines in profile short (PSL 0.43), situated at about middle of lateral sides of the propodeal declivity, broad-based and acute, in dorsal view distinctly curved towards petiole.
Petiole higher than long (PTI 68), in lateral view an equilateral triangle with anterior and slightly convex posterior faces meeting in a crest, posterior face rugose. Postpetiole nodular with well developed anterio-basal tooth.
First gastral tergite entirely microreticulate. Dorsal surfaces covered with shorter decumbent and longer erect more or less setose hairs.
Distinctly bicolored as in preceding species.
(n = 6). TL 4.80 - 5.25, HL 1.06 - 1.23, HW 1.24 - 1.40, FC 1.04 - 1.16, FI 117 - 125, CI 113 - 118, CS 1.15 - 1.31, SL 0.73 - 0.80, SI1 56 - 59, SI2 60 - 64, PML 1.03 - 1.15, PW 1.23 - 1.39, PMI 115 - 129, PMD 1.39 - 1.58, PMI2 113 - 115, ML 1.13 - 1.33, PSL 0.39 - 0.45, PTLL 0.33 - 0.40, PTLH 0.51 - 0.58, PTI 63 - 70, PTDW 0.40 - 0.49, PPLL 0.30 - 0.38, PPLH 0.55 - 0.65, PPI 53 - 63, PPDW 0.47 - 0.50, PT/PP 84 - 99, EL 0.26 - 0.31, REL 0.24 - 0.26, with 14 - 17 ommatidia in the longest row.
Type Material
- Holotype, worker, Lake Marmion, Western Australia, Australia, 29°43′0″S 121°31′0″E / 29.716667°S 121.516667°E, 12 March 1996, Forrest,J.A., South Australian Museum; pitfall trap.
- Paratype, 11 workers, Lake Marmion, Western Australia, Australia, 29°43′0″S 121°31′0″E / 29.716667°S 121.516667°E, 12 March 1996, Forrest,J.A., South Australian Museum; pitfall trap.
- Paratype, 4 workers, near Lake Marmion, Western Australia, Australia, 29°47′0″S 121°35′0″E / 29.783333°S 121.583333°E, 12 March 1996, Forrest,J.A., South Australian Museum; pitfall trap.
Etymology
The name refers to the incurved propodeal spines.
References
- Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
- Heterick, B.E. 2022. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part II: Distribution and biology. Records of the Western Australian Museum, supplement 86: 247-510 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2022.247-510).
- Schödl, S. 2007. Revision of Australian Meranoplus: the Meranoplus diversus group. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 80:370-424.