Meranoplus rugosus
Meranoplus rugosus | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
Genus: | Meranoplus |
Species: | M. rugosus |
Binomial name | |
Meranoplus rugosus Crawley, 1922 |
The best known of the species in the M. rugosus group, and is probably the most abundant Meranoplus in the Perth area, being quite at home on suburban lawns. (Heterick 2009)
Photo Gallery
Identification
Heterick (2009) - A member of the M. rugosus group. The members of this group are identified by the large translucent windows or fenestrae on the promesonotal shield, and often have a characteristic postpetiole that is very thick and has a smoothly vertical anterior face. This small, orange species can be recognized immediately because of its anteriorly striate gaster and its rather square postpetiole with a steep anterior face.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Heterick (2009) - South-western corner of WA.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -29.88333333° to -33.815°.
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
Images from AntWeb
Syntype of Meranoplus hirsutus rugosus. Worker. Specimen code casent0902052. Photographer Ryan Perry, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- rugosus. Meranoplus hirsutus r. rugosa Crawley, 1922b: 443 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
- Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Taylor, 1990c: 34), 13 paralectotype workers.
- Type-locality: lectotype Australia: Western Australia, Parkerville, no. 29 (J. Clark); paralectotypes with same data.
- Type-depositories: OXUM (lectotype); ANIC, OXUM (paralectotypes).
- Subspecies of hirsutus: Taylor & Brown, 1985: 67; Taylor, 1987a: 39.
- Status as species: Taylor, 1990c: 39; Bolton, 1995b: 251; Heterick, 2009: 155.
- Distribution: Australia.
Type Material
- Meranoplus hirsutus rugosa Crawley, 1922: Syntype, worker(s), Parkerville, Western Australia, Australia, Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Description
References
- Crawley, W. C. 1922a. New ants from Australia. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 9(9): 427-448. (page 443, worker described)
- Heterick, B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76:1-206.
- 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).
- Plowes, N.J.R., Johnson, R.A., Holldobler, B. 2013. Foraging behavior in the ant genus Messor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Myrmecological News 18, 33-49.
- Taylor, R. W. 1990d. The nomenclature and distribution of some Australian and New Caledonian ants of the genus Meranoplus Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Gen. Appl. Entomol. 22: 31-40 (page 39, Raised to species)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Heterick B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 76: 1-206.